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Static Electricity
Bionic Monkey
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Registered User, ClubPA regular
The last couple weeks, I have been getting shocked like fucking crazy at work. Like fucking painful static shocks, they're so bad.
I don't really drag my feet, and it only seems to happen at work.
It got especially horrible today, when I had to walk back and forth between my desk and a filing cabinet several times, and got shocked at each end, every single time. The distance between each point was about six feet. It was during this Rite of Ascension that I realized I was right in the midst of the flow from our heater, which is an ancient thing that uses heating coils and a loud-as-fuck fan to blow hot air into the room. I don't know if that could be charging the air somehow, or what.
Anyway, is there someway to reduce, lessen, or even completely rid myself of constant static electricity?
I don't really drag my feet, and it only seems to happen at work.
It got especially horrible today, when I had to walk back and forth between my desk and a filing cabinet several times, and got shocked at each end, every single time. The distance between each point was about six feet. It was during this Rite of Ascension that I realized I was right in the midst of the flow from our heater, which is an ancient thing that uses heating coils and a loud-as-fuck fan to blow hot air into the room. I don't know if that could be charging the air somehow, or what.
Anyway, is there someway to reduce, lessen, or even completely rid myself of constant static electricity?
Bionic Monkey on
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You could try changing the type of clothing you're wearing. Go for natural fabrics instead of synthetic. Also, try adding fabric conditioner when you do your washing. Other than that, I don't think there's a hell of a lot you can do. Maybe try stapling a car earthing strap to your pant leg? (note: don't, you'd look really odd)
Other than that, uh, find a buddy to zap on the way to the filing cabinet?
That... generally goes against what generates the most static electricity... odd.
Anyways, if your environment can handle it, you could get a humidifier for your office or whatnot. Otherwise you can try moisturizers, and/or the above suggested dryer sheets.
Yeah, I really have no idea why it works that way at my house. >.> Maybe because we have tile flooring over a good portion. But even on carpet I don't zap with no shoes. :P Maybe it's just Arizona.
I don't believe it - I'm on my THIRD PS3, and my FIRST XBOX360. What the heck?
Somebody else posted that advice on this board a while back, maybe last winter, and I was skeptical at first. But it actually works! I mean, depending on what you're touching, of course. If it's a desk or a door handle, go ahead and slap it down. But my cat's fur gets ridiculously staticky during the winter, and I can't exactly punch her in the short ribs every time I want to pet her. So, hitting inanimate objects good, hitting people or animals bad.
I use the same stuff on my shirts during the winter. Works great.
I swear we had this thread a few months ago. It had some good info in it.
My wife and I live in an apartment with wall-to-wall carpeting, and in the winter we are constantly shocking each other when we kiss. A 20,000 volt shock on your lip is no fun, let me tell you. We've gotten in the habit of making sure we grab onto the other's arm pre-kiss. It's ridiculous, but it works.
I do a quick spray on the couch once the static builds back up on it. Last 2-3 weeks. Works great.
It never has for me. I don't know the science behind it, though.
And yes, do it quick and fast. I'm better off just expecting to get shocked every single time I try to escape the office, and then it's nice when I don't.
The worst experience I've had so far is shocking myself on my MacBook, that my suite-mate across heard (it's a good 20-30 feet away). I then had to get my MacBook checked a couple of days later, so I always wonder if that was the reason.
I think it's because he metal has to be grounded.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention that.
Dr. Science to the rescue!
So electrons are the trouble when it comes to all kinds of electricity, including static. As I'm sure you know, when you rub two objects with certain properties together, electrons can sometimes pass off of one and onto another. When this happens with, say, a down jacket and a soft shirt (my most common offender) the electrons are stored in great number on one object, giving it a negative charge. The other object becomes positively charged as a result of losing the electrons.
Now electrons don't like each other, so when you get a slight charge on part of your body they will usually try and spread throughout the rest of your body. But after a certain point, the electrons are so powerfully repellant of getting more electrons that the electrons may attempt to jump across a gap, such as the one between your hand and the doorknob. If it can't do this, the charge will eventually cease attempting to build up, as the electrons will be "maxed out" on your body and you can't accumulate more. This is why it's nearly impossible to kill anyone with a static charge.
The most important thing when determining how much "shock potential" you can get are the properties of the materials being rubbed together. On things like carpet, socks and other types of cloth will often build charges. Rubber is very good at accepting charges on other kinds of surfaces. But the thing about rubber is that it works as an insulator, meaning that it's easier to store up larger amounts of electrical charge between discharges. As an example, if you place your hand on a Van De Graff generator (one of those big metal spheres that makes static) while wearing socks, you will rapidly lose charge to the ground. While wearing rubber-soled shoes like sneakers, you will eventually see arcs of electricity jumping from the bridge of your foot to the floor, as that is often the easiest uninterrupted path.
Touching a paperclip or other small metal object will only dissipate a small percentage of any substantial static charge, as the electron levels will quickly equalize between the two objects. If the object is grounded, it will equalize at close enough to zero to prevent shock. Your best bet is to determine which action is causing the majority of the static to accumulate and attempt to substitute a different material, whether it's removing/changing your shoes, putting a different kind of cloth over your chair, etc. An ounce of prevention, if you will. You could also try attaching a grounding wire to your body, though that would seem to be more trouble than it's worth. To be very effective, it would probably have to attach to the leg, and it would require regular dampening.
Another thing you might try is touching the metal with a less sensitive part of your body. Your fingertips have an order of magnitude more nerve endings than, say, the back of your hand, and so any shock occurring there will be much less painful. The wrist is also a good place. Just discharge yourself on the wrist before grabbing the doorknob and it should hurt less.
Anti-Static Wrist Strap
This may just be the least practical suggestion ever proposed in H/A.
Keep your computer on the ground and remember to tap it every once in a while.
Actually you could just touch the back of the power supply regardless of where you put the thing.
I didn't say it was practical. Still, I think you ought to retract the above statement about that being the worst advice ever given on this forum. I've seen some pretty crappy advice, first of all. I'm also not the first person to suggest this, though I was the first to point out that such a device actually exists. I also gave a thorough and helpful reply two posts prior to that one.
I can attest to how awesome using a coin or better yet, keys. There is a floor in my building at work that is a static heaven. I've mostly trained myself now to grab my set of keys and touch a key to whatever metal surface first.
I actually did this tonight, as I was going to lock up. I had my keys out, and tapped them against some grating and got to see the actual discharge.
The heater was off all day, and while I still got shocked, it was noticably less. I'm thinking it's definately the dry air in the building.
Really, the problem only seems to occur when I'm up and moving anyway. Once I get shocked after sitting down at the desk, I'm safe until I get up and move again.
I am utterly intrigued by that "nearly impossible" in your post now.
Well as far as I know it's impossible. The problem is that, while you can create some massive voltages with static electricity (a typical Van De Graaf generator can usually create a potential difference of several hundred thousand volts) the amount of current one could store in a single body, even at that voltage, is far too small to cause heart damage, which is the primary threat of electrical shock.
I know they made a giant VDG generator on Mythbusters to test for themselves and they couldn't get anywhere near the amperes they wanted (I believe the target was 50 mA, which is on the low end of life-threatening.) It's hard to say anything is impossible, but with the vast number of faster and more efficient ways to kill someone, static electricity is not the way to do it.
Incidentally, a VDG generator is not a static electricity source; it is in fact a voltage pump, essentially a low-charge capacitor. It does, however, approximate static electricity in many ways, certainly enough to be considered equitable when it comes to killing someone.
You disappoint me, Terrendos.
The other day my fiance was getting shocked every couple of minutes through the fabric grocery cart cover our son was sitting in. He too did not appreciate being shocked.
When I got new shoes, it stopped happening.
I love them personally. They not only last longer, are anti-microbial, and generally fit better, they also keep you from getting shocked about 99% of the time.
From the Military part of the FAQ:
Static Dissipative/Super Conductivity
Our X-STATIC® pure silver, multi-filament, profile provides instantaneous static reduction which not only protects the individual, but mission critical, electrical equipment as well. In addition, our conductive fiber can transfer data across the fabric making the system not only extremely protective but overwhelmingly intelligent.
I think that last sentence is supposed to be a joke?
Anyway, they are good socks, not that expensive, and will last forever.
I don't see how they can keep you warmer in winter than cloth. The reason things like cloth and insulation are so effective at stopping heat conduction is because there's a lot of air bubbles in them, and each bubble functions like an electrical resistor for heat. The more often the heat has to change back and forth from conduction to molecular convection/radiation, the less heat will transfer. But the heat can still travel rather well through the fibers and threads. If some of those fibers are replaced with silver, a very effective heat conductor, I don't see how that would make them better at keeping heat in than socks with different fibers in their place. Then again, I haven't had graduate level heat transfer yet, so I could be missing something.
The other stuff is probably reasonably true... lots of silver compounds interfere with bacterial growth. The sentence about them being intelligent is just plain stupid.
I developed a habit of just tapping the shelves throughout the entire day while walking the aisles. It became second-nature to me... tapping them to get out tiny build-ups throughout the day. Just thought I'd share that.
I've noticed a few shocks here and there in my apartment. I'll have to try the above mentioned solutions, as well.
The worst was last year during the winter. My apartment was so dry, that when I'd wear boxers, my ding-a-ling would occasionally get shocked through my pants. That HURT.
I think water can help sometimes too? perhaps keep a small glass of water on your desk and just dip your finger in it.
Fuck those screws.
I used to have big static problem but I was wearing these terrible 10 dollar wal-mart shoes. Upgraded my shoes and the shocks went down by 95%
we also talk about other random shit and clown upon each other
It's also fun to shock people with out the repercussions of using your bare digits.