User Guide

Teledyne API M100E Analyzer Operation Manual A Primer on Electro-Static Discharge
299
Anti-Static bags made of plastic impregnated with metal (usually silvery in color) provide all of the charge
equalizing abilities of the pink-poly bags but also, when properly sealed, create a Faraday cage that
completely isolates the contents from discharges and the inductive transfer of static charges.
Storage bins made of plastic impregnated with carbon (usually black in color) are also excellent at
dissipating static charges and isolating their contents from field effects and discharges.
Never use ordinary plastic adhesive tape near an ESD sensitive device or to close an anti-ESD bag.
The act of pulling a piece of standard plastic adhesive tape, such as Scotch
®
tape, from its roll will generate
a static charge of several thousand or even tens of thousands of volts on the tape itself and an associated
field effect that can discharge through or be induced upon items up to a foot away.
13.5. BASIC ANTI-ESD PROCEDURES FOR ANALYZER REPAIR
AND MAINTENANCE
13.5.1. WORKING AT THE INSTRUMENT RACK
When working on the analyzer while it is in the instrument rack and plugged into a properly grounded power
supply.
1. Attach your anti-ESD wrist strap to ground before doing anything else.
Use a wrist strap terminated with an alligator clip and attach it to a bare metal portion of the instrument
chassis. This will safely connect you to the same ground level to which the instrument and all of its
components are connected.
2. Pause for a second or two to allow any static charges to bleed away.
3. Open the casing of the analyzer and begin work. Up to this point, the closed metal casing of your analyzer
has isolated the components and assemblies inside from any conducted or induced static charges.
4. If you must remove a component from the instrument, do not lay it down on a non-ESD preventative surface
where static charges may lie in wait.
5. Only disconnect your wrist strap after you have finished work and closed the case of the analyzer.
13.5.2. WORKING AT AN ANTI-ESD WORK BENCH
When working on an instrument of an electronic assembly while it is resting on an anti-ESD work bench:
1. Plug your anti-ESD wrist strap into the grounded receptacle of the work station before touching any items on
the work station and while standing at least a foot or so away. This will allow any charges you are carrying
to bleed away through the ground connection of the workstation and prevent discharges due to field effects
and induction from occurring.
2. Pause for a second or two to allow any static charges to bleed away.
3. Only open any anti-ESD storage bins or bags containing sensitive devices or assemblies after you have
plugged your wrist strap into the workstation.
Lay the bag or bin on the workbench surface.
Before opening the container, wait several seconds for any static charges on the outside surface of the
container to be bled away by the workstation’s grounded protective mat.
4. Do not pick up tools that may be carrying static charges while also touching or holding an ESD Sensitive
Device.
04515F DCN6048