Semiconductors are highly sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD), which can permanently damage diodes, ICs, and other components. Static electricity generated by non-conductive materials—like plastic packaging or even the human body—can reach up to 50,000 volts. The human body alone may have a capacitance of up to 400 picofarads, discharging as much as 500 millijoules of energy—enough to silently destroy sensitive electronics. For many cases, the damage to the semiconductor device is not instant rather degrading gradually over a few month.
To prevent ESD damage when handling PCBs and semiconductor devices, follow these precautions:
- Wear ESD-safe finger cots or gloves when opening and handling the package.
- Connect all cables to the PCB only while wearing ESD-rated protection.
- Remove finger cots only after the cables are fully connected and no further direct contact is needed.
- Reapply ESD protection whenever you need to touch the PCB again.
Following these guidelines will help protect semiconductor devices on the PCB from potential static electricity damage.
