3- 2 85052BUse, Maintenance, and Care of the DevicesElectrostatic DischargeElectrostatic DischargeProtection against electrostatic discharge (ESD) is essential while connecting, inspecting, or cleaningconnectors attached to a static-sensitive circuit (such as those found in test sets).Static electricity can build up on your body and can easily damage sensitive internal circuit elements whendischarged. Static discharges too small to be felt can cause permanent damage. Devices such ascalibration components and devices under test, can also carry an electrostatic charge. To prevent damageto the test set, components, and devices:• Always wear a grounded wrist strap having a 1 M resistor in series with it when handlingcomponents and devices or when making connections to the test set.• Always use a grounded antistatic mat in front of your test equipment.• Always wear a heel strap when working in an area with a conductive floor. If you are uncertain aboutthe conductivity of your floor, wear a heel strap.• Always ground yourself before you clean, inspect, or make a connection to a static-sensitive device ortest port. You can, for example, grasp the grounded outer shell of the test port or cable connector briefly.• Always ground the center conductor of a test cable before making a connection to the analyzer test portor other static-sensitive device. This can be done as follows:1. Connect a short (from your calibration kit) to one end of the cable to short the center conductor tothe outer conductor.2. While wearing a grounded wrist strap, grasp the outer shell of the cable connector.3. Connect the other end of the cable to the test port.4. Remove the short from the cable.Figure 3-1 shows a typical ESD protection setup using a grounded mat and wrist strap. Refer to Chapter 6for information on ordering supplies for ESD protection.Figure 3-1 ESD Protection Setup