Chapter 1 15
Troubleshooting
Before You Start
ESD Information
Protection from Electrostatic Discharge
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage or destroy electronic
components. All work on electronic assemblies should be performed at a
static-safe workstation. Figure 1-1 shows an example of a static-safe
workstation using two types of ESD protection:
❏ Conductive table-mat and wrist-strap combination.
❏ Conductive floor-mat and heel-strap combination.
Both types, when used together, provide a significant level of ESD
protection. Of the two, only the table-mat and wrist-strap combination
provides adequate ESD protection when used alone. To ensure user
safety, the static-safe accessories must provide at least 1 M Ω of
isolation from ground. Refer to Table 1-1 for information on ordering
static-safe accessories.
WARNING These techniques for a static-safe workstation should not be
used when working on circuitry with a voltage potential
greater than 500 volts.