Fowler Associates Labs

Sasha Ring May Help You Avoid Painful Zaps

by: Jennifer Hazen

The ESD Journal was sent an advanced sample of a product called the Sasha Ring. The maker of this ring told us the following:

".....Many people are also sensitive to the effects of static electricity. The largest group would probably be office workers, subject to dry-heated, carpeted offices, working with photocopiers and behind computer screens. While the ESD industry is focused on the damaging effects of static discharge towards equipment or component damage, it seems to overlook the human aspect. Some noted effects on individuals are fatigue, headaches, and/or nausea.

...the Sasha Ring was developed by its inventor to help relieve his own migraine symptoms he would suffer while working in his lab.

The ring is worn as any other piece of jewelry, and works by conducting the static charge to the ring body, be it platinum, gold or silver. A passive circuit (no batteries) inside the ring passes and holds the charge to the face of the ring, which is insulated from the body by a gemstone or ebonite. Excessive charges built up in the ring throughout the day may be dissipated occasionally by touching the ring face to any metal surface.

A simple test of the ring’s effectiveness is to drag your feet across a carpeted area known to give you a static shock. When you reach out and touch a doorknob...ZAP! Repeat the same procedure while wearing the Sasha Ring. You’ll be amazed when you feel the difference. (You will feel absolutely nothing if you discharge the face of the ring first!)"

The manufacturer ( Dartz Industries) states that the ring will reduce the level of a static discharge from a person to below the painful level. The graph above is from their literature:

Static Discharge Reduction:
We tested the ring to determine if the ring performed as advertised. We tested the ring on discharges to door knobs and car doors. These are the typical problem spots for painful sparks in dry weather. We found it did reduce the level of pain in a discharge. We found that the levels of pain were imperceptible at levels up to 20,000 volts on the technician. At levels above 50,000 volts on the technician, the level of pain was perceivable but significantly reduced from the original discharge capabilities.

Our technicians made some measurements on the ring and found the ring body is separated from the top by a resistance of 1.5 Meg Ohms. We tested for diode directionality and found none. The resistance from the top to the ring and from the ring to the top was the same. This means the ring provides a dampening to any electrostatic discharge. This would make the reduction of pain in these discharges understandable. The ring provides an attractive way to dampen electrostatic zaps.

Many people use their keys or other metal objects to divert the point of discharge when approaching a door knob or getting out of a car. The Sasha Ring allows another method for reducing the pain in these discharges.

We have printed another method for reducing electrostatic discharge pain before:
New Static Brush Eliminates Shocking from Your Car

The theory about fatigue and other physical attributes can not be tested by our labs so we remain silent on these issues.