Volume 9 Issue 4 | April 2015 |
ZAP! How to Deal with Static Electricity Has this ever happened to you? You walk across a rug, then touch a doorknob or light switch or computer or another person and ZAP! You feel a spark on your fingertip, anywhere from a mild flicker to a painful shock. Here is my advice on what you can do about this. How a static charge accumulates Static electricity can build up in your body when you come in contact with materials that transfer an electrical charge to you. If you're also insulated from any "conductive outlet" (not in contact with an electrical ground, e.g., wearing rubber-soled shoes), instead of draining away, the charge stays. Plastic and synthetic materials can cause this, as well as many organic materials, including hair and fur. For example:
In an informal and unscientific survey of friends and colleagues, I've also learned that:
This build-up and discharge of static electricity that you experience is a miniature version of the same mechanism that causes lightning and thunder. The good news about modern computer equipment The first computers I used in the 1970s took up most of a room and were housed in climate-controlled environments. I don't remember any concerns about static electricity, nor any damaging incidents. However, when microcomputers became available for consumers to use in the 1980s, static electricity was a major concern. "Touch-me-first" pads that connected to a nearby ground (like a wall outlet or radiator) were common and important accessories. As you sat down to use your Atari or Apple II or the computer you built from a kit, you would touch that pad first to discharge any static charge you were carrying and avoid damaging your delicate (and expensive) equipment. These days, the shielding and grounding of computers has improved to the point where the need for regular users to have "touch-me-first" pads has disappeared into history. When I walk across my rug and touch my laptop computer, I sometimes do feel a static shock, but my computer has never had a problem. However, technicians who take computers apart to fix or service them definitely need to be careful about static electricity. How to reduce static electricity You may still have good reasons to be concerned about static electricity. For example:
Discharging your static electricity before it can damage your electronics Completely eliminating static electricity from your environment might not be possible or practical. Here are some simple ways you can discharge your static build-up before you touch your valuable electronics:
If you experience a static shock when getting out of your car, try this: After you've slid across the seat and opened the door, touch a metal part of the car's door or frame with your bare hand right before your feet touch the ground. You may not feel any spark, but doing this will probably dissipate your excess charge. This is important to do at the gas station, especially if you pump your own gas, to avoid causing a spark near the pump and possibly igniting the gas fumes. Don't forget to discharge again if you get back in your car and get out a second time! Also, if you are going to fill a gas can or portable fuel container, avoid building up a dangerous static charge by taking the container out of your car or truck and placing it on the ground, keeping the nozzle in contact with the container the entire time you're filling it, and putting the cap back on the container before moving away from it. Reduce or eliminate the pain of that static electricity ZAP! For some people, getting a static shock might be an amusing surprise, but for others it's quite a painful experience. If you can predict when a static shock is going to occur, here are some simple ways you can reduce or eliminate that pain:
At my desk I have found that touching my metal clamp-on swing-arm lamp is a convenient way to discharge my static electricity before touching my computers. However, when I want to watch the television shows I've recorded on my Tivo DVR, if I happen to touch the Tivo's case, in the winter I often feel a static shock. Some of the time the shock makes the Tivo stop working; luckily rebooting it has brought it back to life, but this motivated me to make my own simple "touch-me-first" pad that combines:
Static electricity isn't all bad A number of technologies that we take for granted depend on the use of static electricity, including photocopiers, laser printers, automotive paints, and certain types of air filters. Exploit what you've learned here for dramatic effect The next time you or your significant other wears a fleece jacket or wool coat, run your hand over the fabric and then kiss them. If you get a (presumably mild) shock, you can say, "See? We've still got sparks!" Where to go from here
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How to contact me: email: martin@kadansky.com phone: (617) 484-6657 web: http://www.kadansky.com On a regular basis I write about real issues faced by typical computer users. To subscribe to this newsletter, please send an email to martin@kadansky.com and I'll add you to the list, or visit http://www.kadansky.com/newsletter Did you miss a previous issue? You can find it in my newsletter archive: http://www.kadansky.com/newsletter Your privacy is important to me. I do not share my newsletter mailing list with anyone else, nor do I rent it out. Copyright (C) 2015 Kadansky Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. I love helping people learn how to use their computers better! Like a "computer driving instructor," I work 1-on-1 with small business owners and individuals to help them find a more productive and successful relationship with their computers and other high-tech gadgets. |