TESTING OF WRISTSTRAPS AND FOOTWEAR
Daily testing of wrist straps and footwear is mandatory to ensure the grounding devices function properly and to minimize charge
generation on the human body, which may cause damage to integrated circuits. Partially conductive footwear and wrist straps are
the primary techniques used to drain and minimize electrical charges from the body. The wrist and foot straps typically have a 1
megohm resistor built into them. Too low a resistance can cause rapid discharge resulting in sparking and failures. Low resistance
wrist or foot straps can also cause an electrical shock to the operator if he touches a high voltage circuit. On the other hand, open
circuit or broken straps can cause high electrical resistant paths that result in static buildup, arcing, and integrated circuit damage.
To adapt to ISO-9000 certification the results should be printed to in a log book..
WRIST STRAPS
When using the meter for wrist strap testing or monitoring, position the three position switch up for testing wrists only, down for heal
grounders only and in the middle for testing both wrist straps and heal grounders simultaneously.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Position the switch located on the front of the meter to the wrist strap position
Attach the wrist strap to the ground cord attached. Be sure the strap is in snug contact with the wrist. Dry skin, hair or foreign
contaminants may cause failures for in-specification, well functioning wrist straps. ESD hand lotions will improve skin contact
with wrist straps.
Insert the end of the ground cord into the appropriate banana jack located on the front of the Combo-Tester meter. The US
female jack is on the left side and the constant monitoring 3.5 mm stereo plug is on the right side. Depress and hold the metal test
plate until an LED illuminates. The CT-8700 will test both the wrist straps and foot grounders simultaneously if the switch is in the
dual position.If the green “OK” LED illuminates, the wrist strap is functioning within the resistance specification range and
therefore may be used to handle static sensitive devices. If the monitor screen turns green, the test was also a “pass.” Make
sure the toggle switch is in the correct testing position.
If either the red “Too High” or red “Too Low” LED illuminates and the buzzer activates or the computer screen turns red, the worker
must adjust and re-test the wrist strap cord immediately. To test a faulty cord, leave the cord plugged into the meter and detach
the wrist cord from the strap. Press the wrist strap metal snap-end of the cord against the stainless steel test plate avoiding skin
contact. If the cord tests "FAIL" replace the cord.
Replace a low battery immediately in order to assure accurate readings.
Do not install an alkaline battery if power supply is used.
FOOTWEAR
Testing shoes or heel/toe grounders require the unique dual stainless steel footplate.
Plug the footplate plug
all the way
into the tester socket “Heel Plate.” Low results will appear if plug not fully inserted.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Position the switch in the front of the meter to the dual heel footplate position.
Stand on the footplate making sure that each foot is aligned in the left and right stainless steel pad and not touching both foot
plates.
Depress
and
hold
the metal test plate switch or button until an LED light illuminates or monitor screen displays readings.
If the green “OK” LED lights or the monitor displays green, then the foot grounders are functioning within the specifications.
If either of the “FAIL LOW” or “FAIL HIGH” red LED’s illuminate along with the activation of the buzzer for either foot, or the
display turns red, the user should check their shoe or heel/toe grounders and re-test. If both feet fail only one foot will display
“FAIL” on the tester. When that foot is corrected the other foot will display “fail” until it is corrected.
TESTING OF THE FOOT WEAR AND WRIST STRAP SIMULTANEOUSLY
1. Position the selector switch in the middle in order to test both the feet and wrist strap independently and
simultaneously. Step on plate and insert the wrist strap. Press button and if green light appears sign the test log
book. If a fail red light and buzzer appears retest and or see supervisor.
The ESD foot-grounding device may be out of specification for the following reasons: poor skin-tab contact, dirt contamination,
broken internal resistor,
broken leads, etc
Static Solutions CT-8700 Combo Tester Instructions
6
4/22/2008
