Operating requirements

Before setting up the system, you should make sure that the operating environment is prepared.

Target power requirements

Several configurations are possible for providing power to the system. The preferred configuration is for all target DC power supplies to use a 3-wire AC input with an earth (safety) ground and with the earth ground isolated from the DC return. Table below shows various AC/DC configurations and the results of using each.

Table 1. Target system device power supply configurations
	AC Input	Isolation	Result
Preferred configuration	3-wire system with earth (safety) wire	AC earth is isolated from DC return.Target system DC is fully isolated and is floating.	Normal operation
Acceptable configuration	2-wire system with no earth (safety) wire	AC return is isolated from DC return. Target system DC is fully isolated and is floating.	Normal operation
Acceptable configuration	3-wire system with earth (safety) wire	AC earth is tied to DC return. Target system DC is not isolated and is floating.	Configuration may result in unstable operation of DC signals.
Prohibited configuration	2-wire system with no earth (safety) wire	AC return is tied to DC return. Target system DC is not isolated and is not floating.	Configuration may result in unstable operation of DC signals and AC hum.A safety hazard may result from power supply or target system failure where DC voltage is connected to AC return.

CAUTION:

Do not use 2-wire AC input with the AC neutral tied to the DC return on any power supply in the system. A failure in a power supply or target system where DC voltage becomes connected to AC neutral may result in personal injury and damage to the equipment.

Figure 1. Prohibited target power supply connection

CAUTION:

Good grounding practices should be observed when connecting digital grounds to earth ground, since ground loops may induce sufficient currents to cause irregular operation of the combined system.Under no circumstances should the third wire prong on any power cord be removed or disconnected.

Standard electrostatic precautions

This instrument contains static-sensitive components that are subject to damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD). Use standard ESD precautions when transporting, handling, or using the Ethernet TAP probe and the target system, when connecting/disconnecting the probe and the target system, and when removing the cover of the instrument.

It is recommended to follow the following precautions:

Use wrist straps or heel bands with a 1 MW resistor connected to ground.
On the work surface and floor, use static conductive mats with a 1 MW resistor connected to ground.
Keep high static-producing items, such as non-ESD-approved plastics, tape and packaging foam, away from the probe and the target system.

The above precautions should be considered as minimum requirements for a static-controlled environment.

Electrical requirements

The Ethernet TAP probe is powered from the external power supply provided with your unit. It can use line voltages of 90-130 VAC (47-63 Hz) or 180-270 VAC (47-63 Hz). The Ethernet TAP probe probe tip draws less than 50 mA from the target system.

See Connecting the external power supply for information about connecting the Ethernet TAP probe power supply.

Operating temperature

The Ethernet TAP probe can operate in a temperature range of 0 to 40 °C (32 to 104 °F).

Target system requirements

The Ethernet TAP probe automatically supports target system signal levels from 1.8V to 3.3V.

Note: In the case of PowerPC, for the Ethernet TAP probe to properly stop and restart a JTAG/COP target system processor, the QACK signal must be pulled low. The Ethernet TAP probe pulls this signal low through the probe tip.