STATIC PRECAUTIONS
Increasingly, C-MOS and similar IC technology is being incorporated in consumer equipment, and careful handling of these devices is required to prevent damage from static electricity charges. The necessary precautions are to ground the soldering iron and (by means of an earthed wristband) the operator; to keep the replacement device in its conductive packing until the moment it is to be fitted; to temporarily ground the circuit into which it is being fitted; and if possible to keep its leadouts strapped together until the fitting/ soldering operation is complete. A wide range of accessories is avail- able to combat the risk of ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) damage. They include conductive bench- and floor-mats, heel/toe dischargers and devices to check for static charges and for the efficacy of wristband dischargers.
SERVICE MANUALS AND DOCUMENTATION
Unless one is very familiar with the equipment under service it is foolhardy to attempt diagnosis on any but the simplest equipment without a service manual, preferably that produced by the OEM. Most manufacturers and some specialist and trade magazines produce fault-finding guides and algorithms, lists of common faults, modifications and spares ordering information. All this information should be carefully filed, along with personal notes and findings, by make and model.