how can i control static electricity on me?

Question

We have just built an Extension since this has been built I have suffered greatly with Static Electricity. It only takes me walking a few feet across the floor, go to switch a light on in my office and recieve a jolt from the light switch I physicall give off an Electrical charge. This also happens on switching on my computer, i see the arc go between me and the case. It happens more when I have my shoes or Hard soled Slippers on. Dosen't usually happen when in bare feet.

Answer 1

Static electricity is more active when the air and materials are dry. The humidity is normally lower in the winter, and heating the house further reduces the humidity. Also, locations with a desert climate usually have very low relative humidity.

One thing you can do is to use a humidifier to raise the humidity in the house. That may help a little.
Some people have very dry skin that may cause the buildup of static charges, especially in the winter. One thing to try is to use moisturizers or lotions on your skin. The only problem with that, of course, is that you might have to put it all over your body.

You can experiment with different types of moisturizers and in different locations. Perhaps just putting lotion on you hands may be sufficient, since shocks and sparks usually come from touching objects with your hands.
Another idea is to use a metal object like a key and touch other metal things first with key. This will cause the spark to fly from the key and not your finger. That is much more comfortable. You can also use a ring or even a thimble to move the shock from your finger to the metal object.

Answer 2

Many people ask about shocks experienced when they touch the door, filing cabinet, lift, or other metal object.
Static electricity is generated whenever two materials are in contact with each other. All materials are made of electrical charges in the material atoms. In the universe there are equal amounts of negative electrical charge (electrons) and positive charge (protons). These generally try to stay in balance of equal amounts at every location.
However, when two materials are in contact, some of the charges redistribute by moving from one material to the other. This leaves an excess of positive charge on one material, and an equal negative charge on the other. When the materials move apart, each takes it's charge with it. One material becomes charged positively, and the other negatively.
If the materials are able to conduct electricity away the charges will dissipate and eventually recombine. In this case, static electricity effects may be too small to be noticed. However, if the charges are separated faster than the material can dissipate them, the amount of electrostatic charge builds up. Eventually a high voltage, and the effects of static electricity, may be noticed.
Most modern shoes have highly insulating rubber or plastic soles. As you walk, static charges can build up on the soles of the shoes. This is especially true if the floor is also insulating. Some older nylon carpets are particularly good at generating static electricity.
The charge on the shoes soles induces static electrical charge on your body, and this charge appears as a high voltage. Under severe conditions, more than 15,000 Volts have been recorded. It is quite common to experience 5,000V. In fact, many people do not feel a shock from a static electricity discharge less than about 2,000-4,000V.
If you are indoors, the point can be proved by walking around for a while with no shoes on - you will probably not experience shock.
When you sit in a chair the contact between your clothes and the chair can generate a lot of electrostatic charge on your clothes. While you stay in contact with the chair your body voltage stays low. If you lean forward so you back moves away from the chair back, or if you get up out of the chair, then you take the electrostatic charge with you. Your body voltage can rise very rapidly to a high voltage as the charge is separated from it's counter charge on the chair.
Unfortunately cure is not always easy. Indoors, you can try raising the air humidity to 40-50% rh with a humidifier. (You can check the humidity with a cheap humidity meter from a gardening shop.) Also, look for shoes with leather soles. In the electronics industry, and in areas where electrostatic sparks could cause a fire hazard, people often wear specially designed static dissipative shoes to reduce electrostatic charge build-up on the body. It is less likely that problems will be experienced with non-polymer floors, such as cement or wood (although varnishes can cause problems). However, replacing the floor can be expensive!
It is possible to treat some floors with static dissipative treatments - but the benefit of this will probably wear off after a while.

Answer 3

Hi...sounds a nasty problem!

Wearing natural fibres (such as cotton rich socks) and linen will help with the physical problem, however that 'arc' you describe sounds like it could seriously whack your PC!! When you have bare feet, you are probably 'earthing' yourself more, however, the charge is building up when you have shoes on, as it can't 'ground' away from your body - the metal case of your PC is it's first pathway.

To be safe, before you go to start your PC, you should 'earth' yourself somewhere else 'safe' e.g. a metal table leg away from the PC, or a filing cabinet or something else that won't be affected by a whack of voltage from the static build up, like your PC could be!

Using a plastic anti-static mat for your chair to be positioned on should also help reduce static build up if you need to move your chair prequently from one area of your desk to another, and back to your PC. It also helps you chair to glide easily!

Working in Theatre (as in a hospital operating Theatre, not on stage!) means there is a dangerous risk of static sparking with oxygen and gases used in anaesthesia, so precautions are taken to stop static building up. If this becomes a REALLY serious problem for you, you could try wearing paper overshoes like Theatre staff wear.

Hope this helps - it's awful being whacked by static!

Answer 4

Raise the humidity level in the room. Add a humidifier, or even leave a container of water open to the room, hopefully near a heat source to get it to evaporate more rapidly. Green plants can raise the humidity some.

Answer 5

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is the sudden and momentary electric current that flows between two objects at different electrical potentials (such as ground).

Try wearing Elecrostatic Discharge Trainer and Boots.

View the address below to see an online catalogue

http://www.jmmedical.co.uk/

Answer 6

I had this problem and I was told not to wear by a doctor not to wear nylon clothing, it was happening every time I went near my car and the pain from the static was leaving an ongoing pain in my arm and the doctor said no nylon clothing and it worked

Answer 7

Well, go barefoot :) And wear more natural fibers, they tend to be less static than man-made fibers.

Answer 8

use anti static papers when u wash ur clothes

Answer 9

I would have said, put on some body lotion or wear a jumper. (lol)