Safety
Introduction
Safety precautions
The following safety precautions should be observed before using this product and any
associated instrumentation. Although some instruments and accessories would normally
be used with nonhazardous voltages, there are situations where hazardous conditions may
be present.
This product is intended for use by qualifi ed personnel who recognize shock hazards and
are familiar with the safety precautions required to avoid possible injury. Read and follow
all installation, operation, and maintenance information carefully before using the product.
Refer to the user documentation for complete product specifi cations.
If the product is used in a manner not specifi ed, the protection provided by the product
warranty may be impaired.
The types of product users are:
Responsible body
is the individual or group responsible for the use and maintenance
of equipment, for ensuring that the equipment is operated within its specifi cations and
operating limits, and for ensuring that operators are adequately trained.
Operators
use the product for its intended function. They must be trained in electrical safety
procedures and proper use of the instrument. They must be protected from electric shock
and contact with hazardous live circuits.
Maintenance personnel
perform routine procedures on the product to keep it operating
properly, for example, setting the line voltage or replacing consumable materials.
Maintenance procedures are described in the user documentation. The procedures
explicitly state if the operator may perform them. Otherwise, they should be performed only
by service personnel.
Service personnel
are trained to work on live circuits, perform safe installations, and repair
products. Only properly trained service personnel may perform installation and service
procedures.
Keithley Instruments products are designed for use with electrical signals that are
measurement, control, and data I/O connections, with low transient overvoltages, and
must not be directly connected to mains voltage or to voltage sources with high transient
overvoltages. Measurement Category II (as referenced in IEC 60664) connections require
protection for high transient overvoltages often associated with local AC mains connections.
Certain Keithley measuring instruments may be connected to mains. These instruments will be
marked as category II or higher.
Unless explicitly allowed in the specifi cations, operating manual, and instrument labels, do not
connect any instrument to mains.
Exercise extreme caution when a shock hazard is present. Lethal voltage may be present on
cable connector jacks or test fi xtures. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) states
that a shock hazard exists when voltage levels greater than 30 V
RMS
, 42.4 V peak, or
60 VDC are present. A good safety practice is to expect that hazardous voltage is present in
any unknown circuit before measuring.
Operators of this product must be protected from electric shock at all times. The responsible
body must ensure that operators are prevented access and/or insulated from every connection
point. In some cases, connections must be exposed to potential human contact. Product
operators in these circumstances must be trained to protect themselves from the risk of electric
shock. If the circuit is capable of operating at or above 1000 V, no conductive part of the circuit
may be exposed.
Do not connect switching cards directly to unlimited power circuits. They are intended to be
used with impedance-limited sources. NEVER connect switching cards directly to AC mains.
When connecting sources to switching cards, install protective devices to limit fault current and
voltage to the card.
Before operating an instrument, ensure that the line cord is connected to a properly-grounded
power receptacle. Inspect the connecting cables, test leads, and jumpers for possible wear,
cracks, or breaks before each use.
When installing equipment where access to the main power cord is restricted, such as rack
mounting, a separate main input power disconnect device must be provided in close proximity
to the equipment and within easy reach of the operator.
For maximum safety, do not touch the product, test cables, or any other instruments while
power is applied to the circuit under test. ALWAYS remove power from the entire test system
and discharge any capacitors before: connecting or disconnecting cables or jumpers, installing
or removing switching cards, or making internal changes, such as installing or removing
jumpers.
