Methods of performing electrostatic discharge testing on a payment card

A method of performing electrostatic discharge testing on a transaction card, the method comprising:

• placing a transaction card on an insulated surface, wherein the transaction card comprises a magnetic stripe;
• placing a grounding probe on the magnetic stripe along a first edge of the transaction card;
• charging a discharge probe to a known voltage level;
• discharging the discharge probe on the magnetic stripe along a second edge of the transaction card, wherein the second edge is opposite the first edge;
• recording a discharge wave shape from the ground probe;
• and
• assigning one of a pass condition and a fail condition to the transaction card at least based on whether the discharge wave shape is substantially similar to a reference discharge wave shape.

A method of performing electrostatic discharge testing on a transaction card, the method comprising:

• connecting a read head to a ground voltage level, wherein the read head comprises a shell and one or more pins;
• charging a discharge probe to a known voltage level;
• discharging, at a first location on the transaction card, the discharge probe onto a transaction card held by an operator, to charge the transaction card and the operator to the known voltage level;
• placing the transaction card in contact with the read head at a second location on the transaction card;
• recording a discharge wave shape from the ground probe;
• and
• assigning one of a pass condition and a fail condition to the transaction card based on at least the value of the known voltage level as compared to a reference voltage level,
• wherein the first location and the second location are each selected from a plurality of areas on the transaction card.

A method of performing electrostatic discharge testing on a transaction card, the method comprising:

• charging a discharge probe to a known voltage level;
• discharging, at a first location on the transaction card, the discharge probe onto a transaction card held by an operator, to charge the transaction card and the operator to the known voltage level;
• placing the transaction card in contact with a read head of a terminal at a second location on the transaction card;
• determining whether the terminal exhibits an abnormality;
• and
• if so, assigning one of a pass condition and a fail condition to the transaction card based on at least the value of the known voltage level as compared to a reference voltage level.

A method of performing electrostatic discharge testing on a transaction card, the method comprising:

• charging a discharge probe to a known voltage level;
• discharging, at a first location on the transaction card, the discharge probe onto a transaction card held by an operator to charge the transaction card and the operator to the known voltage level;
• placing the transaction card in contact with a read head of a terminal at a second location on the transaction card;
• recording a peak voltage and a voltage wave shape at the read head;
• and
• assigning one of a pass condition and a fail condition to the transaction card based on at least the value of the known voltage level as compared to a reference voltage level.

A method of performing electrostatic discharge testing on a transaction card, the method comprising:

• charging a transaction card to a known voltage level;
• swiping the transaction card through a terminal;
• and
• assigning one of a pass condition and a fail condition to the transaction card based on whether an abnormality occurs in the terminal.

A method of performing electrostatic discharge testing on a transaction card, the method comprising:

• charging a magnetic stripe on a transaction card to a known voltage level;
• swiping the transaction card through a terminal;
• and
• assigning one of a pass condition and a fail condition to the transaction card based on whether an abnormality occurs in the terminal.

A method of performing electrostatic discharge testing on a transaction card, the method comprising:

• rubbing the transaction card against a material;
• swiping the transaction card through a terminal;
• and
• assigning one of a pass condition and a fail condition to the transaction card based on whether an abnormality occurs in the terminal.