[vcf-midatlantic] Bag-o-chips sorting, storing, testing

[Herb Johnson]

I looked at the photos of the donated chips. Most of them are 
plastic-bagged and labeled when in quantity. Generally, "what to do" is 
to make a PAPER list of those tags and bags, and keep it with the box o' 
bagged chips. Then you have a box of bagged chips with catalog. And in 
this matter, don't use plastic boxes, they generate static. Paper is 
fine; there's antistat boxes made too but that's excessive in this 
matter. Problem solved.

A couple exceptions:

Problem is, all the 4000 series chips that are CMOS, are now damaged by 
plastic static electricity. I suggest that for the 4000 series, they 1) 
be rebagged in antistatic bags and 2) tagged as "static damaged". I'm 
serious.

TTL and LS and other non-CMOS chips, leave them in their plastic bags.

Some bags had mixed chips embedded in anti-static foam. That foam 
degrades over decades, so make sure it's not too old (crumbly, melting, 
etc.) Then rebag in anti-static bags. Label the bags as to kind. If 
antistat foam is kept from air and moisture, it lasts longer. But it 
does degrade and should be replaced every decade (!).

about testing them. Most are not worth testing. Just use 'em and confirm 
in circuit that they work. Oscilloscope observation of inputs and 
outputs will confirm lack of damage at the pin level. If one needs 
known-good chips - don't use these! problem solved.

In the discussion, it was suggested to 'store these at CDL'. Frankly, I 
suggest *donating them to CDL*. They will put them to best use, and know 
how to use them. If VCFed needs chips, I presume they already turn to 
CDL for assistance. If CDL doesn't want these chips, that's entirely 
their discretion; if they will store them for VCFed anyway, that is very 
kind of them. I am not in charge of CDL or VCFed so these are merely 
policy suggestions.

best regards,
Herb Johnson


-- 
Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA
http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net
preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing
email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com
or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net