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Equipment rules

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reubenajohnston edited this page Feb 20, 2020 · 2 revisions

Since you can permanently damage embedded devices by mishandling them or misusing them, and we don’t have spares, please pay attention to the details and follow all instructions!

Notable issues to avoid

  • Static electricity can permanently damage embedded equipment with only a single wrong touch!
  • If boot-memory for embedded devices is programmed incorrectly
    • Either embedded devices can be permanently bricked!
    • Or embedded devices might require additional, special equipment (that we do not presently have) to repair the boot-memory!
  • You can permanently damage IC circuitry by applying incorrect voltages to I/O pins!
  • Connectors break and might not be repairable!
  • micro-SD cards in embedded devices (e.g., BPIs and RPIs) are usually not hot-swappable!
  • I/O pins are usually not hot-swappable!

General rules

  • For embedded devices not in a case, ground your body prior to handling the board
    • E.g., touch a finger to metal shielding on an ethernet or USB connector on the board
    • This must be done every time you touch the board
    • If passing the device to another person, touch their hand to ground their body to yours, prior to passing the device
  • Don't program boot-memory for embedded devices without instructor approval
    • If it happens, please let me know so that I can help restore it
  • Do not attach anything to I/O pins while embedded equipment is powered
  • Do not attach powered devices (e.g., UART USB cable that is plugged in to powered on hub or computer) to I/O pins
    • Unplug it from USB side prior to attaching I/O pin side to embedded equipment
  • Only attach cables to embedded devices when the device is on a stable, flat surface
    • Be gentle when inserting the cable
    • If the connector becomes damaged, let me know so that I can help to repair it (if that is possible) before it is damaged more
  • USB and ethernet cables are hot-swappable (you can either plug in or remove them from embedded devices when the devices are powered)
  • Power cables should not be plugged in when the connector is plugged in to the embedded device
  • micro-SD cards are not hot-swappable on embedded devices; insert or remove them only when the device is powered off
    • It is ok to insert/detach them to/from USB readers when reader is powered
  • Unmount and eject micro-SD devices from the host PC OS prior to removing cards from USB readers
  • On embedded devices, treat all I/O pins as not being hot-swappable!

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