A few months ago, we talked about electrostatic discharge (ESD) and how it can damage smaller electronic components. This is why it is important to set up an ESD workstation, to protect these fragile parts from static.
Let us walk you through the process!
What is Static (Or ESD)?
If you remember, ESD is produced when two objects rub against each other and transfer electrons. The object that receives the electrons develops a negative charge, while the object that gives the electrons becomes positively charged.
Now, when the negatively charged object comes in contact with a conductor (or another positively charged body), it rapidly transfers the extra electrons, creating that static spark that has shocked many of us on a dry day!
For us, the shock is just an inconvenience. For sensitive electronic components, especially microprocessors, even a mild shock, as little as 5 volts, can be fatal.
How Do You Reduce Static?
So, here’s the thing:
Our body creates static, or ESD, that shocks us – whether it is through clothes rubbing against us, or through the friction of walking on a carpeted floor.
You could reduce the amount of static your body produces by wearing ESD clothing, but you will still have to deal with some amount of electrostatic discharge.
By setting up an ESD workstation, you can make sure you eliminate almost all static, thereby protecting expensive computer components from damage.
Now, this may seem like a very technical endeavour, but in reality, it’s quite simple.
What Do You Need to Set Up Your ESD Workstation?
If you accumulate a static charge, you get ESD when you touch a conducting object. The more charge you accumulate, the bigger the static shock.
The theory behind an ESD workstation is that you ground yourself and your equipment so the charge cannot build up. In essence, you keep the electrons flowing so they can’t collect, either on you or your equipment.
The Essentials for Setting Up an ESD Workstation
To set up an electrostatic discharge-free workstation, you need:
- A working surface mat
- A working surface mat grounding cord
- An Earth bonding point (EBP) plug
- An ESD wrist strap
- An earth bonding point (EBP) bar
- Foot grounders (or ESD shoes)
- ESD floor matting
- Floor mat grounding cord
What These Do
An ESD working surface mat works in two ways. Firstly, it gives you a surface that naturally doesn’t collect static. Secondly, it also actively removes the charge from any electrostatic discharge sensitive (ESDS) devices that you place on it.
The working surface grounding cord helps ‘collect’ the charge and ground it so that the surface mat remains static-free.
The plug point fits into your mains supply socket, but only connecting with the earth conductor.
The ESD wrist strap goes around the operator’s wrist (obviously!) and is connected to the EBP plug or the EBP bar. Any charge that could flow from your body through your hands is grounded with this.
Foot grounders and ESD shoes both work by connecting your body to the ground, dissipating any charge that builds up, as long as your feet (or even a single foot) is touching the floor or the ESD floor mat.
Floor matting is made of a conductive or dissipative material, allowing it to direct the flow of ESD from you to the ground through the floor mat grounding cord.
Setting It All Up
To start with, you need to lay your bench mat flat on your work surface. Make sure the studs face upwards. Then, connect the grounding cord with the working surface mat.
Plug the grounding plug into the mains socket, and then connect the other end of the surface mat grounding cord to the plug.
That’s the end of the workbench ESD set up. Now, let’s start on your personal ESD equipment!
Put the ESD wristband on the wrist of your working hand. Connect the coiled cord to the wristband first and then to the EBP bar. The EBP bar should have been attached to the bench and connected to a suitable earth point.
Sometimes, when you or your operators are moving between workstations frequently, it might not be feasible to have the wristband. In this case, you may need to rely on an ESD floor mat.
Simply lay it on the floor, ensuring that the studs face upwards. Connect it to the grounding cord, and plug the grounding cord to the EBP bar. Now, all you need to do is make sure you have foot grounders or ESD shoes on your feet!
At VODEX, we offer a variety of ESD products designed to keep your equipment and components safe. You can even get ESD workbenches that will reduce the amount of grounding you need. Get in touch with us if you need more information on ESD protection or extraction for your workplace!
