PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-587
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 587
OCTOBER 2001
So, protect your circuit cards from ESD. Handle
them only at static-safe workstations that include a
grounded static-dissipative table mat, floor mat and
wrist strap. They're designed to limit static buildup
and carry already-existing charges to ground.
PS 587
OCT 01
48
Electrostatic Discharge.
..
How to
Defeat
How to
Defeat
E
lectrostatic discharge (ESD)
destroys or degrades your
commo by damaging circuit
cards, transistors, resistors
and integrated circuits. ESD
can strike during packing,
shipping, handling or installa-
tion of circuit cards.
What Causes ESD?
ESD comes from electrically charged
objects in your work area: clothing,
rugs, chairs, paper, ordinary packaging
materials, or the work surface itself.
But the main source of ESD is you!
You build up thousands of volts of stat-
ic electricity just by walking across the
floor or combing your hair. Then, just
by touching a circuit card, you'll dis-
charge static electricity, often without
realizing it.
A spark as little as 30 volts can ruin a sensitive electronic device. You may not
feel the discharge or see the damage, but you can bet it's happened. The circuit card
may fail now, or be weakened enough to cause intermitent current problems or even
complete failure at a later time—just when you least expect it.
NSN 4940-01-250-4236 will bring you a static
dissipative table mat, common point ground system,
and an adjustable wrist strap cuff to use in all
areas other than clean rooms. It also includes a
small/medium and large/extra large wrist cuff.
here’s
what’s
available!
NSN 4940-01-
253-5368 brings
a field service
kit which has
three pouches,
three barrier
bags, two wrist
straps, one
grounding cord
and a work
surface mat.
Static-safe Workstations
If you're going to be packaging ESD-
sensitive (ESDS) circuit cards, here are
a couple of ways to protect them:
First, wrap the cards in anti-static
bubble wrap, NSN 8135-01-234-6649.
Then make a bag from static shielding
barrier material, NSN 8135-01-185-
6816. Heat seal the bag with a hand-
held sealer, NSN 3540-00-975-4255.
You can zap
a circuit
card just by
touching it
Get a table
mat,…
…and
a wrist
strap
cuff
Put cards
in bubble
wrap
…a common point
ground system…
You can create static by
walking across the floor
587. 48-53 (C)
9/5/01
12:14 PM
Page 1
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