Static Electricity?

[David G. Smith]

I was wondering, is static electricity any danger to card storage media? I specifically use SDHC cards. I put them into a plastic case, and then put the case into a zip lock plastic bag. If I put this into my shirt pocket, while wearing a wool sweater or what ever, is there a possibility of damage to the info stored on the cards from static electricity?

 

[Paul F]

Static electricity can damage most any micro-electronics. If you build up a static charge and the SDHC is in your pocket, then it likely has the same static charge, so it is safe. But if you have that static charge while you put the SDHC in your computer or camera, the SDHC will be the point of the discharge to the device as you insert it. Then it may be damaged.

If you think you are in a very high static environment, then touch and stay in contact with the metal on the computer or camera while inserting the SDHC.

Just because you don't feel any static discharges on your fingers does not mean there is not damaging static electricity. But by and large, it is a rare occurrence to damage electronics.

 

[Egg Born Son]

For my dayjob i often have to hot swap circuit boards in the cable tv distribution headend. If you're really worried get an antistatic strap. They're around $10 and ensure you are earthed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antistatic_wrist_strap

 

[AtticusLake]

I think removable media have protection against this -- otherwise they'd be getting zapped all the time. I think it would just need a high-value resistor between each terminal and ground? And maybe buffering transistors on the lines? So it doesn't seem like it should be too hard. Certainly they seem quite robust. After all they're specifically designed to be handled, unlike circuit boards and individual chips.

 

[David G. Smith]

I think removable media have protection against this -- otherwise they'd be getting zapped all the time. I think it would just need a high-value resistor between each terminal and ground? And maybe buffering transistors on the lines? So it doesn't seem like it should be too hard. Certainly they seem quite robust. After all they're specifically designed to be handled, unlike circuit boards and individual chips.

That is what I am hoping. I don't think it is that big of a problem, or I am sure that we would have heard about it, some how. It is just you get to thinking sometimes and find new things to worry about.