ESD questions

[Maltes]

As an alternative workaround, can I rely on spraying my hands and my workbench with an antistatic spray before work?

[planters]

Never heard of that. But, the higher the humidity, the better. Did you check if your plumbing is metal, or if your power enters through a metal conduit?

[kecked]

I'll be honest. I never use esd protection. I've lost a handful of diodes over twenty years. However, I was also working with diodes that only cost maybe 100.00 max and usually less then 25.00. If lost a 1 watt green I'd be rather unhappy.

All I do it touch something before I start and immediately short the diode with a clip

[Robin]

I would also invest in a soldering station ESD pad. These provide a nice surface as well and this is an advantage when dealing with small, pesky parts.

ESD pads are well worth it.

One other thing to keep in mind: Many of the newer high power diodes in addition to having static protection also have their cathode and anode isolated from the diode can. If you're using diodes whose cans are not isolated, the diode mount should be electrically isolated. Kapton tape and nylon bushings are a common solution in that case.

EDIT: I somehow missed the list of diodes in your original post. Those diodes are all case isolated, which makes things a lot simpler.

[jors]

If you have no socked ground connect your wrist strap to a WC tap with a batery-like crocodile pin and always be barefoot when manipulating diodes

[kecked]

Not sure this will work but I'll put it out there. The issue is potential so if you make a large enough surface and connect yourself to it with the diode on it it might make a safe place to work. Tinfoil on a board. Connect yourself to the board.
Place the diode on the board with the pins already shorted. Do your work. Idea is to make a gauss surface. Now even if you and the board are charged it won't matter as all are at the same potential. Let's go one step forward. Instead of just a clip across the diode made a pair of clips with a lasorb across the pins. Now if the diode case pins whatever are a different potential they can all equalize to the board with the lasorb doing its job. Maybe make a socket to put the diode into with this arrangement. Place it on the board and then remove it from the socket.

2 cents

[planters]

I would not do this. An ESD mat is both conductive and resistive. A highly conductive Al sheet would serve to extend your catchment area for stray charges without causing them to dissipate.

The issue of ESD is by definition, static. If you cannot provide a more desirable route for a build up of electrons to flow away from where you are working, then you need to minimize the build up in the first place. By providing a ground, you do not eliminate the electrons, but they are so dilute that the voltage potential where you are is low.

[Maltes]

Actually what was I thinking, I have metal plumbing in my bathroom. All I need is a 10m cable.

[planters]

That was what I suggested above. The guage can be tiny if you would like.

[Maltes]

What does shorting the diodes pins do? And wont that be dangerous ?