Taser Technology

Taser Technology

For years law enforcement has been searching for more effective less lethal options to apprehend suspects. One of the newest technologies available is the Taser, also known by industry standards as an electronic controlled device (ECD). The Taser uses electricity to override the central nervous system, an effect referred to as “neuro-muscular incapacitation (NMI), to cause temporary incapacitation to allow officers to gain control of a subject.

Electronic controlled devices basically use high voltage, low wattage electrical charges to induce involuntary muscle contractions that cause a subject to be temporarily incapacitated. The weapon system is designed to fire two probes, or darts, that are attached to insulated wires. When the probes make contact with a person, the Taser will produce 50,000 volts of electricity, but only .0021 amps. According to Taser International, Inc. “it is not the volts that are dangerous it is the amps.” Volts are simply the rate the electricity is moving, but amps are the measure of current in the electricity. Taser International (2006)

In 1993, two brothers, Rick and Tom Smith along, with Taser inventor Jack Cover, began working together on a non-lethal self-defense device. In 1994, they developed a non-firearm version of the Taser. This original Taser was known as a “stun” system, which used electricity to jam the central nervous system with electrical noise. This system used approximately five to fifteen watts of power and was more of a pain compliance device rather than overriding the central nervous system.

Two serious issues occurred with these “stun” systems: The officer had to be up close to make contact with the subject; and since it was a pain compliance device, it could be overcome by subjects under the influence of alcohol or drugs and emotionally disturbed individuals.

In 1998, Taser International introduced the Advanced M26 Taser version to the law enforcement community. This system was the next step in the evolution of the Taser as it went from a pain compliance device to the NMI. This system used between 16 and 26 watts of power, 50,000 volts, and affected both the sensory and motor nervous systems causing uncontrollable muscle spasms to the subject. The Taser technology uses similar electrical pulses, as used by the human nervous system to communicate to it and overrides those impulses causing the desired affect.

With the development of the M26 Taser, Taser International addressed the two serious issues mentioned above. By utilizing a replaceable cartridge that fires probes, it gave the officer distance between the subject and himself. The distance gives the officers the ability to react to a subject’s action and reduces the potential for immediate injury to the officer. The second is advancing from a pain compliance device to a neuro-muscular incapacitation device, which causes temporary incapacitation to the subject and allows the officer(s) time to approach the subject and gain control of the subject.

The latest version of the Taser has improved not only on the size of the device but also on the technology and effectiveness. The new X26 Taser still uses the same amount of power, but what Taser International has done is improve on introducing the electricity into the body. Taser found approximately 90% of the energy was lost upon impact to the subject’s body with the M26 Taser. Taser International developed a new “shaped pulse” technology that reduced this lost energy and made it more effective. Taser International claims the new X26 Taser is 5% more effective and 60% smaller and lighter than its predecessor the M26 Taser.

The M26 Taser used a simple high energy or “blunt” pulse to penetrate barriers such as skin and clothes to enter the body. With the X26 Taser, Taser International improved to the new shaped pulse technology, which uses a highly refined energy that is shaped to first penetrate the barrier with minimal loss of energy, and then allow the remaining majority of energy to flow into the body.

The first part of the phase is called the “Arc phase”. This is the energy that will penetrate up to two inches of clothing or body armor and allows the second phase to take place. The “Stim phase”, which is the second part of the arc, carries the remaining energy to override the central nervous system and cause the muscle contractions.

By using this two-phase system and less energy loss, Taser International has been able to reduce the amount of watts needed to reach the desired NMI effects. The original M26 Taser used 26 watts of power to reach NMI. The X26 Taser now uses only five watts of power to reach the NMI. With this advancement in technology, Taser International has been able to increase it’s effectiveness by 5%, reduce the amount of power needed to achieve the effectiveness by 1/5, and create a weapon that is 60% smaller and lighter than its predecessor.

The X26 Taser is made of a high impact, sonic welded polymer and weighs seven ounces. The weapon uses a replaceable cartridge that fires two probes, which are attached to lightly insulated thin wires. The lengths of the wires vary from 15 feet to 35 feet, depending on the cartridge used. Although the peak energy value is listed as 50,000 volts, the actual amount of energy entering into the body is approximately 1,200 volts with the X26 Taser. The standard wall socket inside of a home is 100 volts with 16 amps of electricity. The X26 Taser is listed as 50,000 volts with .0021 amps of electricity. Taser International (2006)

Taser International (2006)

The deployment process begins by pulling the trigger of the weapon and activating the firing cycle. The electrical charge from this action causes a primer to ignite and push a small capsule, filled with 1,800 psi of nitrogen, to puncture on a pin in the cartridge. It is the discharged nitrogen that pushes the probes out of the cartridge and towards the intended target. The probes impact on the intended target and the electricity passes from the weapon, through the probes and into the targeted body.

Taser International (2006)

Taser International has developed cartridges to be ambidextrous in the sense there is no one-way to insert the cartridge into the weapon. It can be inserted, removed and turned, and then re-inserted, and the weapon will still function as designed.

Controversy has steadily increased