Forrest W Christian wrote:
> Carey Fisher wrote:
>
>   
>> Forrest,
>> What's MSL and why does it matter?
>>
>>     
> Others have answered with what it is... basically a rating which has to 
> do with absorbtion of moisture from the air which vaporizes during 
> soldering cracking the package (or doing other damage).
>
> What is scary is how many packages are at MSL 3 or above.  What is 
> biting me are the regulators I want to use which are in a TO-263 package 
> which is basically a surface mount version of the TO-220.  Once I open 
> the package I have to use all of them within 7 days or I have to bake 
> them at 125*C for at least 8 hours to dry them out before I do use them.
>
> -forrest
>   

Doesn't it matter what the relative humidity is where the parts are kept 
after opening the package?
Carey


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