Shock Value (not what you think)

Our main corporate office lends itself to accumulate big charges of static electricity, which are then playfully, and painfully, released on unsuspecting employees reaching for doorknobs and file cabinets. I work a floor above, but our department's office isn't immune from this plague, especially given favorable conditions like dry air currents. The other day I received a shocking reminder from my computer monitor.

This reminded me of a pet peeve in Vegas, most common among slots and VP players. You reach towards the screen to view the pay table and off comes tiny lightning and pygmyish thunder.

You can't get away from it. Between the extensive carpeting, already dry air, air conditioning and working electronics, slot/VP banks are a Fort Knox of static just waiting to be conducted. You, alas, are a rather good conductor.

But there are solutions. First try to avoid building up a charge of your own. Walk, don't shuffle, when on the casino's floor. Wear clothes that don't rub against your body or themselves. This helps, but does nothing to eliminate charges on the machines themselves.

To avoid pain, but not shock, simply make a fist and touch the machine you intend to use, preferably on a metallic part, with the knuckles on the back of your hand. You'll see the spark and feel the shock, but you have very few nerve endings there. Unless you're very sensitive, you shouldn't feel any pain.

Another trick is to take a metallic object, like a key, and touch that to the metal on the machine. The key will take the spark and you'll feel nothing. Just make sure there are no gaps between your skin and the key, or a spark may fly between it and you, causing the same shock and pain.

BTW, sliding in and out of a car seat, and fidgeting while seated, also causes static buildup. This can be dangerous when you stop to fill your gas tank. Before getting off the car, grab a metal part to dissipate any building charge. After getting out, touch some more metal before approaching the gas pump.

I've heard of solutions involving anti-static dryer sheets. They're supposed to work, but I recommend the ones I've given. For one thing you don't need to pay for dryer sheets, and for another they always work for me. Just remember to use them. The other day I forgot and had some very rude things to say to my monitor.

>(not what you think)

whew, I thought it was going to be a too-much-information Nareed tell-all on her sex life again. [g]

I am starting to gather that you want to be referred to as female? If not, pardon me.

I know they at least used to use wool carpet in casinos, and one reason was to cut down on the static. Perhaps they are going to nylon, which can really build up a charge. When nylon first came out as a flooring material, people would hardly buy it for this reason. They have largely fixed that but I wonder if the casinos are going to synthetic fiber carpets now.

Quote: odiousgambit

whew, I thought it was going to be a too-much-information Nareed tell-all on her sex life again. [g]

Oh, you should hear what I really wanted to say! ;)

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I am starting to gather that you want to be referred to as female? If not, pardon me.

Yes, that's just right. Thank you.

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I know they at least used to use wool carpet in casinos, and one reason was to cut down on the static.

Wool can also build up a ferocious charge. This applies more to clothes than carpeting, though. And it varies between wool varieties. Regular sheep wool isn't so bad (though it makes me itch). Angora wool is a killer, but it looks so good!

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Perhaps they are going to nylon, which can really build up a charge. When nylon first came out as a flooring material, people would hardly buy it for this reason. They have largely fixed that but I wonder if the casinos are going to synthetic fiber carpets now.

Synthetics are cheaper to make and maintain. They resist stains better and last longer, too. There are treatments applied to carpets to prevent stains that can increase static. Vacuuming increases static, too. A freshly vacuumed carpet is a death trap for tender fingertips. Washing, on the other hand, like shampooing, adds enough humidity to help dissipate the charge.

Quote: Nareed

Synthetics are cheaper to make and maintain. They resist stains better and last longer, too. There are treatments applied to carpets to prevent stains that can increase static. Vacuuming increases static, too. A freshly vacuumed carpet is a death trap for tender fingertips. Washing, on the other hand, like shampooing, adds enough humidity to help dissipate the charge.

I differ with you on what resists stains better, although the subject is hard to simplify. Generally speaking, a well made wool has the best cleanability all the way round, with exceptions. Usually, you think of your best clothes as wool too, at least in the department of how those clothes keep their looks.

For flooring, the chemists consider soiling a different problem than staining, which is generally considered re-dying the carpet, or accidentally removing dye, whereas soiling is a sort of chemical soup that has found various ways of making light bonds with the carpet.