Electrostatic Discharge due to Compressed Air

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I am using compressed air to dry my PCBs and to remove dust ... - Jul 06, 2016 by Luke Vella

What about grounding the board while you are cleaning it to ... - Jul 06, 2016 by Tom

Dear Tom, Thanks a lot for your reply. That is exactly... - Jul 06, 2016 by Luke Vella

Please explain how you would go about grounding a circuit bo... - Jul 06, 2016 by davef

I was thinking placing it on an esd mat during cleaning. ... - Jul 06, 2016 by Tom

I have not tested whether there is electrostatic discharge o... - Jul 07, 2016 by Luke Vella

Luke Vella

#75940

Electrostatic Discharge due to Compressed Air | 6 July, 2016

I am using compressed air to dry my PCBs and to remove dust from my PCBs. This is causing electrostatic build up on the PCBs. What do you suggest rather than an Ionized Air Gun?

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Tom

#75944

Electrostatic Discharge due to Compressed Air | 6 July, 2016

What about grounding the board while you are cleaning it to immediately disspate the static?

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Luke Vella

#75945

Electrostatic Discharge due to Compressed Air | 6 July, 2016

Dear Tom,

Thanks a lot for your reply.

That is exactly what I had in mind and I think that it is the best solution. Another solution is to increase the humidity in the area where the compressed air is being applied.

But do you think there are other good solutions?

Thanks and Regards, Luke

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davef

#75946

Electrostatic Discharge due to Compressed Air | 6 July, 2016

Please explain how you would go about grounding a circuit board

EOS/ESD Association Frequently Asked ESD Questions 16-Threshold Volume 26, No. 1 January/February 2010

Q. I have a customer that wants us to measure our compressed air for static. How can I measure air?

A. Thank you for the question. We normally do not see or measure static charges in compressed air if it is clean. If it is dirty or contaminated, the contaminate can build up a charge. How to measure it is another issue. As the charge would be the result of contaminate movement in the compressed air, blowing the air against an isolated conductive plate and then measuring the plate with a field meter may be one way to measure the charge of the air, however it would only be the charge transfer being measured. Discharging the air against a charge plate monitor while “floating” may also show a charge transfer if the air is charged.

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Tom

#75947

Electrostatic Discharge due to Compressed Air | 6 July, 2016

I was thinking placing it on an esd mat during cleaning.

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Luke Vella

#75950

Electrostatic Discharge due to Compressed Air | 7 July, 2016

I have not tested whether there is electrostatic discharge on the PCB or not because the electrostatic meter is still on its way.

But the IPC-A-610 section 3.1.2 specifies that yes even compressed air nozzles that move air over insulating surfaces generate charges. Therefore electrostatic charge must be tested by an electrostatic meter over an insulating surface and not over a conducting surface.

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