I have learnd this just a few months ago, so no need to be embarrassed:

Wrist bands are connected to whatever through a resistor (!M or 10M) to
avoid high current flow, but that is enough for stactic electricity.

The best way to use it is to have it connected to an ESD mat on your
desktop that should be connected to a good ground terminal.

If you move in a room carrying loose parts, you also should have to do
something to the floor, there are ESD floor mats and also toe or shoe
grounding straps.

You may check this link about procucts from 3M:

http://www.3m.com/market/electronic/ehpd/index.jhtml

There are some interesting pictures showing the damage on silicon due to
stactic dsicharge:

http://www.3m.com/EHPD/esd_training/seminar/images.jhtml

Hope this helps
Francisco


Fowler, Paul B. wrote:

>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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>http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic:
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>
>
>
>

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