ESD - how sensitive LDs are?

Wytry · 02-28-2012, 02:20 PM

Hi! I'm starting my first "real" build. I just got the 445 diode and I'm scared about esd. How sensitive they really are? Have you ever seen any LD hurt by esd? I am going to handle it with grounded esd wristband and keep it in esd bag when not used. Is it enough?

Blord · 02-28-2012, 02:29 PM

It is not uncommon that LD are killed by ESD.
Laser diodes are electronic devices. You should tread them like any other electronic stuff.
Take the precautions and it will be fine.

Laser diodes are also killed by overheating from soldering irons. You should watch out for that too.

Sigurthr · 02-28-2012, 11:38 PM

I don't go so far as to use an ESD protection mat, but I do use a grounded wrist strap, ground my helping hands, and work on a grounded metal surface. I also ground my soldering iron and heatsink.

Wolfman29 · 02-29-2012, 02:55 AM

So, counter to what everyone has said (for this reason, take my experience with a grain of salt) but I have literally electrostatically shocked a diode before (well, the heatsink it was placed in, but either way) and it still lased fine. Further, I never use a grounded soldering iron or ground myself... and I have never killed a diode electrostatically. But again - take that with a grain of salt.

Ghostchrome · 02-29-2012, 03:03 AM

Yeah, I don't do anything special either. Sometimes a touch the pipe on the sink.

Bionic-Badger · 02-29-2012, 03:13 AM

I just touch the metal desk or the computer case or something. Remember that the ESD is a function of the voltage potential, so the electrical charge may very well just flow around whatever is vital, especially if the diode is floating with respect to the case.

Meatball · 02-29-2012, 04:37 AM

^^These things are true. On a note particular to the 1W 445 diodes, they have proven to be very hardy compared to Red/IR diodes. Even more so than the 405s which are made of the same materials.

I have yet to accidentally kill a 445 via electrical abuse.

LaserAdct · 02-29-2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfman29

So, counter to what everyone has said (for this reason, take my experience with a grain of salt) but I have literally electrostatically shocked a diode before (well, the heatsink it was placed in, but either way) and it still lased fine. Further, I never use a grounded soldering iron or ground myself... and I have never killed a diode electrostatically. But again - take that with a grain of salt.

I have never grounded myself, my tools or anything related to my workplace, and have never killed a diode. It may be pure luck that I havent, and as such this is no guarantee that it wont happen eventually :-) Crossing that bridge when I get to it. I have killed several diodes in various other ways, but never from ESD. However considering the price of some diodes caution is recommended and they should be handled with care. If you want to be sure you wont kill it , use a wriststrap to ground yourself, they dont cost very much.

best regards

02-28-2012, 02:20 PM	#1
Wytry Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Wołomin, Poland Posts: 32 Rep Power: 0	ESD - how sensitive LDs are? Hi! I'm starting my first "real" build. I just got the 445 diode and I'm scared about esd. How sensitive they really are? Have you ever seen any LD hurt by esd? I am going to handle it with grounded esd wristband and keep it in esd bag when not used. Is it enough?

02-28-2012, 02:29 PM	#2
Blord Class 3B Laser Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 4,750 Rep Power: 256	Re: ESD - how sensitive LDs are? It is not uncommon that LD are killed by ESD. Laser diodes are electronic devices. You should tread them like any other electronic stuff. Take the precautions and it will be fine. Laser diodes are also killed by overheating from soldering irons. You should watch out for that too. __________________ 405nm 400mW S06J C6 445nm 3W Big Boy, 2.8W Dominator, 2.4W Steel Laser 450nm 240mW PL450 C6 473nm 80mW Lasever 520nm 55mW Skylaser PL520 532nm 821mW Skylaser PL532, 133mW Jetlasers Ti-B 589nm no yellow 635nm 70mW Sanyo SenTorch 638nm 175mW Ehgemus, 1W Rook 660nm 1216mW Skylaser PL660, 263mW LPC826 C6 685nm 33mW Fujitsu FLD6A2TK C6 780nm 150mW Dilda 808nm 640mW C6 C6 rainbow collection !! 5 Watt Ophir LPM Last edited by Blord; 02-28-2012 at 02:31 PM.

02-28-2012, 11:38 PM	#3
Sigurthr Class 3R Laser Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Michigan's U.P. Posts: 2,005 Rep Power: 108	Re: ESD - how sensitive LDs are? I don't go so far as to use an ESD protection mat, but I do use a grounded wrist strap, ground my helping hands, and work on a grounded metal surface. I also ground my soldering iron and heatsink. __________________ High Voltage Equipment 2.25kW Solid State Tesla Coil 225W Spark Gap Tesla Coil 125W ZVS Royer 10kV 10mA PSU 500W Class-E Resonant Flyback 52kV 8mA Plasma Speaker My Lasers: Current Lineup: 405nm - 130mW PHR-805T C6 Groove2 DIY Build. MULTILINE 80mW Uniphase CU-2214-40MLA Argon Ion Laser. 457.9nm 465.8nm 472.6nm 476.5nm 488nm 496.5nm 501.7nm 514.5nm 473nm - 74mW B&W Tek Labby. 532nm - 27mW & 55mW LasersMan Handhelds DIY IR Filtered. 532nm - 60mW CTL-G5 Beam Show. 632.8nm - 2.5mW Melles Griot HeNe Lab Laser & several tubes/heads. 658nm - 209mW Laserlands Waterproof Handheld. 780nm - 4.5mW DIY Handheld. 10600nm - 15,000mW CO2 Laser. Previously owned >20 more lasers of various wavelengths. Amateur Radio Lasers: 2.5mW 658nm DIY "CW" Morse Code Laser Tranceiver 12mW+ 658nm DIY AM Voice Laser Tranceiver

02-29-2012, 02:55 AM	#4
Wolfman29 Class 3B Laser Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 3,200 Rep Power: 106	Re: ESD - how sensitive LDs are? So, counter to what everyone has said (for this reason, take my experience with a grain of salt) but I have literally electrostatically shocked a diode before (well, the heatsink it was placed in, but either way) and it still lased fine. Further, I never use a grounded soldering iron or ground myself... and I have never killed a diode electrostatically. But again - take that with a grain of salt. __________________ Personal Collection: 405nm: Kryton Groove - 400mW 445nm: Solid Silver - 2.4W - Click Here! 532nm: O-like - 400mW - Rayfoss; 200mW 543nm: 1.52mW HeNe 589nm: PGL-III-C-589 - avg. 74.5mW, pk. 100mW 632.8nm: 5" HeNe Steampunk Raygun 660nm: Chrome Leadlight DIY Build - 225mW DIY LPM! Looking for a cheap, powerful buck driver? Check out the BlitzBuck at CajunLasers! With efficiency higher than that of a linear at approximately 90%, it's the best two-cell solution on the market! /shameless plug

02-29-2012, 03:03 AM	#5
Ghostchrome Class 3R Laser Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,160 Rep Power: 47	Re: ESD - how sensitive LDs are? Yeah, I don't do anything special either. Sometimes a touch the pipe on the sink. __________________ GhostDrive2 micro linear drivers $6.99

02-29-2012, 03:13 AM	#6
Bionic-Badger Class 3B Laser Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Utah, USA Posts: 4,498 Rep Power: 256	Re: ESD - how sensitive LDs are? I just touch the metal desk or the computer case or something. Remember that the ESD is a function of the voltage potential, so the electrical charge may very well just flow around whatever is vital, especially if the diode is floating with respect to the case. __________________ You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to <person> again.

02-29-2012, 04:37 AM	#7
Meatball Class 3B Laser Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 2,817 Rep Power: 174	Re: ESD - how sensitive LDs are? ^^These things are true. On a note particular to the 1W 445 diodes, they have proven to be very hardy compared to Red/IR diodes. Even more so than the 405s which are made of the same materials. I have yet to accidentally kill a 445 via electrical abuse. __________________ FIAT LUX (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

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