User's Manual

374 Section 8A: Important Safety Information
Precautions Against ESD
Make sure to discharge any built-up static electricity from yourself and your elec-
tronic devices before touching an electronic device or connecting one device to
another. The recommendation from Palm is that you take this precaution before
connecting your device to your computer, placing the device in a cradle, or con-
necting it to any other device. You can do this in many ways, including the follow-
ing:
䢇 Ground yourself when you’re holding your mobile device by simultaneously
touching a metal surface that is at earth ground. For example, if your
computer has a metal case and is plugged into a standard three-prong
grounded outlet, touching the case should discharge the ESD on your body.
䢇 Increase the relative humidity of your environment.
䢇 Install ESD-specific prevention items, such as grounding mats.
Conditions That Enhance ESD Occurrences
Conditions that can contribute to the buildup of static electricity in the environ-
ment include the following:
䢇 Low relative humidity.
䢇 Material type (The type of material gathering the charge. For example,
synthetics are more prone to static buildup than natural fibers like cotton.)
䢇 The rapidity with which you touch, connect, or disconnect electronic devices.
While you should always take appropriate precautions to discharge static elec-
tricity, if you are in an environment where you notice ESD events, you may want
to take extra precautions to protect your electronic equipment against ESD.
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