is the jrc4558d static sensitive?

[darron]

hey guys. i've searched the forum and google. im wondering if the jrc 4558d is static sensitive? what is the best way to post them to people? when i got one it was just in foam. i don't know why it would be sensitive, but would putting them in polystyrene and then into a static proof bag be fine? i'd imagine that polystyrene would actually charge easilly though. what about with a bit of ALU foil shorting all the pins together?

is there an easy way to test them without plugging them into my TIGHTLY packed tube screamer?

thanks for your responses (: hopefully it's a simple question!

[Mark Hammer]

Nope, it's a very normal op-amp.  There ARE some op-amps of similar pinout that are susceptible to static-charge damage, like the CA3240, or the various CMOS op-amps from Texas Instruments (TL27x series), but even those are reasonably hardy and unlikely to suffer damage if you look at them sideways.

As far as sending them by mail, there are several options.  Certainly the black foam normally used for CMOS and similar chips is not needed, though some sort of foam, whether the black stuff, the pink bubbly plastic stuff one often buys chips in, or even a little piece of styrofoam from a coffee cup, can be helpful in preventing the pins from being bent in transit.  On the other hand, depending on where you live, postal rates may vary on the basis of envelope thickness.  Here in Canada, there is a standardized plexiglass "slot" that the post office worker attempts to slide your envelope through.  If it fits, it's one postage rate, identical to normal letters, and if it doesn't the rate goes way way up.  One strategy fopr getting around that is to gently bend the pins out a bit with suitable pliers, so that the chip is slightly squashed.  You can then just tape it to a piece of cardboard from a cereal box, and send it like a letter, without fear of either static damage or the puins getting bent and possibly snapped.  The pins CAN take a wee bit of bending, just not wiggling back and forth.

As or testing chips, sometimes it's good to simply make yourself a simply perfboard circuit that can accept single, dual or quad op-amps, with decent dependable IC sockets, and sufficient space to get your fingers in here.  Alternatively, even the humble Radio Shack sells a special pair of tweezers for inserting and removing ICs.  It might be better to spring the $5 or whatever, and test the chips out on your cramped TS, than spend the time building a test board.

[Sir H C]

CMOS devices have the worst static sensitivity, bipolar and jFETs are still able to be damaged but it is a lot harder to do them in.  In general you can put them in foam (often with tin foil on top if it is not true anti-static foam).  The idea is to short all the pins together electrically so that you can not get a current going through the chip if there is a static electricity event.

I have read that stress on bipolars often causes the beta to go down, leakage to go up, so that would be the result, but unless you have been shuffling across the carpet and touching the input pins with the rest well grounded you should be alright.  The amount of ESD protection for devices has gone up in the last 5-10 years, and older devices usually have not kept up.  Still you usually have to really work to blowk them out.

[darron]

thanks for your responses guys! nice and to the point! i'll probably use some normal polystyrene then to stop the legs from bending. i have heaps of static proof bags from other components i've bought so i'll put it in there since it can't hurt. if i'm not too lazy ill use the foil also to short the legs. i'm glad that i don't have to worry too much about static.

thanks once more (: let me know if you need a JRC4558d chip, i'll post it internationally for you

[calculating_infinity]

Again Mark Hammer clears another thing up for me!  I was always paranoid handling my op amps.  Also good info to know about shipping out ICs.  Might help in the future.  Thanks!

-Jonathan

[R.G.]

... "When Good Opamps Go Bad", GEOFEX

[calculating_infinity]

... "When Good Opamps Go Bad", GEOFEX

I didnt get around to reading that yet.  I have that one printed out and in one of my "Study Binders".  As well as most educational articles from geofex    Geez I must have 5 binders full already!  Im so happy there are people out there who are willing to help anyone!  Even tards like me!

-Jonathan