okay you science nerds...

[Gary Majchrzak]

how come I ALWAYS get shocked when leaving a vehicle?

I thought it was just the Olds. Then the Chrysler. Then the Grand Prix got me. Now my Chevy... and to add insult to injury Mom's HONDA zapped me really hard! This has been going on for YEARS.

I mean... it makes a sound.. like CRACK. Mini lightning bolts. It hurts!

Nobody else that I ride with gets zapped like this.
Hell... nobody else that I KNOW gets zapped like this.
It happens when I'm exiting a car.
I'm grown so accustomed to it I try to use my sleeve or foot to shut the car door and people look at me funny.

Please tell me there's someone else out there that knows what I'm talking about.

This is nuts.

 

[teamdulski]

According to a mythbusters episode it has a lot to do with the way you slide in and out of the seat.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Happens to me pretty often too, seems to vary but I can't identify a pattern. Here's an interesting read:

http://www.electrostatics.net/articles/static_shocks.htm#What about shocks when I get out of my car?

Also,

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

thank you!

thank you!

Many people experience shocks when they get out of their car. Often they believe that the car is charged - but this is not normally so.

Sitting in the car, electrostatic charges are generated on the car seat and the person's body, due to contact and movement between the clothes and the seat. When the person leaves the seat, They take half of this charge with them. As they get out of the vehicle, their body voltages rises due to this charge - a voltage of 10,000 Volts is not unusual.

When they reach to touch the vehicle door, the electrostatic discharge and shock occurs as their hand approaches the metal door.

The voltage build-up can often be avoided by holding onto a metal part of the door frame as you leave the seat. This provides a return dissipation path for the charge on your body.

If you have forgotten to hold the metal door part as you leave the seat, a shock may often still be avoided by touching the glass window before you touch the metal door. The glass may be conductive enough to dissipate charge, whilst preventing the rapid discharge which is felt as a shock.

If you have your keys in your hand - let the spark discharge through the keys not to your fingers, and you won't feel anything!

To avoid shocks when getting out of the car -

HOLD the metal door frame before you get out

KEEP HOLDING as you get out, until you are fully out of the car.

 

[Paul B]

And don't wear wool pants

 

[Conesus_Kid]

And don't wear wool pants

But do make sure you're wearing pants.

Maybe you're skootching/boogying too much in your seat? Time to switch to talk radio? :lol:

 

[Brandon.Helvie]

I get zapped every time I close the door. Tried to stop sliding off the seat, as i suspected that was why i was getting zapped. It's harder than it sounds getting out of a large truck. I just simply kick the door now to close it. Sick of getting shocked!

- glad im not the only one!

 

[dmv]

Oddly shock therapy has conditioned me to hold on to the door as I slide off the seat. Gary I do believe they sell straps that touch the ground while you drive.

 

[GratefulReef]

I get this alot too, and not just in cars most anywhere I can static shock someone or something. I do see it happening more often in the car, but like I said it can happen most anywhere.

 

[Paul B]

Connect a ground probe to your foot.

 

[SkiFletch]

It's a really complex thing Gary and those suggestions you posted are all well and good. A few other thoughts. You're more likely to both build up AND discharge static electricity when the air is dry. So around here, winter time especially. Arc's don't travel well in air that's saturated with water. Same goes for your skin. The dryer it is, the more charge it can "hold" and therefore the more likely to get a shock.

The fabric of the clothes you wear has a lot to do with it, as does the detergents/dryer sheets/softeners you use when you wash them.

 

[cordell]

I always make sure to push the door shut with the back side of my hand or my wrist... it doesn't hurt nearly as much to get shocked there as it does on the tips of your fingers!

 

[Greg 45]

LOL gary run them there straps in the back of the car like in the old days
on the car line I work on there is a issue with automatic car washers waxers causing issues !!!

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

I remember somewhere the thought that the charge could set off an explosion from the gasoline vapors; it seems unlikely that could actually happen, but it does follow along the line that we were always to make contact between the pump handle and the old style metal gas cans. Are your seats cloth or leather? maybe it's just your electric personality?

 

[reefboarder]

My wife had a Pontiac vibe with cloth seats that would shock the crap out of me every time I exited the car from driving. We traded it in for a sorento with leather interior and I don't get shocked at all now. My car which has leather also never shocks me, but my inlaws Nissan maxima with cloth interior does. So based on my scientic research you should get a vehicle with leather.

 

[Foody]

I see you've found the solution. However, just to reiterate, when exiting the car, grab the metal on the door before you stand up. Don't let go until both feet are firmly on the ground and you will not be shocked.

 

[tmz]

Just plug a gfci in your ear, nose or any available orifice along with the ground probe on your foot as Paul suggested. Paul knows , he's an electrician afterall.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

you guys are too funny!

Paul and everyone else... thanks for the advice... although some of it sounds pretty hokey :lmao: