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A Primer on Electro-Static Discharge Teledyne API - Model T200H/T200M Operation Manual
314
9.4. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF STATIC CONTROL
It is impossible to stop the creation of instantaneous static electric charges. It is not,
however difficult to prevent those charges from building to dangerous levels or prevent
damage due to electro-static discharge from occurring.
9.4.1. GENERAL RULES
Only handle or work on all electronic assemblies at a properly set up ESD station. Setting
up an ESD safe workstation need not be complicated. A protective mat properly tied to
ground and a wrist strap are all that is needed to create a basic anti-ESD workstation (see
figure 9-2).
Wrist Strap
Protective M at
Ground Point
Figure 9-2: Basic anti-ESD Work Station
For technicians that work in the field, special lightweight and portable anti-ESD kits are
available from most suppliers of ESD protection gear. These include everything needed
to create a temporary anti-ESD work area anywhere.
Always wear an Anti-ESD wrist strap when working on the electronic
assemblies of your analyzer. An anti-ESD wrist strap keeps the person wearing it
at or near the same potential as other grounded objects in the work area and allows
static charges to dissipate before they can build to dangerous levels. Anti-ESD wrist
straps terminated with alligator clips are available for use in work areas where there
is no available grounded plug.
Also, anti-ESD wrist straps include a current limiting resistor (usually around one
meg-ohm) that protects you should you accidentally short yourself to the instrument’s
power supply.
Simply touching a grounded piece of metal is insufficient. While this may
temporarily bleed off static charges present at the time, once you stop touching the
grounded metal new static charges will immediately begin to re-build. In some
conditions, a charge large enough to damage a component can rebuild in just a few
seconds.
Always store sensitive components and assemblies in anti-ESD storage bags
or bins: Even when you are not working on them, store all devices and assemblies
in a closed anti-Static bag or bin. This will prevent induced charges from building up
on the device or assembly and nearby static fields from discharging through it.
Use metallic anti-ESD bags for storing and shipping ESD sensitive components
and assemblies rather than pink-poly bags. The famous, “pink-poly” bags are
made of a plastic that is impregnated with a liquid (similar to liquid laundry detergent)
which very slowly sweats onto the surface of the plastic creating a slightly conductive
layer over the surface of the bag.
07270B DCN6512