Electroshock weapon
An electroshock weapon is an incapacitant
weapon used for subduing a person by ad-
ministering electric shock aimed at disrupt-
ing superficial muscle functions. One type is
a conductive energy device (CED), an elec-
troshock gun popularly known by the brand
name "Taser", which fires projectiles that ad-
minister the shock through a thin, flexible
wire. Other electroshock weapons such as
stun guns, stun batons, and electroshock
belts administer an electric shock by direct
contact.
A Taser, with cartridge removed, making an
electric arc between its two electrodes
A computer-generated image (CGI) of a man
holding an electric shock baton.
Principles of operation
Electroshock weapon technology uses a
temporary high-voltage low-current electrical
discharge to override the body’s muscle-trig-
gering mechanisms.
The
recipient
is
immobilized via two metal probes connected
via metal wires to the electroshock device.
The recipient feels pain, and can be moment-
arily paralyzed while an electric current is
being applied. It is reported that applying
electroshock devices to more sensitive parts
of the body is even more painful.[1] The max-
imum effective areas for stun gun usage are
upper shoulder, below the rib cage, and the
upper hip. Although a fairly high voltage is
used, it generates a relatively low electric
current due to the electrical resistance of the
human body (see Ohm’s law). The resulting
’shock’ is caused by muscles twitching un-
controllably, appearing as muscle spasms.
The internal circuits of most electroshock
weapons are fairly simple, based on either an
oscillator, resonant circuit, and step-up trans-
former or a diode-capacitor voltage multiplier
to
achieve
the
continuous,
direct,
or
alternating high-voltage discharge. It may be
powered by one or more batteries depending
on manufacturer and model. The output
voltages without external
"load"
(which
would be the target’s body) are claimed to be
in the range of 50 kV up to 1000 kV, with the
most common being in the 200 to 300 kV
range. H