static electricity

[deafnva77]

Is it normal that everything you touch in the house, a strong static electricity produce a shock strong enough to make a spark bright that you can even see it in the daylight? I have ruined so many electronic over this, and my cochlear implant processor (sort of like a digital hearing aids) have been erased because of this (kinda like how your computer hard drive being erased)

We don't have a humidifier except my son's room. our heat pump is in the attic and so we can't have a humidifier for our heatpump or it will ruin the attic.

I'm not allow to use any fabric softener because my son's ezcema.

Do you think I should turn off my heatpump and turn on gas radiator-like (i think water run through it) furnace to lessen the static electricity?

or is there some powerful voltage going on in our house?

[HappyChristian]

It does sound like your house is very dry. Maybe you could try to boil some water on the stove? It could add some moisture. But that might not be enough. If you have radiator heat, you may need to switch to that.

[Colin Stolzer]

It could be electrical problems in your house, but it might just be you. My brother can't wear battery powered watches, he kills them. If it's a digital they last about an hour and then they quit working and can't be fixed, and battery power analog watches, he kills the battery in a couple days. I remember when we were kids he used to take great pleasure in shocking me, and things like electric fences don't bother him, he can walk up and lay his hand on them and not feel them at all.

C

[OLD fashioned preacher]

The normal avg. atmosheric voltage potential to earth ground is 277V. This time of year in semi-arid and arid climates (and in some controlled climate environments) the voltage potential exceeds 1000 volts. Here in west Kansas it is a normal occurance. Humidification process in the house is probable the most resonable solution to your situation. If your furnace is indirect radiant (instead of combustion), then setting a pan of water on the heater's surface will add humidification through evaporation. Also, if your car has a screw with an exposed head (provided the shaft extends into metallic body parts) in the door arm rest indenture (or similar location)-- you can keep one finger on the screw head when ingressing or egressing the vehicle to prevent a static buildup (and subsequent discharge when touching the door) from clothing sliding across the seat.

Hope this helps.

[OLD fashioned preacher]

No, what is being descibed is NOT indicative of transient voltage within the house power supply (nor a loose neutral).

I'm a master electrician and electrical contractor (as well as pastor).

[deafnva77]

It could be electrical problems in your house, but it might just be you. My brother can't wear battery powered watches, he kills them. If it's a digital they last about an hour and then they quit working and can't be fixed, and battery power analog watches, he kills the battery in a couple days. I remember when we were kids he used to take great pleasure in shocking me, and things like electric fences don't bother him, he can walk up and lay his hand on them and not feel them at all.

C

I grew up in the rural areas where they had electric fences. I've always thought it must not be turned on because they never seem to do anything to me. Now I wonder. I do have very fine hair and I wonder if it have anything do with it. I tell people that I only wear 100% cotton i because fleece is too much trouble for me.

[deafnva77]

The normal avg. atmosheric voltage potential to earth ground is 277V. This time of year in semi-arid and arid climates (and in some controlled climate environments) the voltage potential exceeds 1000 volts. Here in west Kansas it is a normal occurance. Humidification process in the house is probable the most resonable solution to your situation. If your furnace is indirect radiant (instead of combustion), then setting a pan of water on the heater's surface will add humidification through evaporation. Also, if your car has a screw with an exposed head (provided the shaft extends into metallic body parts) in the door arm rest indenture (or similar location)-- you can keep one finger on the screw head when ingressing or egressing the vehicle to prevent a static buildup (and subsequent discharge when touching the door) from clothing sliding across the seat.

Hope this helps.

Thanks What's the difference between indirect and combustion ? my radiator is more of a baseboard

[OLD fashioned preacher]

Indirect (think of an incandesent lightbulb - the resistance in the element cause the element to get hot - providing heat.) is similar to rubbing your hands together to produce heat via friction : ALL electric heaters, ranges, solar, etc.

Combustion: something is burnt (gas, oil, wood, etc.).

Boiling water on a stove top will probably make it too damp, use a low heat (it will take a couple of days to notice the difference). The problem here is that you've added another item to run up your heat bill (your heater won't come on as often but 12-16 hrs/day on the stove will still increase the bill).

[OLD fashioned preacher]

I grew up in the rural areas where they had electric fences. I've always thought it must not be turned on because they never seem to do anything to me. Now I wonder. I do have very fine hair and I wonder if it have anything do with it. I tell people that I only wear 100% cotton i because fleece is too much trouble for me.

Fine hair or long hair are marvelous producers and retainers of static (my wife's hair is past her waist).

[deafnva77]

Indirect (think of an incandesent lightbulb - the resistance in the element cause the element to get hot - providing heat.) is similar to rubbing your hands together to produce heat via friction : ALL electric heaters, ranges, solar, etc.

Combustion: something is burnt (gas, oil, wood, etc.).

Boiling water on a stove top will probably make it too damp, use a low heat (it will take a couple of days to notice the difference). The problem here is that you've added another item to run up your heat bill (your heater won't come on as often but 12-16 hrs/day on the stove will still increase the bill).

I don't know if it is combustion or not. I think it depends on our water heater though because it seem to have a pipe connecting to it, and our water heater is gas (you can see the flames)

here is picture of our baseboard:

Those little things are the fins

[deafnva77]

Consideration of Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
Electrostatic discharge is the sudden and momentary electric current that flows between two objects at different electrical potentials. One of the causes of ESD events is static electricity. Static electricity is often generated by the separation of electric charges that occurs when two materials are brought into contact and then separated (friction). Examples of this include walking on a rug, descending from a car, and contacting plastic equipment or some types of plastic packaging.

Conductors like your body, moisture, and metal provide a safe path for the static electricity to travel through to the ground. Non-conductors such as plastic, rubber, synthetic cloth, and dry air often allow static to collect and build up to significant levels. It is only when static builds up to high levels that it can affect electronic equipment, such as a cochlear implant. In these rare cases, a high discharge of static electricity could damage the electronic components of the cochlear implant and possibly corrupt the programs of the speech processor. The damage can occur even if the electronic equipment is turned off.

To avoid a build up of static electricity or potential problems with ESD, consider the following precautions:

1. Remove all CI equipment when playing on plastic play equipment (including plastic slides, swings, balls, inflatable carnival equipment, etc.).
2. Try to avoid situations where there is friction between non-conductive materials.
3. If you live in an area where there is dry air or are exposed to low-humidity environments (e.g. forced-air heating or air conditioning), consider using a humidifier.
4. Try using fabric softener or anti-static spray on clothing, carpet, or cloth car seats.
5. Touch someone or a conductive object first ? before touching the CI equipment.
6. Use wrist-grounding straps to control static, if necessary.

If you do suspect a problem with electrostatic discharge, contact the IUMC Cochlear Implant Program so that arrangements can be made to reload patient maps onto the affected speech processor. ... http://medicine.iu.edu/body.cfm?id=7582&oTopID=7534

I'm thinking about getting a wrist-grounding straps, humidifier ( I like do what old fashioned suggested but I don't think I have a place for a pan of water) , and a anti-static mat in some areas. I'll make sure I don't build up static electricity in my van as well.

Last time, my cochlear implant got corrupted was when I took out several clothes made of polyesters out of the dryer. This time, it was the computer. I'm don't like driving 2 1/2 hours just to get my cochlear fixed and remapped.

[OLD fashioned preacher]

I don't know if it is combustion or not. I think it depends on our water heater though because it seem to have a pipe connecting to it, and our water heater is gas (you can see the flames)

here is picture of our baseboard:

Those little things are the fins

The pipe is probably a gas pipe and the heater is probably combustive. Though it would do the same thing, it may still make things too humid. You could always experiment w/ the water in place 4-5 after getting up and again 4-5 hrs before bedtime. More humidifiers would be more expensive but less hassle.

[Anon]

Our house is getting super dry lately...my skirts are all sticking to me and some of the blankets make "lightning shows" when you rustle them at night LOL.

My hub keeps forgetting to set up the humidifier. Its the kind that doesn't show that its putting out any steam or anything, it just gently humidifies the air. Its considered a "whole house" humidifier. It does help. Hopefully he will get it out soon. Last year it was amazing to me how fast it emptied the big water tanks!

[deafnva77]

Our house is getting super dry lately...my skirts are all sticking to me and some of the blankets make "lightning shows" when you rustle them at night LOL.

My hub keeps forgetting to set up the humidifier. Its the kind that doesn't show that its putting out any steam or anything, it just gently humidifies the air. Its considered a "whole house" humidifier. It does help. Hopefully he will get it out soon. Last year it was amazing to me how fast it emptied the big water tanks!

What is the brand name? I don't know which to get.

[Anon]

I don't know....if he gets it out tonight I'll try to remember to check for you.