Do you jolt in pain every time you touch the car door handle? The reason is due to the electric shocks caused by the body and the car that have accumulated opposite electric charges during the journey. To remedy this painful inconvenience, you can touch the door so that the charge stabilizes without harming you or you can prevent static electricity from building up from the start.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Discharging Energy Safely
Step 1. Grab the metal frame as you exit the car
Most of the shocks occur because the human body and the machine have accumulated opposite charges; when you get up from the seat, you separate the two charges, generating a situation favorable to the shock. By touching the metal of the machine you can rebalance the electricity by making it flow from your hand without pain.
If you still get the shock, it means that the painted bodywork or the metal is not conductive enough; try to make contact with bare metal
Step 2. Use a coin to touch the car
Another method to protect yourself is to touch the body with a coin or other metal object: you may notice sparks between the two objects, but you will not feel pain.
Do not use a key that contains an electronic chip, as the electric discharge can damage the circuitry and render it unusable
Step 3. Tap the window for a couple of seconds
If you are already out of the cockpit and do not have any coins with you, put your hand on the crystal. This material is less conductive than metal, so the electrical charge flows too gently to harm you.
Method 2 of 2: Preventing the Accumulation of Static Electricity
Step 1. Wear shoes with a good conductor sole
Most footwear has a rubber or plastic sole that isolates the person from the ground. If you switch to shoes with leather soles or shoes made with a specific material to discharge static electricity, it is very unlikely that the charge will accumulate on the body; even if that were to happen, electricity would flow through these shoes as soon as you put your foot on the ground.
Step 2. Treat the seats with a fabric softener
Rubbing the upholstery with scented sheets for the dryer allows you to eliminate static electricity for at least a few days; alternatively, dissolve 5 ml of liquid fabric softener in a liter of water and spray it on the seats.
Step 3. Pay attention to clothing
Synthetic materials, such as fleece, increase the risk of electrostatic shock; even natural fibers, such as wool or cotton, can accumulate an electrical charge, so it's not worth changing your wardrobe. Just be especially careful when wearing polyester garments.
Step 4. Attach an electrostatic belt if you don't have conductive tires
"Low friction" tires are made with silica, which is a poor conductor of electricity; this means that the car accumulates static electricity as you drive it and that this energy does not discharge to the ground. An electrostatic belt connects the car to the road and solves the problem.
- Very old cars are fitted with white natural rubber tires which entails the same problem.
- Normal tires are treated with black carbon, a conductive material. The antistatic belt has no benefit on cars with these tires; shocks are always possible, but the difference in charge develops between the human body and the car, not between the car and the ground.
