Getting Shocked Everytime I Get Out

[AMMO_HOOAH]

I did a quick search, but came up pretty empty because I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for. Basically everytime I get out of my truck after I shut it off. I get one heck of an electric shock. It doesn't matter where i touch it if I'm close enough to any metal it zaps the crap outta me. If it's any help it's a 96 XLT, aftermarket subs, and amp with cap. 140,000 miles on original alternator. Starter is about to need replaced, and my a/c compressor just took the ultimate dump on me, so. If any of you have any tidbits of insite I'd be much appreciative.

 

[Explorer#2]

It is just static electricity nothing to worry about.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Did you start to have this problem after you bought new floor mats, seat covers, a coat, steering wheel cover, gloves etc.?

 

[jimbo74]

just a note, it is nothing to worry about, it is due mostly in part to the cold winter air, the reason why, i forgot, but thats the problem..... if its horribly annoying, you can run a ground strap from the frame of your truck to the ground

 

[BrooklynBay]

The frames are already grounded, since they are attached to the chassis which is also metal.

 

[jimbo74]

The frames are already grounded, since they are attached to the chassis which is also metal.

no im talking about running a wire or chain from the vehicle to the ground as in the pavement, like how a lightning rod works....

http://www.blockemf.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=5065

 

['92Bauer]

I believe it is from the winter air mixed with extra layers of clothes as well. I don't seem to have this problem with my Eddies leather seats as I did with my old Corolla’s cloth seats. I think some solutions for this are rub fabric softener sheets on your seats and I think somebody once mentioned spraying some soapy water on your seats.

 

[CodePoet]

Hold on to a metal part of the door while you get out,...works for me

 

[BrooklynBay]

no im talking about running a wire or chain from the vehicle to the ground as in the pavement, like how a lightning rod works....

http://www.blockemf.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=5065

I just checked that link. It's an interesting concept. It reminds me of something that I once saw in a boat catalog. It had an electrode that floats in the water near the boat with high voltage. This ionizes the water near the metal frame to help prevent rust. You just have to be careful not to touch it. It has voltage similar to an ignition system in water!

 

[red93]

Rub bounce all over yourself.....

 

[jimbo74]

I just checked that link. It's an interesting concept. It reminds me of something that I once saw in a boat catalog. It had an electrode that floats in the water near the boat with high voltage. This ionizes the water near the metal frame to help prevent rust. You just have to be careful not to touch it. It has voltage similar to an ignition system in water!

im not even going to argue with you, obviously you are a genious and i will lose the argument

 

[glfredrick]

There seems to be some confusion as to the type of ground that is required to eliminate that nasty static shock...

Yes, the vehicle is grounded intrinsically to itself. Its electrical system is self-contained and needs no external ground of any sort to operate.

But also, the "static electricity" charge that is building up as the vehicle travels down the road (or as you move around in the interior -- similar to shuffling your feet on carpeting) is NOT part of the vehicle electrical system and is NOT grounded via the vehicle electrical system. That is an external charge held by the metal components of the vehicle themselves, and one that needs to be discharged in some way -- generally by YOU when you make contact with the earth and the metal of the vehicle when you step out.

Those little ground straps that drag on the road will eliminate that nasty static, and in this age of advanced (and sensitive) vehicle computer components, it is probably a great idea to incorporate such a ground.

I know that I'm putting on on my Snap On truck today, because it is building up enough static to set off my alarm system and ruin the computer I use for business!

It is a function of the dryness of the air -- and it is worse in the winter time because of that dryness. Us "up norter's" well know the fun of dry winter air and the resultant static. Just try pulling a scarf and coat off of your toddler and watch his eyes light up when he grabs for the fridge...

 

[gijoecam]

I'd be surprised if ANYplace in Florida is dry enough to have a static electricity problem!! It usually stems from dry air, denim jeans(cotton) on nylon seats. Scooting your but across the seat getting in or out generates the charge, touching the door discharges it.

I used to have that problem SEVERELY on my Ranger and the Probe GT I had. I found that the best trick was to hold the ignition key in my hand and touch my fingers to the key and the key to the door jamb. I'd still get a slight tingle, and the cool 1/2" long spark at night was neat to see, but it stopped me from taking the hit to my hand.

I've also heard that a few strategically placed bounce sdryer sheets under the seats helps a lot. Never tried it myself.

-Joe

edit: Oh, and for the record, I don;t have that problem anymore. Leather seats pretty much eliminates the generation.

 

[chriswells78]

Happens in all 3 of my vehicles, If my wife and I get out of the car at the same time, I let her shut her door first hehe. I have also found that if you shut the door with your hip, elbow or something covered in clothes, you won't get poked either.

 

[glfredrick]

I've done some Internet searching since I made my post... It seems that there are two kinds of static buildup being generated -- that from you rubbing against cloth upholstery and that of the vehicle's tires on the road, which cannot be discharged because if the lack of ground between the vehicle and the earth. Either type will get you zapped -- but one is worse than the other -- makes for those nice "nite lite" zaps.

I also found a site that listed all the re-fueling explosions attributed to static spark --

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

no im talking about running a wire or chain from the vehicle to the ground as in the pavement, like how a lightning rod works....

Haha thats awesome...lmao

 

[BrooklynBay]

Here is an article that I've once downloaded from WWW.RFCafe.Com:


- Triboelectric Series -


Triboelectricity is the physics of charge generated through friction. In the table below, rubbing any material in the list with any material below it will cause the upper material to become positively charged. For example rubbing celluloid on nylon will produce a negative charge on the celluloid and a positive charge on the nylon. The farther apart the materials are in the list, the greater the charge will be.

Click here:http://esda.org/esdbasics1.htm for the Electrostatic Discharge Association's web site on ESD.



Positive
(+)
Air
Human Hands
Asbestos
Rabbit's Fur
Glass
Human Hair
Mica
Nylon
Wool
Lead
Cat's Fur
Silk
Aluminum
Paper
Cotton
Steel
Wood
Lucite
Sealing wax
Amber
Polystyrene
Polyethylene
Rubber balloon
Sulphur
Hard rubber
Nickel, Copper
Brass, Silver
Gold, Platinum
Sulfur
Acetate, Rayon
Polyester
Celluloid
Polyurethane
Polyethylene
Polypropylene
Vinyl
Silicon
Teflon
Saran Wrap
Negative
(-)

 

[BrooklynBay]

Triboelectric Series
When two materials contact and separate, the polarity and magnitude of the charge are indicated by the materials’ positions in the triboelectric series. The triboelectric simply lists materials according to their relative triboelectric charging characteristics. When two materials contact and separate, the one nearer the top of the series takes on a positive charge, the other a negative charge. Materials further apart on the table typically generate a higher charge than ones closer together. See Table 3.

Table 3
Typical Triboelectric Series

+
Positive

Negative
-
Acetate
Glass
Nylon
Wool
Lead
Aluminum
Paper
COTTON
Wood
Steel
Nickel-Copper
Rubber
Polyester
PVC
Silicon
Teflon

 

[410Fortune]

thie problem went away on my BII when I replaced all ym - side battery terminal cables to the body/frame, and engine.

 

[AMMO_HOOAH]

well dang, this definatly got a heck of a response. I wont worry about it just figure out something to drag that wont deteriorate too quickly. Thanks guys, and btw the pan handle of florida/ lower alabama does get cold and dry, I'm just not from here, and I don't remember it when I was back in Washington. Thanks again guys.