Protecting against ESD damage

Any system component that contains transistors or integrated circuits should be considered sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD). ESD damage can occur when there is a difference in charge between objects. Protect against ESD damage by equalizing the charge so that the system unit, the part, the work mat, and the person handling the part are all at the same charge.

Packaging materials that contain ESD sensitive components are usually marked with a yellow and black warning symbol.

Caution! You must observe proper grounding techniques to prevent the discharge of static electricity from your body into ESD sensitive components.

To avoid damaging ESD sensitive components:

• Keep the parts in protective packages until they are ready to be inserted into the product.
• Handle the components only after attaching a wrist strap to your bare wrist. Attach the other end of the wrist strap to a ground that terminates at the system ground, such as any unpainted metallic chassis surface.
• Handle a circuit card by the faceplate or side edges only. Hold devices such as a hard disk drives in the same manner. The ESD sensitive area of these components is located on the bottom surface. See How to hold a circuit card.

Caution! Make sure that your palm is not in contact with the non-component side of the board.

• Keep components away from plastics and other synthetic materials such as polyester clothing. Most clothing is insulative and retains a charge even when you are wearing a wrist strap.
• Do not hand components to another person unless that person is grounded at the same potential level. In general, avoid contact with other people.
• Use the black side of a grounded work mat to provide a static-free work surface. The mat is especially useful when handling ESD-sensitive devices.
• Make sure that the ESD protective devices you use have been certified (ISO 9000) as fully effective.

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