As I plow on towards 40, I realize that I’ve lost the valuable “youth-o-trons”, the primary matter element that keeps young people from getting shocked. I seem to get static electric shock on a daily bases. Even with winter gone for the year, I continue to get shocked dozens of times per day by static build up.
Here’s the scenario. I’m in the car, I get out and go to close the door and as a grab the door handle . . . “ZZZZzzzzZZZ’t” , “Dammit! At first I got pretty good at closing the door by pushing on the glass window. It insulates nicely, so at least you can avoid the shock that way. That doesn’t last for long, because once you head to the building doorway and touch the metal knob, “ZZZzzzzaat’t“, “Ow, Dammit. Aghghghg!”
I also have this issue in the house all the time. If I get up from the recliner, walk to the kitchen and say, turn on the gas stove . . .”ZzzzzaZZZt’t” ”Why! Why! Why is this happening! Damn!”
I thought about the electric and the basic process of getting shocked. The electric wants badly to jump from your body to the ground. After searching on the internet on ways to deal with static, I would often hear, “Touch something grounded like a lamp frame.” I tried various things like touching a lamp frame, the ground or the screw on an electrical outlet. Every time I would still get a jolting shock that sent me through the roof.
Here’s the part they don’t often mention: DISCHARGE SLOWLY.
After a great deal of trial and error, I realized that I could discharge the electric slowly and not feel the pain of sudden shock. To do this I hold my key with two fingers and “hover it” about 1/4 inch near the door lock. At this point I will hear the most wonderful cracking sound as the electric arches off the key and into the lock (listen carefully for it!). This method slowly discharges the electric without causing you pain. After about 5 seconds of crackling, you’re safe to touch anything metal.
I had remembered finding devices for your keychain that did this same thing. Some even had a LCD display. They are usually conveniently priced at $15 to $20 bucks. There’s nothing magic about them, they are just made of the right conductor to slowly dissipate the charge. You can do the same thing by hovering your key. I’m going to experiment in the house by always carrying my keys. Then when I get out of the recliner, I’ll hold the key near the lamp frame and listen for the crackling noise.
