Static Electricity Sucks

Toolfan66
Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
edited December 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
I went up to my system to hit the volume and static electricity shut my system down I about flipped out everything stayed powered on but no sound would come out. I shut everything off powered it back on and nothing, so I unplugged everything plugged it back in and all is good now. I hope I did'nt shorten the life of something.

I tested my ZeroStat on my hand and that works very well taking the static away.
Post edited by Toolfan66 on
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited December 2009
    I know what you mean...though I didn't short everything out...I once blew out the AM/FM tuner in a fair sized boombox by touching it...zap...poof...no more radio...rendered the tuner section useless. Thankfully it wasn't an expensive piece of equipment.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2009
    I have static problems too in the winter months. I've always used the Zerostat before touching the rig.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited December 2009
    I got a ground cable that I attach to myself, which helps quite a bit. The dry air of winter coupled with added layers of clothing and even slippers create an ideal environment for static.

    I notice DACs and Digital Amps are particularly affected by a sudden zap of static electricity. My old PS Audio DLIIII used to have to be unplugged from the wall before it would work again. PSA said this was normal circuit protection however and no cause for alarm.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited December 2009
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    I got a ground cable that I attach to myself, which helps quite a bit. The dry air of winter coupled with added layers of clothing and even slippers create an ideal environment for static.

    I notice DACs and Digital Amps are particularly affected by a sudden zap of static electricity. My old PS Audio DLIIII used to have to be unplugged from the wall before it would work again. PSA said this was normal circuit protection however and no cause for alarm.

    What/where do you have the ground cable connected to?
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited December 2009
    I killed a cordless phone ounce, just call your wife or daughter over and touch them first, lol
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  • Pycroft
    Pycroft Posts: 1,960
    edited December 2009
    Is there a cheap way to kill static electricity. I touched my amp today and sparks anywhere. Haven't tested it yet, but don't want to do it again. I am not buying an 80 dollar static gun...how about some home remedies?
    2 Channel/HT:
    Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
    Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
    Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
    Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
    TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
    Harman Kardon HK354
    Sony SACD Player
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2009
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    I killed a cordless phone ounce, just call your wife or daughter over and touch them first, lol

    I've done that to my dog.:o
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited December 2009
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    I've done that to my dog.:o

    Me too scared the hell out of her, this might help

    http://www.ehow.com/how_2054382_get-rid-static-electricity.html
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited December 2009
    Discharge yourself on something else on the way over to the stereo. Then have a smoke.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited December 2009
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    What/where do you have the ground cable connected to?

    Connecting it to my metal rack does the trick, or touching it before touching my equipment as George indicates usually works too.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited December 2009
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Connecting it to my metal rack does the trick, or touching it before touching my equipment as George indicates usually works too.

    The rack is what i touched when it shut down on me, It was a good ZAP.
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  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,243
    edited December 2009
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    I've done that to my dog.:o

    You know that ZAP has to be really sensitive on a dog's wet nose!

    Wes
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

    Sony 75" Bravia 4K | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Rotel Michi P5 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
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  • TouchOfEvil
    TouchOfEvil Posts: 967
    edited December 2009
    i hate getting shocked.:mad:
    Living Room Rig:D
    Rotel RSP-1069/Rotel RMB-1095/Rotel-1072/Polk lsI15's W/modded xoverW/DBsubs/Polk LsiC/lsI7's/Klipsch sub-12"the weak link"/DLP Mitsubishi 65"
    Xbox360/PS3/WII
    M.Br. setup:)
    Emotiva MMC-1/Rotel RMB-1075/Polk BlackStone TL350's/Velodyne SPL1000/Samsung 51" Plasma
    Computer Rig:
    Rotel RB1050/Tannoy DC4's/Klipsch RW-10d/ImodIpod/HK AVR230 for now....
    Headphones-Ultrasone-HFI780's w/LittleDot MK Vamp Portables Panasonic HJE-900's
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited December 2009
    George Grand wrote: »
    Discharge yourself on something else on the way over to the stereo. Then have a smoke.

    Yeah, but what does that have to do with static electricity?:D:D

    p.s., make sure it's NOT the curtains.......


    I keed, I keed.....
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  • CoolJazz
    CoolJazz Posts: 570
    edited December 2009
    The home remedy is moisture. Add moisture to raise the humidity back. A humidifier in the general vicinity of the stereo system will help. A manual method that may help is to just simply use a misting spray bottle and shoot a lot of moisture into the area...though your hand will wear out before you effect it much.
    This problem is the reason for isolated ground systems that businesses and medical use. Instead of three wires to an outlet, you have four. Normal ground to the electrical box..even via metal conduit instead of wire etc like normal. But the AC 3rd pin for grounding is run seperately all the way back to the common ground and is not allowed to touch the other ground until that common point. This is normally signified by the orange outlets. When you have a large UPS'ed system, those orange outlets are also present and the grounding should also be isolated in that case. The idea being that the equipment ground is kept isolated from electrical ground and provide a seperate path for those high voltage discharges.

    CoolJazz
    A so called science type proudly says... "I do realize that I would fool myself all the time, about listening conclusions and many other observations, if I did listen before buying. That’s why I don’t, I bought all of my current gear based on technical parameters alone, such as specs and measurements."

    More amazing Internet Science Pink Panther wisdom..."My DAC has since been upgraded from Mark Levinson to Topping."
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited December 2009
    George Grand wrote: »
    Discharge yourself on something else on the way over to the stereo. Then have a smoke.

    Yup, I always just touch one of my metal kitchen stools & shock myself before I go near my gear. But then again everything I have with the exception of my cd player & mp3 player can be controlled by remotes, so there is very little reason to have to touch my system. Actually my cd player only has to be turned on manually the rest of the functions are remote controlled.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited December 2009
    I just ask my wife to do me a favor & turn my stuff on...just kidding!!! I never had that problem, maybe I'm static proof.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited December 2009
    There happens to be an outside corner to a wall next to my system. I just touch that and shock myself before I touch the system. Otherwise the TT tone arm would end up across the room.

    One way to take care of this problem painlessly is to run a wire from the ground to a 1 meg ohm resistor. From the other side of the resistor run a wire to an isolated metal plate. Just touch the plate for a second and all that static will drain away without such a shock.

    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2009
    madmax wrote: »
    There happens to be an outside corner to a wall next to my system. I just touch that and shock myself before I touch the system. Otherwise the TT tone arm would end up across the room.

    One way to take care of this problem painlessly is to run a wire from the ground to a 1 meg ohm resistor. From the other side of the resistor run a wire to an isolated metal plate. Just touch the plate for a second and all that static will drain away without such a shock.

    madmax

    Chuck my friend, you are a geek!:D

    BTW I've had the mishap with the tonearm a couple of times. Scared the **** out of me.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited December 2009
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Chuck my friend, you are a geek!:D

    BTW I've had the mishap with the tonearm a couple of times. Scared the **** out of me.

    I jump really bad when I get shocked. I can see that arm and cart turn to worthless garbage with one touch. This is one of 10,000 reasons why no one but me touches my setup. Can you imagine the mayhem that would occur when some non-suspecting person finds out how much he just destroyed? :D

    "Its not like I totalled your car!"
    "Yes, it is..."
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2009
    madmax wrote: »
    I jump really bad when I get shocked. I can see that arm and cart turn to worthless garbage with one touch. This is one of 10,000 reasons why no one but me touches my setup. Can you imagine the mayhem that would occur when some non-suspecting person finds out how much he just destroyed? :D

    "Its not like I totalled your car!"
    "Yes, it is..."

    Yep I know what you mean. I have a sign on mine that says, "Death to all who enter here!":D
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  • del44
    del44 Posts: 686
    edited December 2009
    Plenty of humidity at my house. I actually bought a dehumidifier. I've got one of those thermometer/moisture meters. Before buying the dehumidifier I was getting a reading of 67%. From what I've read, that is too high. Now It's around 50%. Probably still a little high though. I installed new windows and doors this summer. My house might be a little too air tight. Anyone else have a moisture guage? Whats your reading? Just curious.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2009
    Static discharge to your closest family member is the most fun way to take care of the problem!
    Jake
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