How do I get rid of static shocks from metal handle bars?

Question

I have this metal handle bar in front of my house that when I touch, I ALWAYS get a static shock. Because of the low humidity and my coat, this seems to always happen.

What can I do to the metal handle bar to get rid of the shock? Any good suggestions?

FYI-----I live on the 19th floor and the ground is carpet. Will grounding it work? What wire should I use?

Answer 1

Ok first off, you're not getting shocked because of any kind of charge on the bar, you are getting shocked because you are getting a charge walking on the carpet and when you touch the rail you are grounding the charge. Simple solution, is to ground yourself to something else first. This isn't really much of a help since you'll just get the shock when you do that then. Other solutions are to insulate the rail so that it won't be a grounding point, some kind of rubber coating will work, electrical tape for instance. Another would be to raise the humidity level, if this is an outdoor rail again not a good solution

Answer 2

you can do three things:

(1) ground it, i.e. have a wire linking the metal handle bar, to the ground. This will make sure it doesn't accumulate any charges.

(2) always wear gloves ;-)


(3) easiest, and this works well if the charge remains modest (works on cars for example): you get a shock only if the areas touching are small because this implies intense current. But if the areas are bigger, the problem goes away. In this case, if would mean grabbing the bar at one with the full hand, rather than, say, touching it first with just the tip of a finger.

Good luck

Answer 3

You must dissipate the static-electric charge from your body before you touch any grounded object.

When conditions like that occur around my house, I use a key to first touch the doorknob and let the metal-to-metal arc extinguish itself.

By the way, why doesn't your doorknob shock you?

--Jim

Answer 4

it will be difficult to ground the metal handle bars. the practical way to avoid static shock is to put a rubber mat on top of the carpet where you are standing before you grab the handle.

Answer 5

jump off the ground then grab the bar as you are still in the air and as your feet touch the ground the static charge will leave your body through your feet rather your hand

Answer 6

Ground wire.

Answer 7

earth it - put a wire to the ground

Answer 8

put on gloves and pull them off

Answer 9

rubber grip