[Amps] Tubes, transistors, and 'abuse'

[Catherine James]

Bill Turner <dezrat at outlook.com> wrote:
> Cathy James <n5wvr at arrl.net> wrote:
 
>> I've lost track of the number of times I've had to replace the IRF510 MOSFETs in my HFPacker 35
>> watt amp.  This is a good little amp, but it eats IRF510 transistors for breakfast. It is Class A, with two
>> devices in parallel.
 
> Did you miss where I said "when not abused"?  

Did you miss where I said "When 'pick up the component in your hand' qualifies as 'abuse', you have an issue"?

> I'm sure you are not personally abusing them, but something in the environment is
> and they are clearly not being properly protected. 

Again, the point is that they require extreme protection. Tubes don't.
 
> When you handle them, do you have an anti-static mat and wear a ground wrist strap?

In my previous email, I wrote "I'm reasonably careful, avoiding unnecessary component handling during installation,
and wearing a grounding strap on my wrist."  No, I don't have an anti-static mat.

When you handle tubes, do you use an anti-static mat? :-)
 
73,
Cathy
N5WVR