Issues with static charge

[Gig-O-Ram]

Because it's so cold here right now, we're running our heat quite a bit and as a result it is extremely dry in our place. I am getting static shocks all the time whenever I touch anything. I put my foot on the base of my computer desk, and I get shocked. I touch my system tower and I get a shock. I touch a cat, and I get zapped.

And I'm not sure yet how it's happening, but sometimes I will come into the room where our computers are, and mine will be on - even though I shut it down hours before. I suspect somehow my tower is picking up a static charge and turns itself on. My wife tells me that she'll be on her computer after I go to bed, and my system will just come on. I've had to resort to shutting my PSU off, just so this doesn't happen. One time, I reached behind the system to do that, and my finger touched the area right by the switch. I saw a small charge, and the system powered on. Our VCR was on the floor next to it last night, and I moved it a couple inches - and that caused the thing to go on.

Is there anything at all I can do to reduce or eliminate these occurences?

[stinger608]

I have a pal that has real bad static in his house! What he does, is run a humidifier, and spray water on the carpet. You know, just one of them little spray bottles.

I am not quite sure what causes this, as one house will be bad, and the next will be fine. My suggestion was to get a 8' copper ground rod, and pound it in the dirt and run a #0 copper wire from the ground/common side of the electrical box to the ground rod. Not sure if it would help, but it is a possibility

But, if the ground is frozen, that pretty much is out of the question. I would invest in a humidifier though!! He has fried 2 different motherboards because of this issue, and since running the humidifier has not had issues since!
This problem could be part of the cause of odd things with your computers!

[oldman_gamer]

A rod should already be in the ground where your sevice goes in.In any case,you can place another rod about 6 feet or so away from the existing rod.Most rods are sharp on 1 end to facillitate easy driving.It is best to drive the rod on a slight angle,which makes it easier to drive in, in most cases.Connect a #0 wire as was suggested between the 2 rods. Thats 1 way to help your problem. Others that came to mind, is placing a rubber mat under your PC area. Try spraying anti static gaurd on your carpeting that can be purchased in any Kmart etc.Boil a pot of water now and again on the stove with no lid on it. When you shower,make it steamy hot,when finished,open the bathroom door,do not run the fan.We have a wood burner,and always have a big pot of water on it. If you have carpet that has alot of nylon in it,thats the worst this time of year.Dont pet the cat..LOL

I pet my cat a few times when we had some static,and started at his head down to the tip of his tail,then touch the tip of his nose and CRACK...it would zap him good! Freaked him out and was funny in a way. I use the anti static gaurd in my truck this time of year so I dont get zapped when getting out,it should work the same way on carpet.

[Gig-O-Ram]

I live in a large apartment complex, so the solution with the copper wires may or may not be a viable solution. I'll need to look around my building and see if they use standard meters or something else.

The rubber mat or anti-static spray might be a good option, and I'll have to look into humidifiers. And who knows what this carpet is made of...

Thanks for the ideas, guys!

[Hitman]

I have static real bad in my house as well. It's so bad even when I kiss my wife I get shocked, I don't even like turning on a light, because I arc off the little screw. This is there first time I have lived in a house with wall to wall carpet in about 14 years. I thought about a humidifier as well. How much do those run? is one enough for the whole house?

[Carl Martin]

Get a console model form Sears. Kenmore 12 gal. Console Evaporative Humidifier - Model 14416 at Sears.com Those little units are little more than a joke. One of these will take care of the whole house. Just be sure to add a ounce of anti-bacteria treatment to each bottle. Just get the cheap stuff from WalMart; same thing as the expensive stuff Sears and others sell.

Carl

[Stormcrow]

Humidifiers range from around $30 to OMGWUT...or about $500 smackers. We used to have a few in each room, one with a large gallon capacity in the living that was around 70 dollars, and a few $25 dollar 2gl cheapies for the rooms, as just one placed out in the living room never really had an effect on the back bedrooms. Now all we need to do is boil a pot of water like mentioned above, this place is so small.
Each one is different in gallon size, filtration, and how well they disperse and maintain moisture into the surrounding atmosphere. Unless you really want one that can monitor the moisture content of the air and auto adjust it's evaporation rate based on user defined settings, one for around 50 bucks with a couple of cheaper models in the rooms farthest away work just fine.

[oldman_gamer]

This is the unit we use in the upstairs of our house.My second level is underground and there is always some kind of dampness there,even when the fire is going (the pot of water thing I spoke of earlier) But this unit does just fine for a kitchen,large living room,3 bedrooms and a bath.

Holmes Large Room Cool Mist Humidifier - Model 177106 at Kmart.com



Also note,depending on your situation,you can always crack a window open just a tad to let fresh moisture ladden air in.We do that from time to time,even in the harshest temps.

[Jokerswild]

We're dry here in Iowa too and get a lot of static electricity. I had a large free standing humidifier in our last house but the best is getting one built onto the heater. For an apartment the small one that oldman_gamer shows is good. I've been putting a large pot of water on the stove and setting it at a low boil and it adds enough humidity and also helps heat.Throw some cloves in with it and the house smells good too.

[Gig-O-Ram]

$$ is a little on the tight side these days, so even a $50 model would be hard right now. $150 model? Even harder...

The wife gave me a can of static gaurd I didn't know she had, and I sprayed the area around my desk real good, so we'll see if that helps any. But I am still going to keep the humidifiers in mind.