Electrical Weapon Charge Delivery With Arcing

Introduction: Human electronic control with the Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW) has gained widespread acceptance as the preferred law enforcement force option technology due to its dramatic injury and fatal shooting reduction. However, with bulky or baggy clothing, a CEW probe may fail to make direct skin contact and thus arcing is critical to complete the circuit. The goal of the study was to evaluate the ability of modern CEWs to deliver their pulse charges across typical required arcing distances. Methods: Popular TASER
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CEW models X26E (openloop output), and the X2 and X26P (with closed-loop outputs) were activated using a cartridge connected to a custom polymer air-gap fixture. For each model 5 units were tested. The raw and normalized charge delivery were evaluated according to ANSI-CPLSO-17. Results: All 5 units of each model satisfied ANSICPLSO-17 even at maximum arcing length. The X26P CEW had the greatest arcing gap capability. Conclusions: The stabilized closed-loop charge output feedback of modern electrical weapons (X2 and X26P CEWs) provides a significantly improved output consistency under arcing conditions. With arc lengths of 10-20 mm per probe, the X2 CEW normalized output charge exceeds that of some units of the older higher output X26E CEW model.