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Static electricity....again

Ok, I'm ready to burn the house down and move to Florida. I had a similar problem last winter. I live in Colorado and it's been snowing here like crazy. It is super dry here. My brother fried two pre amps last winter due to lightning bolts flying from his fingers to his pre amp anytime he touched the pre amp...

So here's what I have going on. I have all of my cables lifted off the ground with wooden blocks. My Equipment is plugged into a ps audio quintet, except for my amp which is plugged directly into the wall (porter port).

I don't have any remote controllers in my set-up so whenever I touch my equipment, I ground myself on a screw on the light switch first. I'll have so much electricity built up in my body that I can actually feel the hairs on my legs stand up when I do this.

Okay, well it has gotten to be so bad now that when I am just walking across the room, I can hear a few small pops coming out of my speakers. These are directly related to the static that is building up via my socks dragging across the carpet. I'm %100 sure of that.

My question is, what the heck do I do to remedy this problem before I damage any of my equipment? My house is probably 20 years old. Am I having these issues because the ground in my house is no good?

Btw, last winter when I was having these issues, I sprayed fabric softener all over and that seemed to work for, oh, about 20 minutes.

I'm going to get a humidifier and see how that helps. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated! I'm about ready to change my user name to Zues!
128x128b_limo
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
Just try the Bounce sheets, they have always worked for those who did. Even if they don't you can always use them in your dryer...
xti16
1,525 posts
 
A central humidifier would be the best way of curing the static problem. That said until you address that problem hold something made of metal like a coin or key before touching the light switch screw. You won't feel it and still discharge yourself!! BTW the reason you get shocked is because you do have a good ground (maybe your brother doesn't). Turns out most folks don't realize that when you just feel a slight shock you are at approx 20,000V. To get a good arc off your finger you are 50KV plus.
jcharvet
46 posts
 
I have a lot of static also. I walk around barefoot when in the listening room, and the problem is solved.
arnettpartners
312 posts
 
Hevac1,

Yes, I won't disagree. I don't have a reliable humidifier guage (what are they called?) right now and depend on the humidifier's read out where humidity is no doubt higher. So generally the humidity is not as high as the setting on the units. I only ran the water down the windows once just to see how much it would put out(doesn't take much to entertain me). I leave the door open on my new listening room in the basement. So far I don't have it carpeted--just concrete and wood and area rug. Has not been an issue. The other humidifier is on the landing of the split level house into open living room and kitchen. Leave laundry shute open on other end of hall to get as much circulation throughout the house. Depend on air circulation and osmosis. If anyone has any better ideas, I'm happy to try them.

I like the sound quality that I get from my hydration system such as it is, I like the air quality, I don't like messing with anti-static products, and my cats thank me.
mesch
3,510 posts
 
I use a humidifier in my room in winter. I also find that removing my shoes helps.
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