Electrostatic discharge
This section provides information and procedures to prevent electrostatic discharge during
installation.
Preventing electrostatic discharge damage
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a discharge of stored static electricity that can damage equipment
and impair electrical circuitry. Electrostatic voltages can result from friction including, pulling
cabling through conduits, walking across carpeted areas, and building static charge in clothing.
When you improperly handle electronic components, ESD damage occurs and can result in
complete or intermittent failures. While networking equipment is commonly designed and tested to
withstand common mode ESD events, voltage can sometimes discharge to some connector pins,
which can potentially damage the networking equipment.
Caution:
To protect the switch against ESD damage, take the following measures before you connect
data cables to the device:
• Always use antistatic wrist straps. Make sure you adjust the strap to provide good skin
contact.
• Ensure that you properly ground work surfaces and equipment racks for protection
against electrostatic discharge. You must connect the common point to the building
ground wire. In a properly wired building, the nearest reliable ground is typically at the
electrical outlet.
• Avoid contact between equipment and clothing. The wrist or ankle strap protects only the
equipment from ESD voltages on the body; ESD voltages on clothing can still cause
damage.
• Avoid touching any connector pins.
• Do not remove the wrist or ankle strap until the installation is complete.
Preventing electrostatic damage in new cable installations
With new cable installations, Extreme Networks recommends that you use an ESD discharge
cable to reduce the potential for damage from static, that can build up in cables. The following
figure illustrates an ESD cable.
Electrostatic discharge
December 2017
Installing the VSP 8000 Series
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