Static Electricity Nightmare in Colorado

[blondandfun]

So I moved to Colorado, and every time I touch anything metal I get a shock and literally see the spark. Also, evertime I plug a USB in I see the spark.

I am scared to death of this, because I'm worried my computer or one of my drives is going to get fried. From my college courses, I do know that that's the purpose of that 3rd or extra "ground line", but it's still scary.

Does anyone else here live in a dry climate like this? I get shocked literally 20 times a day here. I may buy a bunch of humidifiers for my apartment.

Maybe It's no big deal?

[1]

Humidifiers are a good idea. It will feel warmer at lower temps too. Skin won't crack, etc.
Definitely worth it.

But it's not really a big deal health wise, and won't cause any harm, other than the 'shock' of the shock.

There's a few things you can do: touch the car's metal frame when you open the door before you put the foot on the ground;
don't wear fluffy (insulating) Daffy Duck slippers in the house; wear cotton instead of wool or silk, etc.

[blondandfun]

Thanks for response, however I'm mostly worried about the electronics. You know how windows 7 makes that noise whenever you plug something in? Well before the plug is actually plugged in and I get the shock it makes that noise.

My couch, which is a futon, is made of fake suede probably polyester, and my floors are wooden.

[1]

Yeah, the electronics is a bit of an issue. You may have some GROUND fault. Most household electricity in USA combines NEUTRAL with EARTH (which is 'awkward').
It is best to have them separated, and use a THREE PRONG plug (with EARTH) to plug in electronics. You can also try and run the computer from a properly grounded, GOOD UPS.

[Erik Bien]

Welcome to the high desert.

I always ground myself by touching something like a metal light fixture immediately before plugging/unplugging computer cables or handling static-sensitive components.

Humidifiers help, but for computers located in static-prone areas, keep a spray bottle filled with water mixed with a spoonful of liquid fabric softener: a light mist on floors and fabrics will help prevent static buildup.

[Janke]

evertime I plug a USB in I see the spark.

That's not (necessarily) static electricity.

If you have multiple electronic stuff connected to mains power, it's most probably leakage from the power supplies (through their filter capacitors).

My Canon HV30 power brick leaks 60 volts between plug ground and mains ground - enough to generate a spark. (Be careful - always plug in the FW cable before you plug in the power to the camera - in this way, any sparks won't go through the data lines!)

Also, my external WD hard disk power supplies leak about 90 volts, and their FW plugs do give a visible spark when they touch the computer's case.

(My old Sony Betamax really did pack a punch; everytime I plugged in the BNC connectors to the VHS player, I could feel the leakage - quite a tingle!)

[Playing]

In the 70s I worked in Johannesburg South Africa and it gets very dry there in winter.
Humidifiers solved a lot of our problems. One client resorted to boiling a kettle in the computer room. There was condensation flowing down the walls, but he had no more crashes

[dearcatastrophe]

stop dragging your feet.

I've never had any problems with static charge causing problems with hard drives, computers or anything.

head into the mountains, brother.

[blondandfun]

Where are you dear? I just moved here so I'm planning on climbing all the 14k'ers this summer. Maybe that sounds easy to you but I'm a light smoker and I had a hard time climing Loveland Pass this past weekend. I love this time of year, because the moutains are still snow capped. This is my first year here but I'm guessing the mountains will look ugly in the summer because the snow will melt. I'm hoping to do some rafting and paragliding also. Yeah, I agree with you, the people are so friendly in the mountains and then I have to come back to the same ole white trash big city pieces of human lalalala occupy the city of Denver. Everyone's life's goal in big cities is to see how many people they can drag down to their pathetic level of existence, I'm over it...

[Gillvane]

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg...120326210324:s

http://www.thestaticmasters.com/?gcl...FahgTAodn1VAVw

[dearcatastrophe]

i'm an hour west of colorado springs.


you gonna do all the 14er's in one summer. you'll be busy.


if you get a chance, i'd recommend you take a hike up the crestones, you can set up your base camp at 12k, then have four 14ers you can knock out over a weekend. crestone peak, needle, humboldt and kit carson.

humboldt is the easiest, followed by kit carson. the crestones (peak and needle) are more rock scrambling, but not straight climbing, just bring a helmet because rockfall is an issue.

it's near westcliffe, in southern colorado. great area.

[dearcatastrophe]

i never think of the mountains as ugly in the summer.
the collegiates to the west keep their snow in the summer, not as much as in the winter, but it's still there.

[Dr. Benway]

Yeah, the electronics is a bit of an issue. You may have some GROUND fault. Most household electricity in USA combines NEUTRAL with EARTH (which is 'awkward').
It is best to have them separated, and use a THREE PRONG plug (with EARTH) to plug in electronics. You can also try and run the computer from a properly grounded, GOOD UPS.

Aye. It is recommended that a grounding rod (or two) be driven at least two metres into the ground. Many houses may fall well short of that with a short piece of solid copper driven into the topsoil.