Wrist bands, along with all other anti-static protection devices all contain
some means of resistance, so that any charge on your sensitive components
will be slowly discharged, to prevent any high current spikes from
destroying the component.  Wrist straps generally have around 1M ohm of
resistance.  Although some resistance is required to prevent damaging
sensitive components, too much resistance is also a problem.  I'm not sure
what the actual tolerable range is for wrist straps, but there are various
testers made, which will alert you if the resistance of your wrist strap is
too high or low.

And if your power supply is directly connected to *earth* ground it should
be fine.

--Nick


----- Original Message -----
From: Fowler, Paul B. <paul.fowler@UNISYS.COM>
To: <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 9:41 PM
Subject: [OT] Time to really show how dumb I am


> I am so embarrassed,
>
> Can someone explain how anti-static wristbands are suppose to work?  I
> always thought it was - they touch me, they touch the ground, I am
therefore
> touching a ground.
>
> I can't find this on the net, and I figured it would be a no-brainer.
They
> should conduct?  I have bought two different brands and neither one
> conducts.  At least I can't get small current to run through them.
>
> What am I doing wrong or how is my thinking wrong?  I simply put a 12V
> potential difference across both ends and attached an amp meter and
> nothing...  I would think these are defective, but two of them from
> different companies?
>
> Is it o.k. to attach them to the ground of my Power supply?  I use a PC
> power supply that I took out of an old PC.  I am now questioning
everything
> that should be simple no-brainer.
>
> Did I just get two defective wrist bands????  Grounds are no good if they
> don't conduct! Right?????  AAArrrggghhh.  I know nothing.
>
> Please help explain this very simple concept to me.
>
> I will not mention my name - don't look at the "From" on the screen.
>
> --
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>


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