Electrostatic Discharge Information
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage or destroy electronic components. All work on instruments and electronic components should be performed at a static-safe workstation as shown in the following figure . The static-safe workstation uses two types of ESD protection:
The following suggestions may reduce ESD damage that occurs during testing and servicing operations.
- Personnel should be grounded with a resistor-isolated wrist strap.
- Be sure all instruments are properly earth-grounded to prevent a buildup of static charge.
These techniques for a static-safe workstation should not be used when working on circuitry with a voltage potential greater than 30V rms, 42.4V peak, or 60V DC volts.
Only the table-mat and wrist-strap combination provides adequate ESD protection when used alone. To ensure your safety, the static-safe accessories must provide at least 1 MΩ of isolation from ground. Purchase acceptable ESD accessories from your local supplier.
Grounding Receptacle
If the instrument has a grounding receptacle, you can plug the wrist strap into the grounding receptacle. The front-panel grounding receptacle that is shown in the following picture.

Daily ESD Self Check
- Visually check your work area to see that there are no static-generating materials, insulating work surfaces, or static-generating tools.
- Clear your work area of static charge generators for a distance of at least 1 meter from ESD sensitive items.
- Visually check that the ground wiring to the workstation has not been disconnected or damaged.
- If applicable, make certain that your work station air ionizer is activated and correctly positioned.
- Make sure that there are no static generators inside conductive containers with ESD sensitive items.
- Visually check that all ESD sensitive parts, assemblies, or products are completely inside closed conductive containers.
- Make sure that all shielding containers have an approved static attention label on the outside.
- Make sure that all cleaners, solvents, coatings, and sprays used at your workstation are types approved by your ESD Coordinator.
- Put on wrist strap and conductive footwear, and any special garments which are required in your job.
- Don’t allow anyone who is not grounded closer than 1 meter to your static safe area.