Electrostatic Effects - MTS Systems Temposonics MH Series Installation Manual

6.3 Electrostatic effects

Electrostatic charge is caused due to friction and separation of charge. This phenomenon is widely known and can be produced e.g. by carpets
or car seats. Mostly, the charge is noticed only in the event of discharge, when the associated „shock" occurs. The voltages due to electrostatic
discharge can have very high values, for example:
Walking over carpet floors up to 30,000 V
Walking over synthetic floors up to 12,000 V
Moving at the workplace up to 6,000 V
Not only the high voltages, but especially the sudden discharge and related currents (up to 50 Ampère!) can cause destruction of electrical compo-
nents. The effects are similar to those occurring due to electrostatic discharge during dry painting (see also chapter 7.1).
15
Initial spike,
discharge of
hand capacitance
10
5
0
0 10
To avoid electrostatic discharge, workplaces and persons working with or on electronic components must be earthed.
Suitable protective measures are:
• Persons wear ribbons connected to the grounding point by means of spiral cable around their wrist.
Please, contact us, if you need information on suppliers for suitable protective equipment.
• Work is only performed on diverting material, i.e. charges can be diverted gently (e.g. work plate of wood rubber, ESD foam material).
• Avoid hard discharge. Don't deposit components on metal plates or metal film.
• Don't remove electrostatically sensitive components from the packaging without grounding.
• Caution when cutting adhesive tapes, don't tear to open.
Discharge of
body capacitance
20 30 40
Time [ns]
Current flow curve
during electrostatic
discharge of a
human body
50
I 21 I
Temposonics MH Series
®
Installation Manual