Why is it that every single time I get out of my car, when I go to shut the door it gives me a static shock? 
Electric Shock!
- Thread starter Cento186
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Electric Shock!
I've noticed this a lot recently too, I've put it down to the fact that the car's very dirty as it never does it when it's clean. Maybe the extra friction is causing a charge to build up like a Faraday cage. Or something.
Depends on what clothes you're wearing. I've got a cheap poly something jacket and always get shock with it. No jacket or a different one and never get the shock.
Static electricity is generated as you slide across the seat backrest to get out of the car when wearing certain materials.
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Static electricity is generated as you slide across the seat backrest to get out of the car when wearing certain materials.
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OP
OP
That's what I originally thought, but it doesn't seem to be affected by what I'm wearing and its only started happening recently and the only thing that points to is that it's only recently I've started giving it a good polish every 3 weeks or so...
in the old days lots of people used to fit http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Car-Acces...s=&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udhi=&_nkw=anti+static+strap
i think drive belts may make static? used to get it loads on an old volvo 340 with a daf box that had 2 massive rubber belts
i think drive belts may make static? used to get it loads on an old volvo 340 with a daf box that had 2 massive rubber belts
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OP
OP
I would rather put up with the static shocks than been seen with that hanging off my car :yuck:
Would be nice to find out whats causing it though...
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My Sei would do that. Strangely, no other Cento did.
The static electric charge is built up within you and your clothing, not in the car. When you touch the car, your static charge is dissipated into the car. It is not the car biting you, but you biting the car.
Cause is friction in your clothes, getting in and out, moving while driving, (inevitable). Any clothes with polyester or any other plastic content will be susceptible.
The strap hanging off the car will do nothing for the problem.
As you get out, hold the metal of the key and touch the other end onto the car. The spark is then at the key end, rather than direct off you. You still feel it, but a lot less.
Cause is friction in your clothes, getting in and out, moving while driving, (inevitable). Any clothes with polyester or any other plastic content will be susceptible.
The strap hanging off the car will do nothing for the problem.
As you get out, hold the metal of the key and touch the other end onto the car. The spark is then at the key end, rather than direct off you. You still feel it, but a lot less.
OP
OP
Well me and my sei have had a little chat and come to an agreement that she won't zap me anymore... bizarrely that has actually sorted it, haven't been shocked for a few days now :woot:
Is it down to the car 'rubbing' the air as you drive along?
Or is it your clothes rubbing the seat as you get in/out/move around?
When you get a zap, see if you can recreate this straight away ( ) by sitting in the car & 'fidgeting' in order to simulate the rubbing action. (1)
If you don't get a zap, try again but with the engine running. (2)
And finally, take the car for a ride round to see if it happens. (3)
1 - determines if it is clothing
2 - determines if it is the electrics
3 - determines if it is the car's progress
Or is it your clothes rubbing the seat as you get in/out/move around?
When you get a zap, see if you can recreate this straight away (
) by sitting in the car & 'fidgeting' in order to simulate the rubbing action. (1)If you don't get a zap, try again but with the engine running. (2)
And finally, take the car for a ride round to see if it happens. (3)
1 - determines if it is clothing
2 - determines if it is the electrics
3 - determines if it is the car's progress
i reckon its drive belts, remember the thing at school that made static in science lab?
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Super diagram, but not quite the right answer.
The van der graaf generator above uses a belt rubbing on the brushes to create the positive charge at the top. Many different things rubbing together can cause a static charge to build, plastic being a very common one. (Try rubbing a plastic comb and sticking tissue to it) In the machine above the belt is just a suitable method of creating the charge.
Electrical charge tries to even itself out, so if anything holds a positive or negative charge it will try to find the opposite to earth against. The unequal charge will look for something to equalise with, larger objects will do this more readily. The car is bigger than us, so the charge is going to the car, from us, not the other way around. The static charge is created in us and we earth against the car. As most of our seats are polyester or similar plastic fabrics, we are likely to create such a charge , even if we were naked. (not recommended). Any plastic in our clothing makes it worse. Wearing all cotton on leather seats is best.
The van der graaf generator above uses a belt rubbing on the brushes to create the positive charge at the top. Many different things rubbing together can cause a static charge to build, plastic being a very common one. (Try rubbing a plastic comb and sticking tissue to it) In the machine above the belt is just a suitable method of creating the charge.
Electrical charge tries to even itself out, so if anything holds a positive or negative charge it will try to find the opposite to earth against. The unequal charge will look for something to equalise with, larger objects will do this more readily. The car is bigger than us, so the charge is going to the car, from us, not the other way around. The static charge is created in us and we earth against the car. As most of our seats are polyester or similar plastic fabrics, we are likely to create such a charge , even if we were naked. (not recommended). Any plastic in our clothing makes it worse. Wearing all cotton on leather seats is best.
