GROUNDING - assistance on how NOT to shock yourself

To: tjjunk.

I have installed Electrostatic Dissipation (ESD) mats on the floor in front of my equipment racks to mitigate the charge. The units I purchased are not tethered. I find that going barefoot completely eliminates the problem. Wearing cotton socks in cooler weather is 90% effective. My music listening room has quality Berber carpeting on a thick pad placed over 3/4" plywood. The plywood (second) floor is "glue and screw" and sealed, eliminating squeaks and significantly helping seepage of noise from outside and the first floor.

The ESD mats are 3'x5', and the price was $100 each. Colors are black, grey, and blue. As an aside, I honestly can say my body generates a significant amount of static electricity. [Perhaps it is attributable to 33 years working on irradiated nosetips on ICBMs and spacecraft. ]      

Take your shoes off. If you walk on carpet in your socks, you will not get shocked. And your carpet stays cleaner…

I have had similar experiences for years until I realized the simple solution was right in front of me...

My gear is in my living room and the floor is covered with a large wool rug.

a.  Sometimes I would get shocked just by touching something in the room, especially in the winter months. b. Whenever I changed an LP it would 'pop'. 

At first, I assumed that the process of playing the LP created a build-up of static charge due to friction (which is normal).  I also assumed that crossing the wool rug charged me, which created the shocks.

I tried all sorts of 'solutions' - bare feet, cotton socks, tennis shoes, Berks, etc. Nothing really solved the issue. 

While adjusting my cartridge and was remined that my TT is grounded to my Phono Preamp, which is grounded to the distribution box, which is grounded to the wall outlet (three prong).

My Solution - before touching an LP or any of the gear, I would touch the Tonearm for a few seconds (3 to, say 10).  It was that simple, and it has always worked.

One tip - on really dry days, I blow a bit of moist-breath into my hand before touching the tonearm... e- quickly flow from me to the grounded gear.

No more shocks or pops (except some occasional very little ones).  I am very happy with this solution. :-)

Good luck.