She's electric

[venta]

OK, I've always been prone to generating static electricity. If someone is going to get a shock off a metal thing, it's going to be me.

But over the last couple of months it's been getting a bit silly. My hair is constantly sticking to me/other people/passing objects, I crackle, I get shocks off anything remotely metallic. If I get undressed in the dark I sparkle :)

Which is all quite entertaining in its own way, but I'd like it to stop now. Before I start frying small electronics components. I'm mildly worried every time I pick my laptop up at present.

So, what should I do/not do ? I suspect the fleece I often wear doesn't help, what with it being largely synthetic. I seem to be worst at work, where we have the sort of carpets that don't get on well with rubber-soled shoes, but I'm usually just wandering about in socks. Is it time to break the clogs back out ?

What clothes should I be wearing ? I'd have thought "natural fibres" would be a good start, but wool seems to be something of a mistake.

Is there any truth in the rumour that touching a radiator is a good means of earthing yourself, or was that just some old wives' tale I learnt when I was little ? If not, how do I (practically) earth myself ?

Comments

[neilh.livejournal.com]

The office here in Japan is dreadful for generating static, not a good thing when you're dealing with prototype hardware.

Someone assumed it was because too many people here shuffle, but I put it down to having played with Van De Graaf generators too much as a child.

So I earth myself about once an hour, I've found the best way to do this is with knuckles, since they're quite pointy (static likes points, hence living in your hair) and don't have many nerves (unlike fingertips), so it doesn't hurt so much.

[venta.livejournal.com]

I also read earlier today that you're better off earthing with your muscles clenched (ie hand in a fist), since then your muscles are contracted anyway.

[neilh.livejournal.com]

Not sure that would make much difference, since static travels on the surface, but instinctively I use closed hand when earthing, unless I want to feel the shock, when I'll use fingertip (typically before doing some open heart surgery on big iron with delicate insides)

[venta.livejournal.com]

I think the difference is that it's in the nature of an electric shock to make your muscles contract. This effect isn't really noticeable in static shocks, but I'm guessing it's something to do with that.