ESD Warning
What is ESD?
ESD (
Electrostatic Dis-
charge)
is the sudden flow
of electricity between two
objects caused by contact
or an electrical short. It
can reach very high voltages of many kV. In some cases even
over 100kV!
Causes of ESD
The main cause of ESD events is static electricity. Static
electricity is usually generated through tribocharging, like
walking on a rug, ascending from a fabric seat, removing some
types of plastic packaging or using non-ESD compliant tools.
Danger of ESD
The high voltage pulse can easily destroy electronic parts. ICs
and FETs are very sensitive to high voltage.
Even a short,
single touch may destroy a part!
How do I prevent damage due to ESD?
Always ground yourself while working with electronic parts. A
grounded conducting wrist strap and proper anti-static work
surface mat will help prevent ESD damage. Also make sure
that the soldering iron is grounded and ESD-safe.
v
Warning symbol for an
electrostatic sensitive device
