Keithley 5156 Instruction Manual page 5

Safety Precautions
The following safety precautions should be observed before using this product and any asso-
ciated instrumentation. Although some instruments and accessories would normally be used
with non-hazardous voltages, there are situations where hazardous conditions may be present.
This product is intended for use by qualified personnel who recognize shock hazards and are
familiar with the safety precautions required to avoid possible injury. Read and follow all
installation, operation, and maintenance information carefully before using the product. Re-
fer to the manual for complete product specifications.
If the product is used in a manner not specified, the protection provided by the product may
be impaired.
The types of product users are:
Responsible body is the individual or group responsible for the use and maintenance of
equipment, for ensuring that the equipment is operated within its specifications and operat-
ing limits, and for ensuring that operators are adequately trained.
Operators use the product for its intended function. They must be trained in electrical safety
procedures and proper use of the instrument. They must be protected from electric shock and
contact with hazardous live circuits.
Maintenance personnel perform routine procedures on the product to keep it operating
properly, for example, setting the line voltage or replacing consumable materials. Mainte-
nance procedures are described in the manual. The procedures explicitly state if the operator
may perform them. Otherwise, they should be performed only by service personnel.
Service personnel are trained to work on live circuits, and perform safe installations and re-
pairs of products. Only properly trained service personnel may perform installation and ser-
vice procedures.
Keithley products are designed for use with electrical signals that are rated Installation Cat-
egory I and Installation Category II, as described in the International Electrotechnical Com-
mission (IEC) Standard IEC 60664. Most measurement, control, and data I/O signals are
Installation Category I and must not be directly connected to mains voltage or to voltage
sources with high transient over-voltages. Installation Category II connections require pro-
tection for high transient over-voltages often associated with local AC mains connections.
Assume all measurement, control, and data I/O connections are for connection to Category
I sources unless otherwise marked or described in the Manual.
Exercise extreme caution when a shock hazard is present. Lethal voltage may be present on
cable connector jacks or test fixtures. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
states that a shock hazard exists when voltage levels greater than 30V RMS, 42.4V peak, or
60VDC are present. A good safety practice is to expect that hazardous voltage is present
in any unknown circuit before measuring.
Operators of this product must be protected from electric shock at all times. The responsible
body must ensure that operators are prevented access and/or insulated from every connection
point. In some cases, connections must be exposed to potential human contact. Product op-
erators in these circumstances must be trained to protect themselves from the risk of electric
shock. If the circuit is capable of operating at or above 1000 volts, no conductive part of
the circuit may be exposed.
Do not connect switching cards directly to unlimited power circuits. They are intended to be
used with impedance limited sources. NEVER connect switching cards directly to AC
mains. When connecting sources to switching cards, install protective devices to limit fault
current and voltage to the card.
Before operating an instrument, make sure the line cord is connected to a properly grounded
power receptacle. Inspect the connecting cables, test leads, and jumpers for possible wear,
cracks, or breaks before each use.
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