Testing And Precautions; Standard Testing And Trained Operators; Precautions To Be Taken; Failures And Damage - Ametek esd NX30 Quick Start Manual And Safety Instructions

AMETEK CTS
2.

Testing and Precautions

All tests produced EMC generators are immunity tests on electronic equipment or devices. These tests are potentially dan-
gerous to the operator. It is the responsibility of the user to avoid critical failures and risks to the environment and the opera-
tor.
National and International regulations regarding human safety must be followed.
Individuals with certain health conditions (e.g. with a heart pacemakers or similar devices), may not participate in testing.
Long power supply lines to the EUT may radiate energy which may interfere with other instruments unrelated to the genera-
tor. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether to conduct immunity tests in a given area.
The most significant interference components of an electrostatic discharge are of a high frequency nature. The interference
paths and effects have to be assessed in the range from about 30 MHz to multi-GHz.
The extremely rapid rise time of a discharge affects an object under test mostly through:
Magnetic HF-coupling between electrical conductors in the electronics and the discharge current path.
•
• Electrical coupling between the discharge current and signal lines. A discharge current to the EUT flows propor-
tionally through all the associated conductors (earth, mains, data lines, screening, etc.) according to their relative
impedance.
Malfunctions in insufficiently immune electronic equipment and systems make themselves apparent through:
• Program crashes
Blocking of command sequences
•
• Incorrect commands, statuses or data being further processed
• Partial system resets (e.g. only in peripheral modules, which lead to errors that the system does not recognize)
Disturbance or destruction of interface modules
•
• Destruction of insufficiently protected MOS components.
ESD (electrostatic discharge) testing usually shows up all the weak spots in the HF-range of a piece of equipment simulta-
neously. The uses to which the esd NX30 ESD simulator can be put hence go way beyond those called for in standard-
conform applications.
This instrument provides the engineer with a means to detect sources of error caused by unsuitable earthing, poor ground
connections, insulation problems, etc.
The generator also serves as a reliable aid for localizing hidden wiring faults during acceptance trials on installations.
Use can also be made of the instrument as an insulation tester to determine the breakdown voltage of switches, relay con-
tacts, insulators, etc.

2.1. Standard Testing and Trained Operators

Operators must have read and understood the manufacturer or international standard to be applied.
This document does not replace an intimate understanding of the standard and the DUT which is required for safe, correct,
compliant testing. The equipment is to be used by trained operators only.

2.2. Precautions to be taken

• EMC and High Voltage test areas must always be supplied by a decoupled and well-known power supply.
EMC and High Voltage test areas must always have a clear grounding strategy in exact accordance to the stand-
•
ard.

2.3. Failures and Damage

If it is determined that a safe operation of the equipment due to failure or heavy strain is no longer possible, the
supply voltage must be disconnected, and the equipment protected from unintentional use.
Unsafe operation is determined as follows:
the equipment shows visible damage
•
the equipment is not working
•
• the equipment has experienced severe stress during transport
the equipment was stored in an unsuitable environment for an extended period of time.
•
Quick Start and Safety Guide V 1.0
ESD Simulators
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