Elecraft KAT500 Owners Manual - Manual (Page 26)

23
Kit Assembly Procedure
Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage
Sensitive components in your KAT500 may be damaged by Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) in any location
or climate unless you take specific steps to prevent such damage. Many components can be damaged by
static discharges of only a few volts: far too little for you to notice.
ESD damage may not be apparent at first. The damaged components may not fail completely. Instead, the
damage may result in below-normal performance for an extended period of time before you experience a
total failure.
We strongly recommend you take the following anti-static precautions (listed in order of importance) to
ensure there is no voltage difference between the components and any object that touches them:
 Leave ESD-sensitive parts in their anti-static packaging until you install them. The packaging
may be a special plastic bag that allow static charges to flow harmlessly over their surface, or the
component’s leads may be inserted in conductive foam that keep them at the same potential.
Parts which are especially ESD-sensitive are identified in the parts list and in the assembly
procedures.
 Wear a conductive wrist strap with a series 1-megohm resistor that will constantly drain off any
static charge that accumulates on your body. If you do not have a wrist strap, touch a ground
briefly before touching any sensitive parts to discharge your body. Do this frequently while you
are working. You can collect a destructive static charge on your body just sitting at the work
bench.
WARNING
DO NOT attach a ground directly to yourself without a current-limiting resistor as
this poses a serious shock hazard. A wrist strap must include a 1-megohm resistor to
limit the current flow. If you choose to touch an unpainted, metal ground to discharge
yourself, do it only when you are not touching any live circuits with any part of your
body.
 Use a grounded anti-static mat on your work bench.
 If you choose to use a soldering iron to work on your KAT500 for any reason, be sure your iron
has an ESD-safe grounded tip tied to the same common ground used by your mat or wrist strap.
Tools Required
1. #0 and #1 size Phillips screwdrivers. Use the screwdriver that best fits the screw in each step. To
avoid damaging screws and nuts, a power screwdriver is not recommended.
2. Needle-nose pliers.
The following tools are strongly recommended:
1. ESD wrist strap.
2. Static dissipating work pad.