MIL-STD-461 CS118

CS118, introduced in MIL-STD-461G, is a conducted susceptibility test focused on personnel-borne electrostatic discharge (ESD) events. In real-world environments, operators and maintenance personnel can inadvertently generate high-voltage electrostatic discharges that can damage or disrupt electronic systems. CS118 ensures that equipment and subsystems can withstand these ESD strikes without degrading performance or compromising functionality.

During a CS118 test, a specialized ESD generator—configured to meet the waveform and amplitude requirements outlined in MIL-STD-461G—applies repeated electrostatic discharges to the Equipment Under Test (EUT). Various contact points and approaches are used (e.g., direct contact discharge and air-gap discharge), simulating the conditions that might occur when a person touches or comes into proximity with equipment under typical operating or maintenance scenarios.

The EUT is continuously monitored for operational anomalies such as resets, lock-ups, corrupted data, or performance degradation. The test plan defines acceptable performance criteria, ensuring the equipment either remains fully functional or experiences only minor, reversible interference. By successfully completing CS118, manufacturers demonstrate the robustness and safety of their equipment under personnel-related ESD events. This is a critical requirement for both mission-critical systems and everyday electronic devices, where reliability is paramount.