Deal of the Week – 20% Off Surface Resistance Meter Kits!

http://www.charleswater.co.uk/DealWeek.aspx

Check this link weekly for special pricing on overstock items.

Discover deep discounts on high quality Charleswater ESD Control Products.

Save on your regular stocking orders.

Current Deal of the Week

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20% Off Surface Resistance Meter Kit

99105 – Surface Resistance Meter Kit
99106 – Surface Resistance Meter
99108 – Leads for Surface Resistance Meter, Pair
99109 – Electrodes for Surface Resitance Meter, Pair

• Digital Compliance Verification Surface Resistance Meter Kit
  Measures resistance point-to-point (Rp-p) or surface to ground (Rg) of working surfaces, flooring, garments, packaging, and other materials in accordance with EN 61340-5-1 per IEC 61340-2-3
• Meter measures ambient temperature and relative humidity
  Available when required for test records
• Colour coded LED and digital LCD read-out
  Easy to read, no interpretation needed; can easily be used for quick go/no go checks
• Made in the United States of America

Use code C101 at checkout. Valid for online orders only.

New Limit Comparator for Testers Available at Charleswater.co.uk!

Use to perform periodic calibration testing of the:
Dual Independent Footwear Tester
Dual Independent Footwear and Wrist Strap Tester
SmartLog V4™
SmartLog V5™

Frequency of recalibration should be based on the critical nature of those ESD sensitive items handled and the risk of failure for the ESD protective equipment and materials. In general, Charleswater recommends that calibration be performed annually.

Item	Description	Price
50424	Limit Comparator for Testers	$224.10

“A compliance verification plan shall be established to ensure the organization’s fulfilment of the requirements of the plan. Compliance verification records shall be established and maintained to provide evidence of conformity to the technical requirements.” [EN 61340-5-1 Edition 1.0 2007-08 clause 5.2.3 Compliance verification plan]

Resistors in Charleswater Mat Ground Cords

Using a current limiting resistor in the ground cord is the user’s choice; however, the resistor is not for ESD control purposes. Either without resistor or with a one megohm resistor is acceptable, but most all Charleswater ground cords do contain a resistor at the snap end.

Here is advice from our industry’s standard:

“An easily accessible dedicated EBP [EPA ground bonding point] for the wrist strap shall be established adjacent to each working area, or working surface. A sufficient number of EBP shall be provided for operators and visitors.” (EN 61340-5-1 section 5.3.3)

“EPA ground cords shall be used to make electrical connections between groundable points and the EPA ground facility.” (EN 61340-5-1 section 5.3.4)

Regarding 1 megohm resistor, “A nominal 1 megohm resistor is commonly used in wrist straps and to ground work surfaces.” [EN 61340-5-2: Section 5.1.1] However, for Working Surfaces, it refers to “it is allowed, when approved by the ESD coordinator, to use surfaces which are “hard ground” i.e. less than 1 X 10^4 ohms to EPA ground.” (EN 61340-5-1 Note 6 of Table 1)

“The EPA ground facility shall be connected to EPA ground and provide a low resistance path to EPA ground (<2 ohms). When available, the mains protective earth shall be used. (EN 61340-5-1 section 5.3.2)

When an in-line resistor is used in Charleswater’s common point grounds it is isolated from the banana jacks

Introducing New Conductive Boxes

Ship and store your ESD Sensitive Products
in these Conductive Boxes

Charleswater Rigid Conductive Boxes are marked with the ESD protective symbol. Boxes can be supplied with or without high density (HD) foam for insertion of component leads or low density (FX) foam which acts as a cushioning material meets EN 61340-5-1 Table 4 Packaging required range for conductive packaging.

• Made of conductive polypropylene;
  Rs, Rv: 1 x 10E2 < 1 x 10E5 ohms
  per IEC 61340-2-3
• Strong box with integrally hinged lid
• Provide good ESD and mechanical protection

Item	Description	Price
Box Configuration – No Foam
71240	Rigid Conductive Box, 35 x 35 x 11mm, Empty	$ 1.00
71242	Rigid Conductive Box, 75 x 51 x 14mm, Empty	$ 2.50
71244	Rigid Conductive Box, 90 x 64 x 16mm, Empty	$ 1.66
71246	Rigid Conductive Box, 108 x 83 x 13mm, Empty	$ 3.00
71249	Rigid Conductive Box, 230 x 128 x 20mm, Empty	$ 5.45
71251	Rigid Conductive Box, 230 x 128 x 30mm, Empty	$ 5.00
71253	Rigid Conductive Box, 230 x 128 x 40mm, Empty	$ 5.50
Box Configuration – Foam in Base
71241	Rigid Conductive Box, 35 x 35 x 11mm, 6mm HD in Base Only	$ 2.16
Box Configuration – Foam in Base and Lid
71243	Rigid Conductive Box, 75 x 51 x 14mm, 6mm HD in Base/FX in Lid	$ 2.78
71245	Rigid Conductive Box, 90 x 64 x 16mm, 6mm HD in Base/FX in Lid	$ 3.49
71247	Rigid Conductive Box, 108 x 83 x 13mm, 6mm HD in Base/FX in Lid	$ 4.03
71250	Rigid Conductive Box, 230 x 128 x 20mm, 6mm HD in Base/FX in Lid	$10.49
71252	Rigid Conductive Box, 230 x 128 x 30mm, 6mm HD in Base/FX in Lid	$12.76
71254	Rigid Conductive Box, 230 x 128 x 40mm, 6mm HD in Base/FX in Lid	$12.91

Click HERE for printable version | Sign Up HERE | Request a Sample HERE | See a list of Sales Reps HERE
Products & programs are available through your participating distributor | Submit an ESD Question HERE

EMIT Smartlog V5™ Data Acquisition System – ESD Data at your Fingertips

The patented* SmartLog V5™ system is designed for fast, frequent and accurate testing of ESD personnel grounding items. The SmartLog V5™ records ESD test data and exports it to a central PC or server in real-time where it can be managed and reported using TEAM5 Software.

• Single-wire and Dual-wire Wrist Strap Compatible
• Embedded CCD Barcode Scanner
• Ethernet Communication
• Adjustable Resistance Limits
• Programmable Test Requirements
• Compatible with Proximity Readers
• Embedded relay terminal for use with electronic

TEAM5 Software
TEAM5 is the most powerful and accurate ESD Test Acquisition Software on the market. Use TEAM5 to automate and manage the ESD test data collected by the SmartLog V5™.
Click here to learn more.

Item	Description	List Price
50762	Smartlog V5™, Europe, w/o Software	£2,294.72
50763	SmartLog V5™, Euro, 10MM Adapter, w/o Software	£2,294.72
50764	Reader Only, SmartLog V5™, HID ProxPoint Plus	£   370.28
50765	Reader Only, SmartLog V5™, HID iClass	£   383.04
50491	TEAM5 Enterprise Software with 1 Year Service	£3,886.16
50493	TEAM5 Software with 1 Year Service	£   623.36

*US Patent 6,078,875
“Compliance verification records shall be established and maintained to provide evidence of conformity to the technical requirements. The test equipment selected shall be capable of making the measurements defined in the compliance verification plan.” [EN 61340-5-1 Edition 1.0 2007-08 clause 5.2.3 Compliance verification plan]

Click HERE for Printable Version | Request a Demo HERE | See list of sales reps and distributors HERE
All Items & programs are available through your participating distributor | Submit your questions HERE

What is a Faraday Cage?

by Gene Felder

A Faraday cage or Faraday shield is an enclosure formed by conducting material or by a mesh of such material. Such an enclosure blocks external static and non-static electric fields. Faraday cages are named after the English scientist Michael Faraday, who invented them in 1836. An impressive demonstration of the Faraday cage effect is that of an aircraft being struck by lightning. This happens frequently, but does not harm the plane or passengers. The metal body of the aircraft protects the interior. For the same reason, a car may be a safe place to be in a thunderstorm.

ESD control products that provide a Faraday Cage or shielding include Charleswater Statshield® Metal-In Bags, and Statshield® Metal-Out Bags, Protektive Pak™ impregnated corrugated with shielding layer when using a lid, and Conductive Totes. Charleswater ESD Lab Coats create a Faraday Cage effect around the torso and arms of the operator and shields charges from the operator’s clothing from damaging ESD sensitive devices. (Technically, suppressing the electrical field from clothing worn underneath).

There are standard tests measuring the energy penetration of electrostatic discharges to the interior. The Shielding test method per EN 61340-5-1 Packaging table 4 is ANSI/ESD STM11.31 and the required limit is less than 50 nanoJoules of energy.

The EN 61340-5-1 Edition 1.0 2007-08 Introduction includes “ESD protection can be achieved by enclosing ESD sensitive products in static protective materials, although the type of material depends on the situation and destination. Inside an EPA, low charging and static dissipative materials may provide adequate protection. Outside an EPA, low charging and static discharge shielding materials are recommended.” []

Definitions:
Faraday cage
“A conductive enclosure that attenuates a stationary electrostatic field.”

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) shield
“A barrier or enclosure that limits the passage of current and attenuates an electromagnetic field resulting from an electrostatic discharge.”

Electrostatic shield
“A barrier or enclosure that limits the penetration of an electrostatic field.”

Note: EN 61340-5-1 Edition 1.0 2007-08 can be purchased from the IEC website.

Ground Trolleys in Series With Cords Having 1 Megohm Resistor

Question:
I am confused on ESD connections. I understand that you cannot clip a cord from a wrist strap to the edge of an ESD protective mat. I know that the cord for wrist straps has 1 megohm of resistance and that the point to connect the wrist strap cord should have less than 1 ohm to ground.

I have people using 2 meter high metal rolling trolleys. I believe the preferred method is to connect each trolley directly to a common ground point. Can several trolleys, say 3 to 5 be connected in series with 1 megohm cords with the final cord connected to a ground point or earth bonding point? From what I have read this would only mean about 5 megohms to ground at the furthest cart. I read somewhere something about staying under 35 megohms to ground. Now I cannot find that.

Answer:
The compliance verification limit per EN 61340-5-1 for wrist strap system is less than 3,5 x 10^7 ohms listed in Personnel grounding requirements Table 2. The required limit per ANSI/ESD S20.20 for both working surfaces and mobile equipment (trolleys) is less than 1 x 10^9 ohms resistance to ground listed in EPA requirements Table 3.

It does not do much good to have an operator test their wrist strap using an integrated wrist strap tester as describe in IEC 61340-5-1 Clause A.1, but then work where the matting resistance is added resistance in the path-to-ground.

Although not recommended you could attach the cord for the wrist band to the matting material, and daisy chain the mats and/or trolleys if you could demonstrate that you reliably meet the required limits.

Per CLC/TR 61340-5-2:2008 User guide Wrist Strap subclause 4.7.2.2.2 “NOTE Many wrist strap users have been observed to clip the wrist cord to the edge of an ESD protective mat. This process is not recommended as it can increase the total system resistance to ground to over the 3.5 x 10^7 ohms limit required by IEC 61340-5-1.”

Regarding daisy-chaining “All working surfaces need to be capable of being grounded. EPA grounding of instruments or surfaces by chaining, or by placing items in series should not be used, since in the event of a broken connection the risk of floating items and ESD damage will be unnecessarily increased.” [EN 61340-5-2 clause 5.2.2 Working surfaces and storage racks] Note that both of these recommendations are not requirements.

Regarding ground cords, the grounding conductors (wires) from wrist straps, working surfaces, flooring or floor mats, tools, fixtures, storage units, carts, chairs, garments and other ESD technical elements may or may not contain added resistance. Where added resistance is not present, a direct connection from the ESD technical element to the common ground point or common connection point is acceptable and recommended.

However, “A nominal 1 megohm resistor is commonly used in wrist straps and to ground work surfaces. In the event of an operator touching an energized conductor, for the normal mains electricity supplies this resistor will limit the current flowing through the person to less than 0,5 mA.” [User Guide IEC 61340-5-2-1999 subclause 5.1.1]

Charleswater sells ground cords with and without current limiting resistors – Click Here

Introducing New Dual Operator Continuous Monitor with Satellites

• NEW Improved Banana Jack
  Creates a more consistent connection and helps to prevent accidental disconnects with operator’s wrist strap.
• Control unit LEDs indicate proper grounding of two mats and two operators; includes mounting hardware
  Allows mounting Control Unit at eye level, not using any work surface area
• Two Satellite Remote Monitors include monitored wrist strap ground, parking stud, and unmonitored
  ground for guest or equipment
  Versatile design allowing placement where desired up to 7 feet from control unit.
• Audio alarm
• Wave Distortion Technology provides real-time monitoring
  Ensures ESD protected workstation, reducing catastrophic failures and latent defects
• Utilizes reliable wave distortion technology
  Provides true 100% continuous monitoring.
• Can use with any brand of single wire wrist strap and coil cord components
  Life-cycle costs of monitor / wrist strap / cord are 66% lower than dual-wire approach
• Replaces item 99073
• Made in the United States of America

Item	Description	List Price
99093	Dual Operator Continuous Monitor with Satellites, 220VAC	$370.68

Leading companies use continuous monitors as a cost effective component in satisfying some of the audit and check requirements of EN 61340-5-1. Wrist strap testing “Where continuous monitoring is used, no additional testing is required.” [EN 61340-4-1, per A.5.2] “The wrist band will normally be worn for several hours at a time so it needs to be comfortable while making good contact with the skin. It is a good idea to check the wrist strap every time it is applied. Constant on line monitors can be used so that any breaks will be immediately found.” [EN 61340-5-2 clause 5.2.7]

Sign Up HERE | Request a Demo HERE | See list of sales reps and distributors HERE
All Items & programs are available through your participating distributor | Submit your questions HERE