Static electrical shocks

[sailchef]

I am posting this here, for the pelican brain trust, as it is a technical question, and, if I were driving the Porsche during the winter I'm sure it would still happen, unless there is something specific about them that prevents it, in which case, I Want To Know What It Is!

Here goes.

All winter long when I get out of my car and shut the door I get zapped when my hand touches the metal door. When I go to turn on a light in the house I get zapped.
Occasionally you can hear the “crack” on the other side of the room and it’ll sting to the point where I almost twist my neck out of whack jerking my hand back to avoid it.

Now the car is sitting on rubber tires , and the electrical switches are all plastic but it still happens. I understand (partially) where the static comes from and that a dry warm environment like the house or car is the perfect situation for this phenomenon. The how and why are not what I’m interested in.

My question is this, How do you prevent this from happening?

I have heard all kinds of “tales”, Like dragging a chain from your car to ground it, Touch a grounded water faucet before turning on the light etc.

Is there some mineral deficiency in the body that causes this? Is there a copper/metal/ magnesium/anti-ionizing/plastic watcha-ma-callit you can wear to prevent it from happening?

Am I the only one experiencing this? It only happens in the winter, unless you install new carpet in the summer LOL. What can be done to prevent this? Any one else have this problem or is it just me?


Thanks in advance.

[tcar]

Just a factor of very dry air in the winter. Static electricity.

A humidifier in your house will pretty much eliminate it. So will being barefoot.

A a gas station, it's a good idea to touch both the car and a metal post or something before you fuel up. Doesn't have to be simultaneously.

You can get a little strap to install on the bottom of your car at autoparts store. Dont need a chain.

(I just noticed that Target has static straps on the bottom of their shopping carts!)

[steely]

just put these ESD heel straps on your pilotti's and yer good to go!

[porschenut]

Don't let your fingertips be the first thing that touches the car door when you get out. Touch it first with the heel of your hand, or your shirt sleeve, or your shoe. That should do it.

[John W.]

The electrostatic zap you're experiencing occurs anytime the potential charge of two objects (of which one is you) is different by more than a few hundred volts. Once the two objects are close enough the charge will jump between the two producing the zap. This is called electrostatic discharge or ESD. You're body is actually a very small capacitor down in the picofarads -- I've never studied the body but it is certainly possible that your chemistry is different such that you're a larger capacitance - do other people experience the same amount of zap? This is a very serious problem in the electronics industry. Some precautions we take are wear a grounding strap with a very high impedance so you don't get shocked, work at a anti-static grounded workbench while wearing an anti-static smock, and in the south west we increase the humidity in the room . You can wear special conductive shoes or some people wear the straps that Steely mentioned. Since your car is on rubber tires it can build up charge until you who are grounded by stepping out then touches it. When you fly you'll notice the first thing they do upon landing is connect a grounding strap cause the plane can have very high amounts of charge on it. Hope this helps a little - search on ESD prevention for more info.

[wildcat077]

That happens to my other vehicles with cloth seats during the Winter months...
I spray the seats with Static Guard aerosol and it helps for a while,the other trick is to hold on to the top of the door frame as you are getting out of the car,it's almost like you're grounding yourself to the car and you won't get zapped !

Phil

[zippy_gg]

Or just have fun with it... Drag your feet on the carpet and zap people near you!
A sure way to make new friends!!!

[sailchef]

Thanks guys, I located a ground strap for the car.

I found the "grounding before feet hit the ground" trick to work. I just need to grab the metal skin of the door before I exit. Remembering is the hard part, but it comes back real quick.

After I posted I looked up my question on the Web and got some good info. Before that my first reaction was to ask everyone here how they delt with it.

I had tried the carpet trick allready. My wife "strongly suggested" that I don't try it again.

Thanks for all the responses.