Static proof camera

[mesmerred]

I carry a lot of static and daily get static shocks, usually off my car, but also off other people, the cat etc. I tend to "kill" technology and so far I have zapped two digital cameras and a Blackberry, and cleared the screen on a palm held pc. The first 3 were rendered useless, but the pc survived. It's getting expensive. I would like to have another digital camera, but don't know which type would be safe from me. I wondered if there is a sports camera which has a rubber cover and would that be ok for me to use. Ideally I would like one with a viewfinder and not too expensive or big. Can anyone advise please?

[rojash]

Probably a lot cheaper to buy some leather-soled shoes and cotton socks!

[Hymie]

I agree with Rojash � I used to suffer static shocks from my car, particularly in low humidity conditions. The static is build up on your body as a result of getting out of the car seat, you then received a shock when you touch a conductive part of the car (or some other large conductive item).
The solution to this is to ensure you have hold of a conductive (metal) part of the car while getting out. This results in any charge being discharged as it is being generated.

[mesmerred]

Thanks for the answers and you do explain some of it. But I also get shocks getting into the car and indoors when I haven't been near the car. I know carpets can cause it, but the result has been I have given someone a shock when I have touched them on the shoulder. Is there a way I can tell that's going to happen? The cotton socks wouldn't be a problem, but leather soled shoes? I wear trainers a lot - don't only really expensive shoes have leather soles?

[Hymie]

All your static shocks have their charge generated by friction between two insulating materials (eg your clothes & car seat, shoe soles & carpet etc). Wintertime tends to be bad time for shocks due to the low air humidity levels, (air at or below 0C has zero humidity). When the humidity is high, the moisture provides enough of a conductive path to significantly reduce any static build up.

Shoes are available fitted with soles which prevent static build up (the sole material is partially conductive) � commonly used in the electronics industry to stop static destroying electronic parts handled by staff. It is possible to fit heal straps to normal shoes which have the same function � but this will make your Nikes look very un-cool.

When touching someone results in both receiving a shock, this is due to one person being charged � when they touch, the charge is �shared� between the two bodies, or the non-charged person being earthed, providing a discharge path. Becoming charged (as normally occurs), is not what causes a static shock � it is the sudden discharge which causes the shock.

There is no easy way of determining whether you have sufficient charge on your body to cause a shock.

[mesmerred]

Thanks Hymie, for the very full answer. Does this happen to some people more than others? A friend worked in IT and never had any problems or took any precautions against static.

[figure]

A good idea is to also keep track of the warranty expiration date, and purchase extended warranty just before the original warranty expires. This way you will be covered for exchange or repairs.

[mesmerred]

Yes, good point.

[Velvetee]

I have exactly the same problem, I've become very nervous around metalic objects, as I'm getting shocks all the time.

I have to avoid touching my hair too, as that guarantees a shock if I then touch metal. This problem is very annoying for me, as I work in a gym and have to go around picking metal weights up.