Shopping Cart Electrocutions

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Merkava_4

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"Shopping cart" or "grocery cart," however you want to say it, they can be downright painful at times. Oh I know this is a long shot, most of you guys have never been a victim of static discharge while shopping for red grapes, but I have! OUCH!
shocked2.gif


The wheels build up a potential of electricity while rolling across fake wood floors made out of plastic. When I slide my hand over to the metal band that goes around the plastic cart, I get zapped and zapped hard. I'm sure some of you guys will find this humorous, but if you have ever experienced it first hand, you wouldn't be laughing; I assure you.

This is a long shot, but have any of you guys experienced this?

http://www.esdjournal.com/articles/Shoppingcarts.htm
 
Having tried on new clothes today, I can say that static, and long hair are a force to be (potentially) reckoned with.

Baddest shocks I ever received were in Canberra switchyard, 330,000 volts coming in overhead, and distributed voltages out the other side. Everything received a charge from what was overhead. Every time you touched something metal, you thought you were dead through incorrect isolation (as a sprocket, electrickery scares me).

BTW, and I kid you not...my neighbour had a Volvo, and he got hit by it relentlessly whan he got out of the car...he was going to sell it, but a workmate put him onto acupuncture...and it worked for about 8 months at a time.

Makes you think.
 
Yes, it does make you think.

I must have some ion attraction that most do not. My wife and I get into or out of the same car, wearing the same composition clothing (winter). I get jolted. She does not. I have to hold tightly on to a key and touch ..well, just about anything with it first. Then the spark occurs there.

When I worked making helix bi-metal thermometers I would sand he welded ends (narrow bench belt sander). I would produce a spark. Others did not.


Can't say that I've had issues with shopping carts.
 
The worst in my experience are computer rooms in winter with no humidification. The servers generate enough heat typically that the room requires AC year round, so nearly everything you touch can give you a shock sometimes.
 
By the way, if you know you're going to get a shock, hold a metal key in your hand and touch the object with the tip of the key. There's a door here at work that can only be opened with a key. I very frequently see sparks jump to the key, but I never feel them.

So it would seem that it's the spark that hurts, not the electricity.
 
Originally Posted By: moribundman
I have a static discharger fob on my keychain. I use it frequently and it always works.


Of course. Any good operative has one.
 
Another suggestion, if you don't want to point a key at everything, if you touch an object first with your knuckles you won't feel it as much. Fingertips are much more sensitive.
 
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: moribundman
I have a static discharger fob on my keychain. I use it frequently and it always works.


Of course. Any good operative has one.


I'm just a tailor. You'd be surprised at the things you can learn when you're doing alterations.
 
I've used a shocking cart at the grocery store and it does deliver quite a good charge. I have to remember to keep one hand on the frame at all times, when shopping in winter.
 
I've never been zapped by a shopping cart, but only by door handles and by my better half (Not only do we have chemistry, but we also have electricity). I enjoy zapping Captain Kirk when the air is dry in the winter. He then leaps 15 feet easily.
 
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: moribundman
I have a static discharger fob on my keychain. I use it frequently and it always works.


Of course. Any good operative has one.


I'm just a tailor. You'd be surprised at the things you can learn when you're doing alterations.

I'd like to see you in the war room immediately. Bring your tailor's kit.

I'd like to be fitted for a new suit. Now, right now.
 
Originally Posted By: Aldaris
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: moribundman
I have a static discharger fob on my keychain. I use it frequently and it always works.


Of course. Any good operative has one.


I'm just a tailor. You'd be surprised at the things you can learn when you're doing alterations.

I'd like to see you in the war room immediately. Bring your tailor's kit.

I'd like to be fitted for a new suit. Now, right now.


Another B5 fan I see....
thumbsup2.gif
 
Last edited:
I got zapped a few times by the shopping cart, almost dropped what I was holding too. I think the static buildup appears to happen more during the winter time. It happens when you least expect it. Wearing fleece seems to have quite a lot of buildup, when taking off a shirt, you can hear that static sound. Static guard spray seems to do a good job when sprayed on clothes.

Before I fill the gas tank I touch the car door to discharge the static first and don't get back into the car.

Speaking of static buildup, I remember when one of my relatives got brand new carpeting I was getting zapped on everything metal I touched (faucet, door knob, etc...).
 
Originally Posted By: Oldmoparguy1
Originally Posted By: Aldaris
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: moribundman
I have a static discharger fob on my keychain. I use it frequently and it always works.


Of course. Any good operative has one.


I'm just a tailor. You'd be surprised at the things you can learn when you're doing alterations.

I'd like to see you in the war room immediately. Bring your tailor's kit.

I'd like to be fitted for a new suit. Now, right now.


Another B5 fan I see....
thumbsup2.gif


I think that's more Deep Space 9.
 
The good Elim Garak....

Anywho..... Yeah, I get the same thing but oddly only at SuperTarget and only when wearing flip flops....
 
Originally Posted By: Oldmoparguy1
Originally Posted By: Aldaris
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: moribundman
I have a static discharger fob on my keychain. I use it frequently and it always works.


Of course. Any good operative has one.


I'm just a tailor. You'd be surprised at the things you can learn when you're doing alterations.

I'd like to see you in the war room immediately. Bring your tailor's kit.

I'd like to be fitted for a new suit. Now, right now.


Another B5 fan I see....
thumbsup2.gif



DS9 ..Elim Garak the tailor. They wrote very well for his part. A delightfully fiendish character. He was my type of corrupt. Judicious administration of truth and deception.

..but Bab 5 had two of the best characters in scifi history. Londo and G'Kar.
 
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