Static Electricity??

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nosratrouhani

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Las Vegas
We have been having problem at a Hair Academy facility. the problem is at the main floor of the cademy which consists of 72 free standing stainless steel hair stations with a so crod and cap that plugs into a floor outlet. the cord runs inside the station leg up to a receptacle flush mounted in the horizontal member of the station just belo the work surface.
The problem: occasionally (probably 1 to 2 times a mounth) when the student is plugging in his/her hair dryer or the clippers they experience a shock. we have tested all wiring and everything is in proper order. we even repalced the receptacles at the work station with GFCI type to see if they trip when the accident happens, but hey do not trip.
I am almost certain it is the static electricity that causes the shocks and not the AC power of the building, but am puzzled that it only happens (according to the owner) when they are plugging in sumthing and at the same time they are touching the stailess steel table.
Has anybody have anything like this in the past.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
 
Static, probably

Static, probably

We have been having problem at a Hair Academy facility. the problem is at the main floor of the cademy which consists of 72 free standing stainless steel hair stations with a so crod and cap that plugs into a floor outlet. the cord runs inside the station leg up to a receptacle flush mounted in the horizontal member of the station just belo the work surface.
The problem: occasionally (probably 1 to 2 times a mounth) when the student is plugging in his/her hair dryer or the clippers they experience a shock. we have tested all wiring and everything is in proper order. we even repalced the receptacles at the work station with GFCI type to see if they trip when the accident happens, but hey do not trip.
I am almost certain it is the static electricity that causes the shocks and not the AC power of the building, but am puzzled that it only happens (according to the owner) when they are plugging in sumthing and at the same time they are touching the stailess steel table.
Has anybody have anything like this in the past.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
I have this same issue with everything I touch at home, Whether I am wearing my tennis shoes, my slippers, or my work boots, I can touch the thermostat lever, the plastic decor light switch, the door knob, the frig door handle and I ignite like a rocket. But, If I am bare foot, I have no problems. My electrode system is a ufer in a wet location, and the connections are tight, and no amps register on the amp clamp on the e.c.!! Go Figure.:grin:
 
We have been having problem at a Hair Academy facility. the problem is at the main floor of the cademy which consists of 72 free standing stainless steel hair stations with a so crod and cap that plugs into a floor outlet. the cord runs inside the station leg up to a receptacle flush mounted in the horizontal member of the station just belo the work surface.
The problem: occasionally (probably 1 to 2 times a mounth) when the student is plugging in his/her hair dryer or the clippers they experience a shock. we have tested all wiring and everything is in proper order. we even repalced the receptacles at the work station with GFCI type to see if they trip when the accident happens, but hey do not trip.
I am almost certain it is the static electricity that causes the shocks and not the AC power of the building, but am puzzled that it only happens (according to the owner) when they are plugging in sumthing and at the same time they are touching the stailess steel table.
Has anybody have anything like this in the past.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

There are several methods of eliminating staic charge generation. There are air ionizers to be plugged in, but probably the easiest method of dealing with it is to maintain a higher level of humidity on the air. I believe it should be about 70%. Your HVAC Contractor/Maintenance should take care of that. It will raise your electrical bill for HVAC slightly.

Anti static carpeting is also available and treating existing carpeting with antistaic spray is also an option, but a rather expensive one, because it only lasts for s period of time and it needs to be repeated.
 
There are two possibilities. One is that the person themselves develops a static charge relative to 'ground', which gets discharged with the appliance is plugged in. The other possibility is that the stainless steel table develops a static charge which gets discharged through the person when the appliance is plugged in.

If the charge were on the person (say from walking across the floor) and the tables grounded, then the person would get a shock when they touched the table. If the charge were on the table, then that would imply that the table was not grounded.

I would suggest double checking for proper electrical continuity between the metal table and the receptacle ground pin.

-Jon
 
Be carefull when touching electronic equipment when you are charged . Static electricity is not freindly to the equipment.
 
I live in a dry climate and get zapped often, sometimes 3 or 4 times a day. If it's been dry and I think I'm going to get hit by one of my regular zapping points, I always touch wood first and get the slower discharge. ..

I do notice that if i have a static charge and put a t-8 fluorescent into the common side of the fixture and have my hand on the pins of the other side the lamp will light.
 
several explanations there. brushing hair alone creates static, remember small pieces of paper will cling to a hair brush thats recently been used. that and probably the furniture and the humidity will all contribute.

electronic manufacturers use a grounded wrist tag to eliminate static while working with sensitive equipment. computer technicians place their hands over the computer power supply case before touching any computer parts. many ways to get around so that one doesnt have to be "shocked" when plugging something
 
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