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Current, not voltage, causes ESD damage to electronic devices, circuit boards and assemblies
Common items used in electrostatic discharge (ESD) protected work areas (EPA) are plastic totes, trays and boxes. In most cases, these are viewed as commodity items with very little thought or engineering put into their acquisition and implementation.
However, they can be critical because they are used to protect the devices, circuit cards, and assemblies that are transported within them. Certainly, they must protect the part mechanically, but they must also protect the assemblies electrically.
However, just what does electrical protection include? It is important to understand that current, not voltage, causes ESD damage to electronic devices, circuit boards and assemblies.