EMC Question of the Week: April 13, 2026
A wireless ESD wrist strap dissipates accumulated charge using
- ionization
- radiation
- thermal induction
- none of the above
Answer
The best answer is “d.” Wireless (or cordless) ESD wrist straps simply don't dissipate accumulated charge. Charge cannot be radiated or converted to heat. And while it is possible to dissipate small amounts of charge by attracting ions in the surrounding air, wireless ESD wrist straps don't do this to any meaningful extend.
There are hundreds of useless products that can be purchased online claiming to protect people and electronics from EM fields, electric currents, and various ambiguously defined electromagnetic phenomena. To an EMC engineer, these scams should be obvious. Nevertheless, caveat emptor!
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