Prostat Auto Analysis System (PGA 710) ESD instrument review

Prostat Corp. has come out with very useful ESD instrument for all ESD coordinators around the globe a few years ago. Recently the ESD instrument starts to receive positive response and acknowledgment from majority of ESD coordinator about the usefulness of the ESD instrument in helping them to investigate ESD issues and qualify ESD material or product in accordance to ESD standards. The ESD instrument referred to is named as Prostat Auto Analysis system model PGA-710.

Prostat Auto Analysis System (PGA 710) instrument has the followings devices when work in a complete system
• PFK-100 field meter set and accessories
• PGA-710 Auto analyzer and accessories
• Computer

Records are important for ESD Coordinator as they help ESD coordinator to analyze and investigate ESD issues.
Prostat Auto Analysis system provides that real time records. This ESD instrument records, plots, analyzes and constructs reports for human body voltage generation, electrostatic decay, voltage generation, ionizer performance and other electrostatic measuring.


It is the ESD instrument which any ESD Coordinator wishes to have if condition permits. It helps in qualifying esd material or product and also helps in checking the effectiveness or the performance of the esd material or product.

For example the wireless wrist strap and the esd shoes when in use with esd flooring can be verified for their performance and effectiveness through human body voltage measurement. Ionizers, chairs, carts, packaging materials and other ESD control elements could also be checked and measured for their performance or effectiveness of delivering their intended functions.

Prostat Auto Analysis System (PGA 710) is a great tool to have for any ESD coordinators. Not only it provides a real time data, it also provides a comprehensive report which saves a lot of ESD coordinator time in his ESD analysis and investigation process as the data presents and speaks by itself. The measurement data and graphical report also help ESD coordinator to make a factual based decision.

The Wonders of an Electrostatic field meter

By its name, an electrostatic field meter is commonly used to measure the electrostatic field which is emanated by a charged object.
The electrostatic field or e-field from the charged object is the symptoms of the presence of electrostatic charges on the object.
Electrostatic field from the charged object, E, at any point in the space is influenced by the amount of electrostatic charges on the object and the squared distance away from the charged object.
The further away from the charged object, the weaker the electrostatic field, E. Similarly, the E-Field at any point in space is weaker for a charged object with less electrostatic charges.

An Electrostatic field meter is a key meter in the ESD Control program. It helps to locate the source of charged object. It measures Electrostatic field of the charged object in a specified distance, commonly at one inch distance.
ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard controls Electrostatic field from any charged object at 2kV/inch. Anything above 2kV at an inch distance, the ESD sensitive items shall be removed by at least 30 cm away from the source charged object. When this can not be done, ionizers should be used to neutralize the static charges on the charged object which is located nearby the ESD sensitive items.

An Electrostatic field meter is a great tool for any ESD Coordinator.
The ESD Coordinator should bring the Electrostatic field meter to an ESD protected workstation and move it across the area to detect for any harmful E-field, i.e. > 2Kv at one inch distance.

Accuracy of measurement displayed on the Electrostatic field meter depends on several factors such as:
•The grounding of the Electrostatic field meter. This can be done by having a grounded person holding the conductive casing of the meter or grounding the meter via a ground cord.
•Zeroing the meter reading before use.
•Measure the E-field at one inch distance. The one inch distance occurs when the two LEDs light are focused and become one circle.
•When measuring at one inch distance, the size of the object must be at least 3 inch square.

When coupled with other ESD Test kit such as a Charging Plate and a Charger, some Electrostatic field meters in the market place offers additional benefits to ESD Coordinators.
The additional benefits include:
•Measure ionizer performance
•Measure voltage generation on people, material and equipment

An Electrostatic Field meter can do many wonders for any ESD Coordinator. It is a must have equipment in the ESD Control Program.