Background: Taser constantly mentions that the X26 taser has an average current of just 2 milliamperes. A current of 2 mA seems reasonably safe. But the word "average" is a red flag to a skeptic ("lies, damn lies, and statistics"), especially when applied to the current of a complex waveform (EEs would normally use RMS values). Further investigation revealed that the X26 taser is 151 mA RMS (root mean square). A current of 151 mA RMS (with a primary frequency component at just 19 Hz) is enough to raise eyebrows with respect to purported safety margins.
Here is the latest twist to the tale (not new, but I just noticed).
I had made the assumption that Taser had added the RMS current value to later revisions of the X26 taser specification sheet once they had noticed their omission. I assumed it was an innocent mistake corrected once they noticed.
Well it turns out that this attention-getting RMS value is mentioned on the earlier versions of the X26 specification sheet, but not the later versions.
Very interesting sequence. Why was this interesting factoid (the RMS current) dropped from theX26 specification sheet? Did they crunch the data to manufacture numerical values that seemed on their face to be 'low', and did they intentionally expunged from the specification sheet the value(s) that seemed to be 'high'? Hey, I'm just asking.
(For copyright information regarding these extracts from published Taser documents, please refer to the Copyright 'Fair Use' Notice in the right-hand column.)
(C) 2003 Taser
(C) 2007 Taser (correction)
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