Notes on avoiding damage to electronic components due to electrostatic discharge - AH54.00-P-0001-01A

All models 

Electrostatic charge 

The materials are charged electrostatically with the separation and friction of two non-conducting materials. Plastics generally produce the highest electrostatic charge.

Electrostatic charge and discharge occur everywhere in everyday life, e.g.:

• Combs
• Walking on carpets or plastic floors
• Putting and taking off textiles
• Disembarking from the vehicle
• Contact with various packing materials

  (e.g. Styropor, Vinyl) on shelves or in the transport container

The following electrostatic discharge ( E  lectro S  tatic D  ischarge (ESD)) can be so strong that a small electric shock is detected.

But small discharges which people do not detect, can cause lasting damage to electronic components and control units.

Effects and consequences of ESD 

Electronic components and control units are very sensitive to ESD. The damage is often not immediately obvious, but becomes apparent some time later.

In order to avoid failures and damage due to ESD in vehicle electronics various procedures and safety precautions must be taken into account.

Risk of damage is possible during transport, handling, testing and installation during production as well as during repair work.

The following electronic components listed as an example can be damaged by ESD:

• Airbag components
• Control unit, in particular their bus connections (Control Area Network (data bus/CAN Bus) (CAN), local interconnect network (LIN) etc.)
• Sensors
• mechatronic components (actuators etc.)
• Antenna amplifier
• Receivers (radio, TV, GPS, telephone etc.)
• Displays

Modes of behavior and safety precautions 

• Electrostatic discharge from the fitter (e.g. due to brief contact with the vehicle body).
• Suitable cotton clothing and footware with conductive soles.
• The workplace must correspond to the ESD guidelines.
• Leave replacement parts in the original packaging for as long as possible, do not tear open seals but cut them open.
• Before unpacking discharge ESD protective packaging at the ESD workplace.
• Avoid contact with materials which can be charged up electrostatically such as PE, PVC, polystyrene etc.
• Use only original packaging or specially labeled and defined packaging and transport materials.
• Electronic components which have been removed must be put down on an ESD workplace.
• Only take hold of electronic components by the housing, not by the pins or contacts.
• Before contacting an electronic component this must be installed first so that an equipotential bonding can take place via the body.

• Shelves must stand directly on the floor, there must not be any insulating materials between the base of the shelves and the floor, the same applies to worktables. If the above-mentioned insulators cannot be removed, the shelves must be grounded (e.g. low-impedance electrical connection/line from metal shelf to a heater pipe or similar).
• Never put down conductive transport container/box in an insulated manner (z. B. wooden pallet) otherwise no equipotential bonding can take place.
• Control units or electrical components which have been removed may not be put down on the seat protective foil under any circumstances, the static charging is transferred to the control unit or electrical component. The protective foils used today for the vehicle seat, steering wheel and footwell charge up a lot. Therefore, for example, an ESD service kit or a complete connected ESD table mat must be used.
• Information on the safety regulation/safety precautions can be obtained from the brochure:

  "Risk factor ESD, understand and avoid electrostatic discharges" (order no. 6516 1310 00).

  This brochure can be ordered under

  Tel:+49 (0)711 17-83160

  Fax: +49(0)711 17-83451

  E-Mail: service.informationen@daimlerchrysler.com

  Outside Germany please consult the contact person responsible for your market.

Electrostatic discharge [ESD] protection is only effective if the safety regulations/safety precautions are adhered to.

Returning electronic components in warranty and goodwill cases 

When sending back electronic components it is absolutely essential to observe the correct mode of behavior and safety precautions.

Otherwise it may be that the original fault is distorted or superimposed by the additional damage. This can lead to distorted fault symptoms in the case of the fault analysis of the component concerned.