Electrostatic Discharge

STATIC DISCHARGE PRECAUTIONS

Discharge static by touching ground or maintaining a ground connection to a bare skin area like the wrist before handling electronic parts.

Never touch electronic control module connector pins, integrated circuit connector pins, or soldered components on circuit boards.

WHY

Automotive computer systems are designed to operate at 3 - 5 Volts, and are susceptible to damage by voltages as low as 12 volts.

It takes up to 4,000 volts of static discharge for a person to feel the "ZAP".

The most common ways to become statically charged are, friction and induction.

CHARGING BY FRICTION

Friction between organic materials (such as cotton or leather) and synthetics (such as plastic, vinyl, or glass) can generate up to 25,000 volts. Can be accomplished by, sliding across a car seat or by wearing a cotton shirt under a synthetic coat.

CHARGING BY INDUCTION

Charging by induction occurs when a person standing near a highly charged object (strong magnetic field such as a transformer) momentarily touches ground. Like charges are displaced to ground, leaving the person highly charged with opposite polarity.