Stupid Guest Tricks

Zazu wrote:I used to work in an electronics manufacturing plant, and we had to ban several varieties of shoes and all pantyhose from the production floor because the components were getting zapped. :litning:

Had the same problem at a company I worked for. They came up with a ground strap that wrapped around the ankle and dragged on the ground. Same deal as a chain dragging on the ground under fuel trucks to discharge static electricity.

hobie16 wrote:Had the same problem at a company I worked for. They came up with a ground strap that wrapped around the ankle and dragged on the ground. Same deal as a chain dragging on the ground under fuel trucks to discharge static electricity.

I can just see myself cruising through WalMart with a drag chain strapped around my ankle. :D: They'd probably think I was an escapee from a prison road gang.

So the New Balance walking or running shoes I wear most of the time are contributing to the problem?
I also have to touch something metal in my car while exiting or I'll get quite a nip.

Yes, the pantyhose and/or nylon knee-highs were the culprit at work, even if I lifted my skirt and sprayed anti-static stuff all over my legs. In the ladies room, of course. :p:

Zazu wrote:While not disagreeing with what others have posted, there's a very good chance you could solve the problem by changing your shoes, or perhaps your socks/hose. If either is a good insulator, it's easy to pick up a static charge. If your footware is a conductor, it will discharge that static to ground and keep you from zapping things.

I used to work in an electronics manufacturing plant, and we had to ban several varieties of shoes and all pantyhose from the production floor because the components were getting zapped. :litning:

They also have a "connectionless" anti-static wristband. The supposedly work the same way as the connected ones. I have seen them advertised, but being parnoid, we all use the standard alligator clip ones when working on any system or componet.

Zazu wrote:While not disagreeing with what others have posted, there's a very good chance you could solve the problem by changing your shoes, or perhaps your socks/hose. If either is a good insulator, it's easy to pick up a static charge. If your footware is a conductor, it will discharge that static to ground and keep you from zapping things.

I used to work in an electronics manufacturing plant, and we had to ban several varieties of shoes and all pantyhose from the production floor because the components were getting zapped. :litning:

One solution I HEARD of (but have never tried) was to put a couple of metal thumbtacks from inside your shoe down through the sole. The smooth head is against your foot (or sock) but the tack going through the insulating plastic/rubber/leather sole gives a path for a charge to pass through with each step. But I suspect that unless you spend at least part of the time walking on a conductive surface of some sort this may not help.

I fully understand the problem of getting zapped every time you turn around. A couple of years ago the air handling system here at work went wacko (the proper technical term) and for the entire winter the humidity in the building dropped to about 13% or less. (that's DANGEROUSLY low). Just sitting in a swivel chair and turning around to face a different work space tended to build up a healthy zap. The Engineers were kept VERY busy around here fixing the electronic equipment that was getting zapped on a nearly daily basis. I finally got tired of the zaps here in my work space (Radio Master Control) and got a spray bottle full of water. I soaked down the carpet (until I could actually SEE the water pooling) and the fabric wall covering every hour. It's amazing how something that simple made the problem disappear.

Randy

Randy B wrote:It's amazing how something that simple made the problem disappear.

That'll do it. I haven't been zapped since moving to Maui. The downside is lots of bugs thrive in the humidity. :raid: