Getting shocked! ESD is killing me!

[davidm71]

Hi,

I'm really worried I'm going to zap the hell out of my computer as since I moved into this new apartment I've had nothing but electrostatic discharge so bad that sparks fly! At times it can be really painful and I'm afraid to turn on the lights or touch metal surfaces. Anyone know how to reduce the ESD before I fry something?!

Thanks

 

[THUMPer]

Humidifier

 

[EvilWays]

Humidifier. Also, invest in a room humidity sensor (doesn't need to be expensive). Set your humidifier to keep the room where your computer is to around 40-60% RH (you could probably go lower or higher from that range but I wouldn't recommend much further away from that range than about 5% unless there is a specific reason to).

 

[Spartacus]

Humidifier will help a lot.

Also, dilute some liquid fabric softener and use it in a spray bottle on your carpets.
Lay down a heavy circle around your computer desk. It makes the carpet retain a
small amount of moisture to make it conductive and cut down on the static buildup.

You can get commercial products that help with ESD, but that's essentially what they are.

I used to work with Telex equipment that was really ESD sensitive. The connected printer
would use boxes of fanfold paper and it would build up a good potential sometimes on the
desk the equipment was placed on. I could drop shredded paper and it would fly over and
stick to the side of the desk due to the charge present on it.

We used to drill a hole in the back of the desk, put in a wood screw (touching the outer
plastic laminate on the pressed board) and use a wire between the wood screw and the
grounded center screw (wall plate screw) on the AC outlet.

That actually helped a lot and cut down on our service calls on the Telex equipment.