shocking problem

[sketch]

my parents recently bought a grocery getter, a neon sxt. it has the most unusual problem though. everytime someone exits the vehicle after a drive, it shocks you, at times ive seen the small shock or bolt of electricity. what the deal? its like static electricity is running through the whole car. my girlfriend drives it the most and she wanted me to ask you guys if you can think of a way to stop it. i told her to close the door by pushing it by the windows since it doesnt conduct electricity, but thats only a temporary solution.

 

[wileycoyote]

That's wierd. My wife had a Neon rental after our accord was stolen, and she complained about the same thing. I figured it was just her. Wierd...

 

[frolf]

i wonder if it is just American cars? cause my brothers Ford Ranger shocks me sooooo bad every time i get out.

THE TRICK IS - grab the door before you exit, cause then you ground yourself while in contact with the car, and you don't get shocked. thats how i put up with it anyways.

 

[jrt67ss350]

Not just American cars - my BMW shocks me almost every time I get out of it as well. It's pretty annoying.

 

[frolf]

climate related?

 

[Steve Neu]

Some tires have less carbon in the rubber and don't conduct the charge that builds up during dry weather very well. Result is shocking! Problem may go away with new tires--or the weather.

Steve

 

[sketch]

my bet is weather. it seems to be shocking us less since when we got it in winter

 

[xLibelle]

I believe its the chemicals on new fabric. (its the same in house carpets)
Just keep hold of the metal as you get out of your seat.

 

[Kirby]

It's almost certainly the seat fabric and clothing you are wearing.

Just be careful at the filling station. There is a proven, documented hazard that has caused fires:
- Get out and start filling the car
- leave the nozzle in the filler neck
- get back in the car leaving the door open
- get out (door is open so you don't touch anything to discharge)
- grab the gas handle that is still in the car
- static discharge thru the handle to the filler neck - BOOM!!

 

[codex57]

my Civic would do that to me too. Kinda annoying. My cousin says her Jetta does the same thing. Not having that problem anymore is one advantage to leather or leatherette.

 

[Spidey]

It's almost certainly the seat fabric and clothing you are wearing.

This is exactly what it is.

 

[Steve Neu]

This is exactly what it is.

Nope--it is the tire compound and dry weather.

Steve

 

[AutoXfreak]

Cant you get a grounding strap that connects to the fram and drags along the ground while you drive, getting rid of all the static electricity?

 

[wood_e]

Nope--it is the tire compound and dry weather.

Steve

Prove it...

 

[Kirby]

Nope--it is the tire compound and dry weather.

Steve

The tire compound and dry weather prevents the static electricity from being discharged to ground, but it is not the SOURCE of the static electricity. The source of the static electricity is most likely clothing and seats, followed by air friction and the body of the moving car.

 

[epj3]

The tire compound and dry weather prevents the static electricity from being discharged to ground, but it is not the SOURCE of the static electricity. The source of the static electricity is most likely clothing and seats, followed by air friction and the body of the moving car.

Hence the reason that women wearing static-producing dresses are a lot more likely to start fires at the gas station beuase they are more likely to get back into their car before it's done fueling.

 

[KevRC4130]

sounds like it might be potentially dangerous when getting a gas fill up

 

[bmwrocks]

I almost NEVER get a static shock here in Orlando. It is because of the humidity somehow. I was just in Louisville KY this week and it was cold and dry and I got shocked bad every time I got out of my rental car.

Only time I get a shock here is when the humidity is low which is almost never.

Whoever said it was climate related is right on.

Can someone explain the climate relationship to static E for us all?

 

[epj3]

I almost NEVER get a static shock here in Orlando. It is because of the humidity somehow. I was just in Louisville KY this week and it was cold and dry and I got shocked bad every time I got out of my rental car.

Only time I get a shock here is when the humidity is low which is almost never.

Whoever said it was climate related is right on.

Can someone explain the climate relationship to static E for us all?

During the very humid pennsylvania summers, I never get shocked, but during the very dry freezing cold winters, you always get shocked (unless you have leather )

 

[Kirby]

Can someone explain the climate relationship to static E for us all?

Static electricity occurs when there is an imbalance of electrical charge between two objects. A basic example is your body picking up extra electrons by sliding your feet on the carpet, or across the car seat. Another object, the car body, has "room" for a few more electrons, so when you get close to the metal - zap - the electrons jump the gap.

Now think about what happens when you are standing in the tub and someone throws the hair dryer in the water . The water provides a new path for the electricity and you get your hair curled.

In the same manner, high humidity (water in the air) provides an easier path for these electrons to move, so they dissipate into the air, back to the car seat, back to the carpet, etc. and don't accumulate on your body.