Installation & Getting Started
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This device consumes, produces and radiates electric energy. Improper installation may cause electric
disturbances on radio transmitters and receivers. Vice versa, strong emitters of electric fields may
cause noise and artifacts to the instrument measurements.
IMPORTANT !
1.1 Electrostatic Discharge
Zennium-ECWs
are very sensitive instruments measuring currents down to the range of fA and aA.
For this purpose they are equipped with high-precision and high-sensitive inputs. These inputs are
well protected against over-voltage. Of course this can only be done to a degree which does not affect
the sensitivity of the inputs.
At dry conditions, the user can get charged electrostatically by rubbing two different materials, e.g.
shoe sole and floor, trouser material and chair cover material, etc. You can feel, see and hear the
discharge when touching a metallic part. An electrostatic charge on a human body can reach several
thousand Volts. From such high voltages the instrument inputs cannot be protected. Therefore, the
user needs to take care of not being charged when touching the input connectors or the ends of the
connected electrode lines. Discharging can be done by touching a grounded metal surface. The best
solution is a grounding pad beneath your
Zennium-ECW
system which you touch before you touch the
electrode inputs or electrode cables. The pad has to be grounded e.g. at the main ground.
!
Electrostatic discharge on the
Zennium-ECW
inputs can destroy the input amplifiers!
!
Before touching electrode connectors or electrode cables, make sure that you
discharged yourself by grounding.
!
Defects caused by electrostatic discharge are not covered by warranty!
!
Connect the electrode lines only in the following sequence:
1. Working electrode (WE)
2. Working electrode sense (WE sense)
3. Reference electrode (RE)
4. Counter electrode (CE)
Device under test (DUTs) can be left connected while turning off or restarting the ECW. Also
switching measurement device from main ECW to external potentiostats (via EPC42) can be
done without reconnecting the DUTs.
