How to Read IPC/JEDEC Moisture Charts: A Guide to Dry Cabinet Storage

How to read IPC/JEDEC moisture charts is essential for understanding proper electronics storage requirements. Following IPC standards for moisture control explained (J-STD-033) helps ensure components remain protected from moisture damage through controlled low humidity storage.

Why It Matters
Electronics absorb moisture during storage. Understanding MSL (Moisture Sensitivity Level) helps determine exposure limits because without proper humidity control, failures such as cracking, oxidation, and solder defects occur during assembly.

Read XDry’s JEDEC component-storage FAQ

Best Practice
Use a dry cabinet or electronic dry cabinet to maintain low humidity conditions, typically below 5% RH for sensitive devices while ensuring what humidity level is safe for electronic components is maintained during storage.

Why XDry
XDry dry cabinets are self-contained, nitrogen unnecessary, and provide ultra-low RH storage for MSDs, PCBs, reels, and trays.

See XDry’s compliant cabinet system

FAQ
Q: Why use a dry cabinet?
A: To prevent moisture-related damage by storing them in a low-humidity environment (less than 5%). Doing so keeps printed circuit boards and electronic components ready for production and eliminates harsh preproduction baking cycles.

Q: What RH is ideal?
A: Ultra-low humidity for sensitive electronics needing to be stored in an environment of less than 5%, ideally closer to 1-2%