12 Mar
2005
12 Mar
'05
9:32 a.m.
Maybe. I think the main reason for the 1 Mohm
resistor normally used
in wrist straps is safety: if you touch a live wire, you won't get a
substantial current via the strap.
Certainly an issue, but it is the secondary reason. A lesser value
resistor could be used for this reason and still be reasonably safe,
however a decently sized resistor is needed for those multi-kV zaps.
Somehow I imagine that a comittee was formed, spent oodles of time and
money, and came up with 1 Mohm as a comprimise.
William Donzelli
aw288 at osfn.org