Static Electricity Sucks

[Toolfan66]

I went up to my system to hit the volume and static electricity shut my system down I about flipped out everything stayed powered on but no sound would come out. I shut everything off powered it back on and nothing, so I unplugged everything plugged it back in and all is good now. I hope I did'nt shorten the life of something.

I tested my ZeroStat on my hand and that works very well taking the static away.

[cnh]

I know what you mean...though I didn't short everything out...I once blew out the AM/FM tuner in a fair sized boombox by touching it...zap...poof...no more radio...rendered the tuner section useless. Thankfully it wasn't an expensive piece of equipment.

cnh

[hearingimpared]

I have static problems too in the winter months. I've always used the Zerostat before touching the rig.

[SolidSqual]

I got a ground cable that I attach to myself, which helps quite a bit. The dry air of winter coupled with added layers of clothing and even slippers create an ideal environment for static.

I notice DACs and Digital Amps are particularly affected by a sudden zap of static electricity. My old PS Audio DLIIII used to have to be unplugged from the wall before it would work again. PSA said this was normal circuit protection however and no cause for alarm.

[Toolfan66]

I got a ground cable that I attach to myself, which helps quite a bit. The dry air of winter coupled with added layers of clothing and even slippers create an ideal environment for static.

I notice DACs and Digital Amps are particularly affected by a sudden zap of static electricity. My old PS Audio DLIIII used to have to be unplugged from the wall before it would work again. PSA said this was normal circuit protection however and no cause for alarm.

What/where do you have the ground cable connected to?

[zarrdoss]

I killed a cordless phone ounce, just call your wife or daughter over and touch them first, lol

[Pycroft]

Is there a cheap way to kill static electricity. I touched my amp today and sparks anywhere. Haven't tested it yet, but don't want to do it again. I am not buying an 80 dollar static gun...how about some home remedies?

[hearingimpared]

I killed a cordless phone ounce, just call your wife or daughter over and touch them first, lol

I've done that to my dog.:o

[zarrdoss]

I've done that to my dog.:o

Me too scared the hell out of her, this might help

http://www.ehow.com/how_2054382_get-...ectricity.html

[George Grand]

Discharge yourself on something else on the way over to the stereo. Then have a smoke.

[SolidSqual]

What/where do you have the ground cable connected to?

Connecting it to my metal rack does the trick, or touching it before touching my equipment as George indicates usually works too.

[Toolfan66]

Connecting it to my metal rack does the trick, or touching it before touching my equipment as George indicates usually works too.

The rack is what i touched when it shut down on me, It was a good ZAP.

[I-SIG]

I've done that to my dog.:o

You know that ZAP has to be really sensitive on a dog's wet nose!

Wes

[TouchOfEvil]

i hate getting shocked.

[LessisNevermore]

Discharge yourself on something else on the way over to the stereo. Then have a smoke.

Yeah, but what does that have to do with static electricity?:D:D

p.s., make sure it's NOT the curtains.......


I keed, I keed.....

[CoolJazz]

The home remedy is moisture. Add moisture to raise the humidity back. A humidifier in the general vicinity of the stereo system will help. A manual method that may help is to just simply use a misting spray bottle and shoot a lot of moisture into the area...though your hand will wear out before you effect it much.
This problem is the reason for isolated ground systems that businesses and medical use. Instead of three wires to an outlet, you have four. Normal ground to the electrical box..even via metal conduit instead of wire etc like normal. But the AC 3rd pin for grounding is run seperately all the way back to the common ground and is not allowed to touch the other ground until that common point. This is normally signified by the orange outlets. When you have a large UPS'ed system, those orange outlets are also present and the grounding should also be isolated in that case. The idea being that the equipment ground is kept isolated from electrical ground and provide a seperate path for those high voltage discharges.

CoolJazz

[Lasareath]

The home remedy is moisture. Add moisture to raise the humidity back. A humidifier in the general vicinity of the stereo system will help. A manual method that may help is to just simply use a misting spray bottle and shoot a lot of moisture into the area...though your hand will wear out before you effect it much.
This problem is the reason for isolated ground systems that businesses and medical use. Instead of three wires to an outlet, you have four. Normal ground to the electrical box..even via metal conduit instead of wire etc like normal. But the AC 3rd pin for grounding is run seperately all the way back to the common ground and is not allowed to touch the other ground until that common point. This is normally signified by the orange outlets. When you have a large UPS'ed system, those orange outlets are also present and the grounding should also be isolated in that case. The idea being that the equipment ground is kept isolated from electrical ground and provide a seperate path for those high voltage discharges.

CoolJazz

I need to wire up my basement audio room that way!

Haven't had any static problems in my new house yet. Must be getting moisture from all these old leaky windows :(

[cfrizz]

Discharge yourself on something else on the way over to the stereo. Then have a smoke.

Yup, I always just touch one of my metal kitchen stools & shock myself before I go near my gear. But then again everything I have with the exception of my cd player & mp3 player can be controlled by remotes, so there is very little reason to have to touch my system. Actually my cd player only has to be turned on manually the rest of the functions are remote controlled.

[pearsall001]

I just ask my wife to do me a favor & turn my stuff on...just kidding!!! I never had that problem, maybe I'm static proof.

[madmax]

There happens to be an outside corner to a wall next to my system. I just touch that and shock myself before I touch the system. Otherwise the TT tone arm would end up across the room.

One way to take care of this problem painlessly is to run a wire from the ground to a 1 meg ohm resistor. From the other side of the resistor run a wire to an isolated metal plate. Just touch the plate for a second and all that static will drain away without such a shock.

madmax

[hearingimpared]

There happens to be an outside corner to a wall next to my system. I just touch that and shock myself before I touch the system. Otherwise the TT tone arm would end up across the room.

One way to take care of this problem painlessly is to run a wire from the ground to a 1 meg ohm resistor. From the other side of the resistor run a wire to an isolated metal plate. Just touch the plate for a second and all that static will drain away without such a shock.

madmax

Chuck my friend, you are a geek!:D

BTW I've had the mishap with the tonearm a couple of times. Scared the **** out of me.

[madmax]

Chuck my friend, you are a geek!:D

BTW I've had the mishap with the tonearm a couple of times. Scared the **** out of me.

I jump really bad when I get shocked. I can see that arm and cart turn to worthless garbage with one touch. This is one of 10,000 reasons why no one but me touches my setup. Can you imagine the mayhem that would occur when some non-suspecting person finds out how much he just destroyed? :D

"Its not like I totalled your car!"
"Yes, it is..."

[hearingimpared]

I jump really bad when I get shocked. I can see that arm and cart turn to worthless garbage with one touch. This is one of 10,000 reasons why no one but me touches my setup. Can you imagine the mayhem that would occur when some non-suspecting person finds out how much he just destroyed? :D

"Its not like I totalled your car!"
"Yes, it is..."

Yep I know what you mean. I have a sign on mine that says, "Death to all who enter here!":D

[del44]

Plenty of humidity at my house. I actually bought a dehumidifier. I've got one of those thermometer/moisture meters. Before buying the dehumidifier I was getting a reading of 67%. From what I've read, that is too high. Now It's around 50%. Probably still a little high though. I installed new windows and doors this summer. My house might be a little too air tight. Anyone else have a moisture guage? Whats your reading? Just curious.

[zingo]

Static discharge to your closest family member is the most fun way to take care of the problem!