Antistatic Ring

This Ring allows discharging yourself of static electricity without feeling a discomforting electrical shock.

According to Wikipedia, One of the causes of ESD events is static electricity. Static electricity is often generated through tribocharging, the separation of electric charges that occurs when two materials are brought into contact and then separated. Examples of tribocharging include walking on a rug, rubbing a plastic comb against dry hair, rubbing a balloon against a sweater, ascending from a fabric car seat, or removing some types of plastic packaging. In all these cases, the breaking of contact between two materials results in tribocharging, thus creating a difference of electrical potential that can lead to an ESD event. [...] The most spectacular form of ESD is the spark, which occurs when a heavy electric field creates an ionized conductive channel in air. This can cause minor discomfort to people, severe damage to electronic equipment, and fires and explosions if the air contains combustible gases or particles.

As I experienced several shocks a day at work each time I got up from my chair, I decided to build this little ring to avoid this painful discharge when I touched a metallic mass like my desk's door handle.

This ring includes a neon bulb and a resistor that "brake" the electrical flow and thus reduce the pain while lightning a little the lamp.

Be careful this ring isn't a real antistatic device as it discharges you punctually only when you are touching a grounded metallic mass and not continuously as an antistatic wrist strap would do.

- One E10 neon bulb, like this one :

https://www.reichelt.com/fr/fr/lampe-au-n-on-e10-l...

- One little piece copper tape (like here), maybe aluminium foil could work ;

- One 1 MOhm resistor,

- A 3D printer with TPU 95A filament to print the ring,

- A soldering iron with soldering tin

First, you need to print the ring. I used an Ultimaker S5 printer, with TPU 95A material as it is soft, and a 100% infill.

Then you can cut a ~ 6mm * 20 mm piece of copper tape and stick it to the tiny piece as shown in the picture. It will be used to connect yourself to the metallic mass when the building of the ring will be achieved.
Maybe some metallic foil could be also used to do this part but I didn't experience it.

The resistor now can be folded and cut in a way it can be soldered to the tape on one side and be in contact with the thimble of the bulb with the other side (but not your finger when wearing the ring!). Then you can solder the resistor and the tape, be careful to do that quickly in order not to melt the plastic part.

Now you can put all that together! One of the sides of the resistors should be seen on the tiniest hole. You can now add the E10 neon bulb, and it should be okay. Your finger should be touching the screw thread of the lamp.

Now you could test if you can "charge" yourself, for example by walking across a carpet, wearing the ring and then touching a doorknob across the ring with the copper part, or directly with your finger. The light bulb should also flash a little!

Have fun!

SAFETY NOTE: DO NOT USE ELECTRICITY FROM A WALL OUTLET FOR THIS EXPERIMENT. Handle the glass light bulb with care to avoid breakage.