Wireless Anti-Static Straps... do they actually work? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 05:28:31 am
content: I have seen these wireless straps advertised....http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Cables-Unlimited-Wireless-Anti-Static-ESD-Wrist-Strap-/180485748052?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a05c9f554#ht_3449wt_939Has anyone used them and found that they work?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 06:19:15 am
content: They work fine as long as you don't touch any static sensitive parts or equipment.

author: hacklordsniper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 07:25:28 am
content: Quote from: IanB on December 07, 2011, 06:19:15 amI guess they are used only as fashion item

author: Joker94
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 08:13:57 am
content: Would love to see what is under the screw hatch. Probably a "Sucker" sticker

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 08:52:01 am
content: lol!maybe its a communication barrier thing.... wireless = user provides wire-sj

author: Short Circuit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 12:05:48 pm
content: Quote from: hacklordsniper on December 07, 2011, 07:25:28 amYes! A supernerd braceletWould go perfect with Dave's neg feedback shirt.

author: SoftwareSamurai
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 12:41:10 pm
content: Quote from: Joker94 on December 07, 2011, 08:13:57 amYou can find out...for just $0.99 USD!

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 12:57:50 pm
content: Maybe it has the ultra secret ingredient in there that capable of sucking the charge without dumping it like a sponge. Of course once the sponge reached its full capacity, it will discharge without warning and you will get electrocuted by your own nice looking and trendy strap.LOL

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 02:04:10 pm
content: As featured on the AmpHour 'Shonky product of the week'

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 05:42:18 pm
content: Quote from: SoftwareSamurai on December 07, 2011, 12:41:10 pmI shall be letting you know...

author: RCMR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 07:25:58 pm
content: It's all down to morphic resonance and the use of a syncopated inverse reciprocating grottle flange to diversificate the quantum neutrino flux.Gosh, I thought everyone knew that!

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 08:02:49 pm
content: They use corona to discharge static. They reduce annoying shocks, but do not work well enough for real ESD control.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 08:05:04 pm
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on December 07, 2011, 08:02:49 pmHow does Mexican Beer discharge static?

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 08:13:57 pm
content: I wonder if a wrist strap could be made that senses high voltage and lights up when it does, that way you may not need to be grounded because you'll know by the colour of your bracelet whether or not you have a static build up

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 08:17:04 pm
content: Perhaps we will see a positive review on this soon on eeweb.com

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2011, 08:28:49 pm
content: Quote from: olsenn on December 07, 2011, 08:13:57 pmIt possibly could be done. Mike made a voltage detector light up here just by brushing it with his fingers:<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpftN-q2SKs#t=2m14s>(Sorry, you'll have to copy and paste the link. SMF keeps buggering it up* if I post it as a real link.)In the same vein, my Klein voltage detector last night was flashing and beeping like crazy when I held it next to my iPhone charger cable that should only be at 5 V. So false alarms could be a problem with such detectors.* "Bugger: to make a right cockup of things"

author: tesla500
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2011, 04:49:01 am
content: I've read of super fine carbon nano-tubes that can cause corona discharge at as little as 5V above ground potential. A wireless anti-static strap using this technology may work, but somehow I doubt those eBay items use such technology!

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2011, 04:57:26 am
content: Quote from: tesla500 on December 08, 2011, 04:49:01 amI'm betting it will be the "sucka" sticker when I open it up. We'll see....

author: JuKu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2011, 07:23:09 am
content: Quote from: olsenn on December 07, 2011, 08:13:57 pmEasy enough: A battery, a resistor and a LED.[Seriously: If you don't have the strap, you do have static. the question is if you have enough to kill circuits. My "sweet spot" (trade-off between convenience and possible ESD troubles) is having grounded mats on desktops, a conductive chair and a grounded mat under the chair. I don't have too many failures even though I have loose papers etc around. But I don't ship to customers from my desk, I know I've compromised reliability by not having proper ESD environment.]

author: WattSekunde
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2011, 03:21:39 pm
content: Quote from: don.r on December 08, 2011, 04:57:26 amMe too!

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2011, 12:21:26 am
content: Well... its not a "sucka" sticker but inside is a 1Mohm resistor which has one leg joined to the strap and one leg wrapped around what looks like conductive foam. I'll post pictures later.

author: WattSekunde
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2011, 06:57:06 pm
content: For me it looks it like a "sucka" sticker.Let's think about a typical situation:The test person wearing insulating shoes. On the workbench waits a perfect grounded PCB. Maybe the ground comes from an oscilloscope. The person goes around the lab and come back with screw driver and a huge amount of electrons on his body... Why should all these electrons concentrate in the blue foam? Why should they go over the 1M resistor? When did they come back?You need a diode to prevent the electrons to come backHere you can see what happens...Sorry! But thank you for the inside view of this interesting product! Could you try to test it?

author: don.r
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2011, 08:03:56 pm
content: Oh yeah... its a "sucka" sticker in another form.The strap itself seems to work fine so I may use it as a spare. When I get a dry day around here, I'll build up a charge and see if I can get a "ping" on the scope.