• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Ghetto Anti-static bag?

K

kevinthenerd

Platinum Member
I'm trying to ship a PCI card back to a manufacturer for inspection. I don't have an anti-static bag. Do you know of anything else I can use? Would aluminum foil do a good job?
 
Originally posted by: GrammatonJP
They'll void ur warranty out right.. local computer store can give you one.. usually for free.. or ask ur friends
Click to expand...

lol... yeah, a bit weird, I know. I've been calling around like crazy (32825 area) with no luck.
 
For future reference, though, when it's not for shipping back to a manufacturer... is aluminum foil ok for storage when nobody's looking?
 
Originally posted by: kevinthenerd
For future reference, though, when it's not for shipping back to a manufacturer... is aluminum foil ok for storage when nobody's looking?
Click to expand...

Uhhh....no
 
aluminum foil is rather conductive. If you don't end up zapping your board at first, you'll end up making it short out the next time you want to use it.
 
Originally posted by: Talcite
aluminum foil is rather conductive. If you don't end up zapping your board at first, you'll end up making it short out the next time you want to use it.
Click to expand...

I thought it would have a Faraday cage effect, and in the places where it touches, it would just short stuff out (with zero voltage potential). As long as the whole board is at the same potentional, you're ok, right?
 
Originally posted by: kevinthenerd
Originally posted by: Talcite
aluminum foil is rather conductive. If you don't end up zapping your board at first, you'll end up making it short out the next time you want to use it.
Click to expand...

I thought it would have a Faraday cage effect, and in the places where it touches, it would just short stuff out (with zero voltage potential). As long as the whole board is at the same potentional, you're ok, right?
Click to expand...



Yes that's true, but when you remove the aluminum foil, not all of it will come off. And when you start the board, the little bits still there between the leads will cause the board to short out.
 
I have used alumium foil (Heavy Duty) for the purpose fairly often with no problem. You just have to use common sense and put some neutral material like cardboard between the trees and the foil so it doesn't get punctured or torn. You also need to remove any battery in the item to prevent shorts. It's a very unusual Mom & Pop computer shop that doesn't have a stack of A-S bags in the back...

.bh.
 
if you really need to, a bubble wrap works well. you can also find them at an office building, just ask for an IT or the guys that handle computers and they should be able to give you one..
 
Not all bubble wrap is anti-static. That which is is usually not clear but some other color, often pink. You'll also want to protect the bubble wrap from the "trees" on the back of the PCB. Best to ask the RMA department what they recommend as an alternative to an A-S bag and have them email the info to you with the name of the sender so you'll have documentation to fall back on.

..bh.
 
Hi, Anti Static bag is CONDUCTIVE. That's why it is used. Aluminum foil is even more conductive so is safer than the bag. Call the vendor and ask them if the foil s OK. If it's a Motherboard you might be better off to find a bag. The foil would probably short the battery and run it down. Luck, Jim
 
Aluminum foil makes a good anti-static bag - I agree with the others who said that the OEM you send it to might not know enough to agree with this statement and might void your warranty, but the reality of it is that aluminum foil works well as an antistatic bag.

At Intel when we are carrying bare components from lab to lab, we either put them into a chip tray, or, if you can't find one, wrap it in foil. The foil is thicker than the stuff in my kitchen and one side isn't shiny but fundamentally it's the same as kitchen foil.

The ESD (electrostatic discharge) problem that anti-static bags are supposed to fix is preventing high voltages to build up between the gate and the drain/source/substrate. So you don't want one part of the chip at 300kV and the rest of the chip at 0V. By tying all of the pins together you make sure that they are all set to the same value and there is no danger.
 
Aww man, I'm too late to teh party. I was gonna suggest a Wonder® Bread bag. Sure, it wouldn't actually help protect the card but it would be preeminently ghetto and prolly become legend at the manufacturer's receiving dept! 😉
 
Originally posted by: Auric
Aww man, I'm too late to teh party. I was gonna suggest a Wonder® Bread bag. Sure, it wouldn't actually help protect the card but it would be preeminently ghetto and prolly become legend at the manufacturer's receiving dept! 😉
Click to expand...

that is seriously 1 ghetto bag
 
Yeah, I was told that a brown paper bag (lunch bag) was a good substitute for a genuine anti-static bag (?).
 
Originally posted by: Auric
Aww man, I'm too late to teh party. I was gonna suggest a Wonder® Bread bag. Sure, it wouldn't actually help protect the card but it would be preeminently ghetto and prolly become legend at the manufacturer's receiving dept! 😉
Click to expand...

LOL. That'd make their day.

Seriously, have you felt your arm near one of those? It makes the hair stand up. It's like carrying around a Van de Graaff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top