Are transistors really ESD sensitive?

[luvdunhill]

I reorganizing my DIY supplies and am wondering if it's okay to put various transistors in these plastic hobby boxes with all the compartments? I've always gotten them in ESD bags from Mouser, Digikey, etc. but I recently got a bunch of Toshiba transistors from pacificsemi and they were all in what seemed to be plain plastic bags... are Mouser and Digikey just over cautious, or is this really an issue? I mean com'on, Digikey puts blue LEDs in two layers of ESD bags...

Thanks!

 

[tangent]

It depends on the kind. All are somewhat static sensitive, but to differing degrees. BJTs usually don't need special handling, you just have to avoid doing stupid stuff with them like shuffling your feet with them in your hand as you walk across the carpeted room. JFETs are more sensitive, and MOSFETs are the most sensitive of all. The difference is in the gate thickness.

And yes, blue LEDs are also static sensitive, as are all the other "new" style colors. (i.e. anything other than the ancient red, amber and yellowish-green ones)

 

[Don Small]

Transistors are basically active components.Some transistors are current driven such as BJTs and some are voltage driven such as MOSFETs.
Basically all transistors are sensitive towards ESD and they differ only in their sensitivity level.
Normally these sensitive components are packaged inside the ESD safe bag.And this bag usually carries an ESD logo to identify it as the ESD safe bag.
It is highly recomended to practice esd safe handling to all the various transistors in your DIY projects...

Don Small

http://learnesd.com
A portal on Electrostatic Discharge

 

[beerguy0]

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvdunhill /img/forum/go_quote.gif I reorganizing my DIY supplies and am wondering if it's okay to put various transistors in these plastic hobby boxes with all the compartments? I've always gotten them in ESD bags from Mouser, Digikey, etc. but I recently got a bunch of Toshiba transistors from pacificsemi and they were all in what seemed to be plain plastic bags... are Mouser and Digikey just over cautious, or is this really an issue? I mean com'on, Digikey puts blue LEDs in two layers of ESD bags... Thanks!

Many suppliers put everything in ESD bags, probably so no one has to decide what is ESD sensitive and what isn't. Also, if you are trying to maintain an ESD safe work area, you don't want plastic bags of resistors on your ESD work surface, so having everything in ESD bags makes that easier.

You could always get some ESD safe bins or boxes, like these:

http://www.stanleysupplyservices.com...up.aspx?id=542

Or, you can leave the parts in the ESD bags and get some bins that will hold the bags. It's a good idea to keep anything that may be ESD sensitive in some type of ESD safe storage.