What is a good way to discharge static electricity (ESD) without shocking yourself?

Question

I'm getting shocked every time I touch ANYTHING around here! Would a humidifier help? Any other ideas? What if you already know you've got "the charge"? How do you neutralize it without getting shocked??

Answer 1

As already mentioned the humidifier will help because the charge only tends to build up in dry conditions (hot or cold). Another factor that contributes is materials, such as what you wear, have on furniture or carpets. Man made materials are worst but you can reduce the effects with an anti-static spray. This is very successful in vehicles sprayed on the carpet and seats.

If you know you are charged then holding onto a key etc and touching something grounded lets the arc be taken by the metal, also touching something of higher electrical resistance such as brick or concrete can reduce the shock but discharge you before you contact something metal.

Answer 2

A humidifier would help, indeed. In fact, if you're really staticy, and your clothes are sticking, the lightest mist of water will dissipate the charge.
In a house, if you're building up a lot of static, touching some metal plumbing is the best to discharge without a shock.

Answer 3

CAN static electricity ignite powder or ignition composition? MOST CERTAINLY! Static electricity is one of the chief causes of pyrotechnic and ordnance incidents. Of course, this is with open/exposed powder generally, with the charge actually hitting the powder or vapors from the powder. NG based powders are really bad about vapors. Much to our safety and relief, however, once you put the powder in a nice, conductive metal cage, the likelihood of the charge going through the powder is slim and none. It's like being in a car struck by lightning. People think you're safe because your rubber tires insulate the car. Consider the fact that the lightning bolt is traveling a few hundred feet in dead non-conductive air first (or next), and suddenly the 1/2" of rubber doesn't mean much. You're safe because you're in a nice, conductive metal cage that the electricity will gladly travel through instead of you. Same goes for static electricity. If it DOES somehow travel into the cartridge, it's going to travel through the metal and not through the lead azide (or whatever) ignition comp in the cartridge. Read up on a Faraday's cage for better info than I can give :). Yes, your body can get enough charge going to ignite lead azide and other ignition compounds. The charge, however, simply can't get there.

Answer 4

While the key or the coin trick does indeed work, it is kind of impractical for everyday discharging.

Yes, a humidifier does indeed help quite a bit.

If that is not possible, then I recommend touching your forearm or the back of your hand to an object before touching it with the fingers. You will still feel a bit of a zap, but it will not be nearly as bad as using the tip of your finger. The reason that you don't feel the shock as much is that the charge has a wider area to discharge (similar to the coin/key trick) and your forearm isn't quite as nerve-sensitive as your finger tip.

Answer 5

Rocky had the right answer. The pain comes from the very small point where the spark happens. If you spread the current over a wide area, you don't notice it. That's what you're doing when you're holding a metal object. If you are holding a set of keys, touch the key to something metal. The key will get the spark and you won't feel a thing.

Answer 6

A humidifier would help out immensely. Otherwise you can't avoid being shocked even when you're wearing a grounding strap. The grounding strap would minimize the charge, or lessen the intensity of the shock.

Answer 7

I don't know about how to discharge the static without getting shocked, but an article about getting rid of and preventing static electricity on clothing, in hair, carpets, etc is at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/137635/eliminate_static_electricity_problems.html

For clothing, the article mentions Static Guard, a homemade version of Static Guard, dryer sheets rubbed on the clothing after putting them on, and a few other solutions that I can't remember.

It also lists keeping a pot of water simmering on the stove, touching the door of your car before pumping gasoline, rubbing your hands lightly over your hair after lotion has been applied to your hands and rubbed in well, something about pets, and a lot of other tips.

Answer 8

touch a metal faucet in the kitchen. most of them are grounded and it will help discharge without being shocked.

Answer 9

Hold a coin or other piece of metal in your hand and discharge yourself thru the metal conductor, it will take the arc.

Answer 10

A humidifier would solve your problem.