What is the voltage range for a common electrostatic discharge (ESD)?

What is the voltage range for a common electrostatic discharge (ESD)?

• A. 3,500 to 12,000 Volts
• B. 100 to 1,000 Volts
• C. 10,000 to 100,000 Volts
• D. 1 to 100 Volts

Answer: (A)

Electrostatic discharge that affects electronics typically happens in the kilovolt range, even though the current is brief. For common, everyday ESD—such as a person touching a device—the discharge voltages are a few thousand volts. The range most often cited for these typical events is about 3,500 to 12,000 volts, which covers the common levels seen in real-world static discharges and used in many ESD immunity tests. Values much lower (1–100 V) aren’t usually classified as ESD in this context, and much higher ranges (10,000–100,000 V) are less common in everyday situations, though they can occur in more extreme cases. So the 3,500 to 12,000-volt range best matches what is typically observed for common ESD.

Electrostatic discharge that affects electronics typically happens in the kilovolt range, even though the current is brief. For common, everyday ESD—such as a person touching a device—the discharge voltages are a few thousand volts. The range most often cited for these typical events is about 3,500 to 12,000 volts, which covers the common levels seen in real-world static discharges and used in many ESD immunity tests. Values much lower (1–100 V) aren’t usually classified as ESD in this context, and much higher ranges (10,000–100,000 V) are less common in everyday situations, though they can occur in more extreme cases. So the 3,500 to 12,000-volt range best matches what is typically observed for common ESD.