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Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) Precaution
DDR4 modules and the DDR4 Series adapter itself are susceptible to electrostatic discharge (ESD). We strongly advise that you practice standard ESD safety while testing DDR4 modules on the RAMCHECK LX to prevent damage, including the use of an anti-static wrist strap at your workstation.
Most of our customers have experience with handling delicate electronic devices and are quite likely to employ proper ESD protection in their facilities. This document describes the best method to use the common anti-static wrist strap when testing DDR4 modules on the RAMCHECK LX DDR4 Series adapter. For those who are not familiar with ESD, please find at the end of this document are links to several technical sites that provide additional background about ESD protection.
At the very minimum, please use the anti-static wrist strap to avoid costly damage.The anti-static wrist strap is very inexpensive, and you can easily purchase them online from Amazon and other source at cost saving packages of 2-6 pieces. Buying multiple packages is a good idea since the strap will wear out after some use.
Elastic wrist strap.
Non-elastic wrist strap.
Multiple package.
We recommend buying anti-static wrist straps with an alligator clip connector at the wire's end, as this may be easily connected to the adapter as shown below. Other wrist straps may come with banana (plug) connectors. Regardless of the connectors, all anti-static wrist strap must be properly connected to a true ground. NOTE: The wrist strap is connected to the connecter via a built-in one megaohm resistor that protects the user in the event that they touch hot AC main voltage with the other hand.
As of January 11, 2019, all DDR4 Series adapters are shipped from INNOVENTIONS with four ground lugs, mounted two on each side of the adapter as shown in the following images:
The left side with the new ground lugs.
The right side with the new ground lugs.
A free set of the ground lugs can be sent upon request to any customer that previously purchased the DDR4 Series adapter before the ground lugs were added. Please see the discussion below on the best ESD precautions for DDR4 Series adapters that were shipped during 2018.
The new ground lugs were added as convenient ground touching points to dissipate any stray electrostatic charges that may be in the user's hand prior to module insertion. The first lug on the left side of the adapter (the front left lug) can be used to connect the alligator clip of your anti-static wrist strap as shown in the following image:
Here is a close up view on how to connect the alligator clip to the first lug on the left side of the adapter (the front left lug). Do not connect the alligator clip to any of the other three ground lugs! Only the front left ground lug has an alligator clip safe area around it as described below.
Make sure that the alligator clip is only attached to the front left ground lug as shown and that it is not touching any exposed parts on the main adapter board beyond the lug.
The front left lug is a safe area because all the exposed wire loops and other metal parts on the main adapter in front of this lug are also connected to the ground. Therefore, no harm will be done if the alligator clip inadvertently touches these wire loops and metal parts. This is THE ONLY SAFE ALLIGATOR CLIP CONNECTION AREA on the DDR4 Series adapter:
Of course, if you have a well designed facility with the best ESD practices, you may connect the alligator clip to one of the standard ground points provided by the facility. Connecting to the front left ground lug as described above just insures that the anti-static wrist strap directly connects to the RAMCHECK LX main ground.
You can touch any of the ground lugs prior to installing each DDR4 module in order to safely dissipate any charges from your hand. This picture illustrates touching the left lug:
If your facility has only a limited ESD protection, we strongly recommend that you briefly touch the ground lugs prior to the insertion of each module.
RAMCHECK LX is a low-voltage device, working on 9V DC supplied from the external power supply. You can safely touch any of the new ground lugs on the sides of the DDR4 Series adapter. Just briefly tap the ground lug, and then use both hands to install the modules. Tapping the lug immediately dissipates any damaging electro-static charge that may be present in your hands.
Touching the ground lug is the best protection and all of us here at INNOVENTIONS are doing it prior to each module insertion.
Prior to January 11, 2019, the DDR4 Series Adapter did not include the four ground lugs described above. This section describes the best ESD precaution without the ground lugs.
A free set of the ground lugs can be sent upon request to any customer that previously purchased the DDR4 Series adapter before the ground lugs were added. Please review the following application note to see how easy it is to install the ground lugs: Adding Ground Lugs to the DDR4 Series Adapter for Improved ESD Protection
You must use a properly grounded anti-static wrist strap when handling DDR4 modules (as well as any other delicate electronic devices). Please connect the alligator clip to a known good ground point on your work surface.
The small open IDC printer connector at the right side of the RAMCHECK LX base tester has one of its pins connected to ground. This IDC connector, as well as the RAMCHECK LX itself works at low voltage and it is safe to touch the connector contacts.
As explained above, even when you are grounded with the anti-static wrist strap, your hand holding the module during the insertion into the socket may still have a damaging electrostatic charge. We recommend that until you install the new 4 ground lugs you should gently and briefly touch the center of the open connector (as shown in the picture above) prior to every insertion of the module into the test socket. This touch will easily and safely dissipate any extra electro-static charges from the hand.
Of course, this practice should not be in lieu of using the anti-static wrist band. As mentioned above, the wire coming from the anti-static wrist band should be properly connected to a ground point on your test bench (do not connect it to any part of the RAMCHECK LX itself or the DDR4 adapter until you install the 4 ground lugs!) For more information please consult our tech support department.
The following list includes useful resources about ESD Precaution:
For more information, please call us at 1-281-879-6226 M-F 9:00-5:00 US Central Time, or send your e-mail to support@innoventions.com. Please remember to include your phone.