Elton User Manual Rev 1.04
Page 4
1. IMPORTANT SAFE HANDLING INFORMATION
WARNING!
ESD-Sensitive Electronic Equipment
Observe ESD-safe handling procedures when working with this product.
Always use this product in a properly grounded work area and wear
appropriate ESD-preventive clothing and/or accessories.
Always store this product in ESD-protective packaging when not in use.
Safe Handling Precautions
Diamond Systems boards are designed with complex circuitry and electronic components that are ESD
(Electrostatic Discharge)-sensitive. This increases the likelihood of the boards incurring accidental damage
during handling, installation, and connection to other equipment.
It is highly recommended that the following precautionary measures and best practices be observed in
sequential order:
Wear an anti-static Wristband/Strap or/and an antistatic Lab Coat or/and Rubber-soled shoes.
Spread anti-static mats over the table or work surface or/and anti-static mats on the floor.
Unpack components and remove them from their anti-static bags only when they are ready to be
used.
Avoid ungrounded surfaces such as plastic, carpets, floors, or tables, in the work area.
Handle boards by the edges and their metal mounting brackets. Avoid touching components on the
boards and the edge connectors that connect to expansion slots.
The following information describes common causes of failure found on boards and components returned to
Diamond Systems for repair. It is provided as a guideline to avoid accidental damage.
ESD Damage
: This type of damage is typically impossible to detect because there is no visual sign of failure
or damage. In this type of damage, the board eventually stops functioning because of some defective
components. Usually, the failure can be identified and the chip can be replaced.
To prevent ESD damage, always follow proper ESD-prevention practices when handling computer boards.
Damage During Handling or Storage
: Physical damage on boards also occur due to mishandling. A
common observation is that of a screwdriver slipping on the board during installation, causing a gouge on the
PCB surface, cutting signal traces or damaging components.
Another common observation is damaged board corners, indicating the board was dropped. This may or may
not cause damage to the circuitry, depending on components located near the edges. Most Diamond System
boards are designed with a minimum 25 mils clearance between the board edge and component pad. The
Ground/power planes are located a minimum of 20 mils from the edge to avoid possible shorting from this
type of damage. However, these design rules do not prevent damage in all situations.
Sometimes boards are stored in racks with slots that grip the edge of the board. This is a common practice
for board manufacturers. Though Diamond Systems boards are resilient to damages, the components located
close to the board edges can be damaged or even knocked off the board if the board lies tilted in the rack.
Diamond Systems recommends that all its boards be stored only in individual ESD-safe packaging units. If
multiple boards are stored together, they should be contained in bins with dividers placed between the boards.
Do not pile boards on top of each other or cram too many boards within a small location. This can cause
damage to connector pins or fragile components.
