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FIELD SERVICE BULLETIN NO. 5

Electrostatic Discharge and SBE 41 / 41CP CTD Sensors
November 2003; Updated August 2005

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Damage can occur if an electrostatic discharge is made to the titanium pressure port on Sea-Bird CTD-equipped ARGO floats manufactured prior to early 2004. The pressure sensor, and possibly the interface circuitry, can be damaged by ESD.

Background

In early 2004, Sea-Bird installed transient surge protectors to help protect SBE 41 / 41CP CTDs from electrostatic discharge damage . However, large numbers of unprotected CTDs, manufactured before that date, remain at risk. Even after installation of  surge protectors, float manufacturers and end users should continue to observe good ESD-prevention practices, especially when handling unmounted CTD/endcap assemblies.

 

Basic Precautions

Avoid wearing rubber-soled shoes. Avoid scuffing (sliding) your feet on carpeted surfaces. Discharge yourself by touching a grounded object.

Some examples of grounded objects include:


water faucet 

computer chassis, especially the bare metal back panel

small screw that secures a wall switch or socket

ship's hull or steel deck

 

Specific Precautions, Assembled Floats

1. Ground yourself.
2. Then, grasp the float housing before touching the titanium pressure port.
3. Finally, first grasp the float endcap and then touch the pressure port before and while making electrical or mechanical connections to the pressure port.

 

Specific Precautions, CTD Disassembled from Float

The CTD electronics and sensors should be treated like any unassembled semiconductor device:

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Last modified: 06 Apr 2007

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