Hey Guys
The weather turned cold around here for the first time this year. Since I started my layout I have never had a problem with static electricity. I started to work on some projects and every time I touched something I would get a shock. I'm talking track, vacuum cleaner, and Etc. Has anyone else had this problem? The first thing I thought of was the decoders and Power Cab. How would they take the jolt? This time track power was off and I had all engines off of the layout, but what if I had not?I used an electrical tester and all outlets are correct. Once I got zapped several times the charge seems to have bled off. Floor is concrete, no carpet are rubber mats. Hmmm.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Lee
I try to touch something metal before working with anything electronic (that means not touching the track until I touch some other metal) but other than that I take no special precautions. My very first computer eons ago was all CMOS chips, which tend to be highly sensitive to static. When I first put it together I followed the instructions exactly, grounded myself with a wrist strap (which menat I had to work on it in the laundry room on top of the washer, only easy access to a water piper where the house ground was - the house I grew up in did NOT have grounded outlets anywhere). I even set the board on tinfoil as instructed. AFter that though, I would work on it anywhere, and not do anythign special even when changing cips. NEVER fried one. Back inthe days when upgrading your memory meant installing individual chips - I NEVER used a ground strap, NEVER fried any. All I've ever done is touch some metal before touching the chips. I've built dozens of 'modern' computers - never fried a motherboard or memory stick or CPU or hard drive etc. The last few I built I assembled on the living room floor, right on the carpet.
People do this on carpets - dunno if it would work on cement floors, but try spraying some fabric anti-static spray on the floor. With an all cement floor, your charge was probably buitl up in your clothes moreso than from walking across the floor.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Raising the humidity will help. If you're drawing sparks with everything you touch, the humidity in your house is probably very low, probably around 20%. A humidifier should be able to get it up to 40-50% and that should pretty much solve the static problem. You will feel better too. A very dry environment can give you a dry throat. Your wood floors will thank you. It's a common winter problem. In winter the humidity is low, in summer it's high. Can't win for trying. Years ago we lived quite far north where the winters were brutally cold and we had to refill our humidifier every day. Before you invest in a humidifier, buy a humidity meter. I believe it's called a hygrometer or something like that. You should be able to get it in any department store and they don't cost much.
..... Bob
Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here. (Captain Kirk)
I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Adam Savage)
Resistance is not futile--it is voltage divided by current.
Seamonster Raising the humidity will help. If you're drawing sparks with everything you touch, the humidity in your house is probably very low, probably around 20%. A humidifier should be able to get it up to 40-50% and that should pretty much solve the static problem..
Raising the humidity will help. If you're drawing sparks with everything you touch, the humidity in your house is probably very low, probably around 20%. A humidifier should be able to get it up to 40-50% and that should pretty much solve the static problem..
+1
What you wear can generate static electricity as well. Sweaters (especially wool) and blue jeans or cordoroy pants will generate tons of static electricity if you move enough. Rubber soles on shoes don't help either. Walking in your socks may help some.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Good points guys.I increased the humidity some, it's now standing at about 35%. It may have taken a while for the furnace to run long enough to bring the humidity up. I was shocked, (pun intended), by all of the static discharges.Have a good one.
35% is more than enough to stop static. I keep mine between 30 and 35 in the winter and dehumidify to 50 in the summer.
Springfield PA
I think I am getting a static problem as well. I have indoor outdoor carpet in my garage/ train room and yesterday while working on the track while not wearing shoes, just my socks, I seemed to have cleared the programing out of two engines I touched. I had this happen a couple weeks ago as well. I am going have wear shoes and make sure I grab something metal before I touch the locos.
Tape a piece of bare wire to your ankle and let it drag on the floor.
Many years ago at NASA long range tracking radar, a fellow I worked with use to do that. It works.
He stripped the wire braid from a piece of RG174 coax cable. Of corse, he would step on the braid at times.
Install a humidifier in your house.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Be careful taping wire to your ankle. It's a sure fire way to get a trip to the ER, after another kind of trip, especially stairs.
Just to add a little more to the discussion, My train room is in the basement and the relative humidity stays between 45 and 50% thanks to a dehumidifier and a humidifier on the furnace. The floor is concrete and I never had a problem with static until recently when I added some interlocking rubber mats that I purchased from Home Depot. Now, every time I walk across the mats and touch something metal I get a nice snap. An improvement for comfort and a new problem created.
Joe
Use the anti-static spray (Static-Guard) for clothes coming out of the dryer!
So simple it works!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
I'm getting shocks everywhere since cold weather set in. Sliding off the seat of my van, walking across the carpeted living room, etc.
cmrproducts Joe Use the anti-static spray (Static-Guard) for clothes coming out of the dryer! So simple it works! BOB H - Clarion, PA
Thanks Bob. I tried it and it worked very well. My train room is static free and smells "Springtime Fresh".
Just came across this on Ebay and though ot this thread. Sounds like it might be a solution for some of you. It is a static ground for your shoe.
http://cgi.ebay.com/3M-2051-Static-Control-Heel-Ground-1M-Resistor-/320631513452?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa720a16c
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!