Tips for Maintaining Electrical Equipment in the Field
For technicians and repairmen, the reliability of their equipment in the field is a necessity. Malfunction is a cataclysmic occurrence that happens at the worst possible moments in any field. Maintenance of electrical equipment in order to keep it in functioning order is a must for most technicians and usually guarantees successful operation in the time of need. However, outside elements and occurrences are always a possible discrepancy and must be prepared against.
Static electricity is a major problem among technicians that use sensitive electrical equipment in the field on a daily basis. Static electricity is built up electrical charge that accumulates on the surface of an object. This electrical charge is able to transfer itself to another surface by means of electrical discharge when coming into close proximity with an object of opposite or lesser electrical charge. Any unsolicited electrical charge can interfere with the required or expected function of electrical equipment. Technicians must take precautions in order to counter the transfer of static electricity to their equipment.
An esd table mat is a good surface to operate sensitive electrical equipment on. ESD stands for electrostatic discharge, the electrical discharge that was described earlier, when static electricity transfers from surface to surface. An esd rubber mat is made out of non-conductive materials that help dissipate electrical charges before they can interfere or fry sensitive equipment. A brady industrial label maker, for instance, is completely fried when an electrostatic discharge runs through its circuits. Brady labels distributors are usually resistant to electrostatic discharge effects, but can still, like most other electrical equipment, be fried when jolted by a surprise shock.
A brady portable label maker that is operated on esd matting is less susceptible to shock, as the non-conductive materials render static electricity discharges from any surface ineffective. ESD matting is a must have when the technician requires sustained and reliable function of equipment in the field. Electrostatic discharge can carry on most any surface, from plastic or wood to the most devastating: human skin. Nothing is more embarrassing than a technician that fries his equipment before use by simply touching it.
Technicians must be cautious and diligent in the maintenance and handling of their sensitive equipment. Equipment repair or replacement can be costly and time consuming, even for the most well funded and organized companies. ESD matting is becoming more necessary as technology advances and in most cases, becomes increasingly sensitive to outside entities. The use of ESD mats can eliminate constantly occurring electrical discharges before they have an opportunity to occur.
