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How to avoid static electricity!

Vrtra TheoryVrtra Theory Registered User regular
edited August 2007 in Help / Advice Forum
I recently traded my in Olds Alero for a Honda Civic, and I've noticed something particularly unpleasant that I never experienced with the Alero.

After I drive to/from work and get out of the car, when I touch the door to close it, I'm getting one of those static electricity shocks. Usually it's just a small-to-mid-sized one, but I've had several "big" (like, seems like a mini lightning bolt) shocks, and it's very irritating. It's gotten to the point where I sometimes close the door with my elbow, but if it's a big shock it'll still zap me through my shirt.

The old car was leather, and the new one is cloth, so I'm guessing that's part of the problem. My shoes, fyi, haven't changed.

Any simple/practical ideas on how to avoid cringing whenever I'm about to touch my car door?

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Vrtra Theory on

Posts

  • ZsetrekZsetrek Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    You can buy strips that hang from the chassis and earth the car, IIRC.

    Zsetrek on
  • Synthetic OrangeSynthetic Orange Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    ...

    Just touch it first with your keys.

    Synthetic Orange on
  • DelzhandDelzhand Hard to miss. Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Touch the back of your forearm to the door metal. The nerves there are pretty spread out. You'll still get shocked, but you won't feel it.

    Delzhand on
  • KrizKriz Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    ground yourself before closing the door.

    Kriz on
  • The Black HunterThe Black Hunter The key is a minimum of compromise, and a simple, unimpeachable reason to existRegistered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Zsetrek wrote: »
    You can buy strips that hang from the chassis and earth the car, IIRC.

    I see these quite alot, and are probably worth getting.

    Of course, you can never go wrong with a sheepskin seat cover.
    Might help. If not, you still have a sheepskin seat cover.

    The Black Hunter on
  • marty_0001marty_0001 I am a file and you put documents in meRegistered User regular
    edited August 2007
    I think maybe my sheepskins were the cause of my problems. They are damn comfy though and well worth it.

    As was said, you need to ground yourself before you get out. All you gotta do is put some skin to the metal of your car while you're getting out, eg your door frame (if that's what you'd call it, lol I know nothing about cars.). So just get into the habit of putting a hand down as you get out.

    marty_0001 on
  • CasketCasket __BANNED USERS regular
    edited August 2007
    This is especially important to watch out for at a gas station. If you are not careful this static electricity can trigger a deadly explosion.

    Casket on
    casketiisigih1.png
  • ThanatosThanatos Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Casket wrote: »
    This is especially important to watch out for at a gas station. If you are not careful this static electricity can trigger a deadly explosion.
    ...

    Only if you're filling a gas container on top of the trunk of your car.

    If you're just filling the tank, no, it can't.

    Thanatos on
  • CasketCasket __BANNED USERS regular
    edited August 2007
    Faggot 2 wrote: »
    Casket wrote: »
    This is especially important to watch out for at a gas station. If you are not careful this static electricity can trigger a deadly explosion.
    ...

    Only if you're filling a gas container on top of the trunk of your car.

    If you're just filling the tank, no, it can't.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KK48hQ78Kk ?

    Casket on
    casketiisigih1.png
  • DemerdarDemerdar Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Casket wrote: »
    Faggot 2 wrote: »
    Casket wrote: »
    This is especially important to watch out for at a gas station. If you are not careful this static electricity can trigger a deadly explosion.
    ...

    Only if you're filling a gas container on top of the trunk of your car.

    If you're just filling the tank, no, it can't.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KK48hQ78Kk ?

    Yup, this is entirely possible. The way to avoid it is to never get back into your car until you're finished pumping.

    Demerdar on
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  • lordswinglordswing Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    I don't know if this'll help you opening a car door, but I noticed I get shocked quite often as well when I touch door knobs. I read somewhere on here to place your palm first on the door knob, then turn it, it's worked for me.

    lordswing on
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  • RaereRaere Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Ah god this used to happen all the time in school in the winter when I'd hang up my coat in my locker. The key was to hold on the door before and while taking off my coat. You might look a little silly taking off your coat with one hand, but no shock.

    Raere on
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  • ronzoronzo Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Synthetic Orange wrote: »
    ...

    Just touch it first with your keys.

    this

    I build up enough of a charge to shock myself sitting in my car for 30 seconds, and just got in the habit of touching my keys to the door frame

    ronzo on
  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Yeah. You could buy something expensive that may or may not work... OR you could just take your key, which is presumably already in your hand.

    And touch it on the door.

    ...yeah.

    Jasconius on
  • LaOsLaOs SaskatoonRegistered User regular
    edited August 2007
    lordswing wrote: »
    I don't know if this'll help you opening a car door, but I noticed I get shocked quite often as well when I touch door knobs. I read somewhere on here to place your palm first on the door knob, then turn it, it's worked for me.

    I've gotten into the habit of shouldering the door lightly before/as I grab the knob. That helps. I haven't tried this palm thing.

    I also get static shocks when getting out of my car (and closing the door). On that, I have no help.

    LaOs on
  • SushisourceSushisource Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    LaOs wrote: »
    lordswing wrote: »
    I don't know if this'll help you opening a car door, but I noticed I get shocked quite often as well when I touch door knobs. I read somewhere on here to place your palm first on the door knob, then turn it, it's worked for me.

    I've gotten into the habit of shouldering the door lightly before/as I grab the knob. That helps. I haven't tried this palm thing.

    I also get static shocks when getting out of my car (and closing the door). On that, I have no help.

    This is what I do too.

    The key thing does not work for me. Wouldn't the key have to touch a ground for that to work?

    Sushisource on
    Some drugee on Kavinsky's 1986
    kavinskysig.gif
  • ronzoronzo Registered User regular
    edited August 2007
    Sushisource wrote: »
    LaOs wrote: »
    lordswing wrote: »
    I don't know if this'll help you opening a car door, but I noticed I get shocked quite often as well when I touch door knobs. I read somewhere on here to place your palm first on the door knob, then turn it, it's worked for me.

    I've gotten into the habit of shouldering the door lightly before/as I grab the knob. That helps. I haven't tried this palm thing.

    I also get static shocks when getting out of my car (and closing the door). On that, I have no help.

    This is what I do too.

    The key thing does not work for me. Wouldn't the key have to touch a ground for that to work?

    not necessarily. You need to be grounded i think, and the keys that i have are all metal, so the shock still passes through my body, i just dont feel the actual shock

    ronzo on
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