Its a typical winter day in Michigan. There's a thin layer of snow outside, the temp is hoovering around freezing. We're gonna letter a van (outside) in a few minutes. First we got to cut one more element in vinyl (who paints? hehe) Heres a situation that has plagued me for over 14 years.... I go to load the vinyl in the plotter and as I touch the control panel POW! I get zapped with a huge static electric discharge. O.K. it didn't kill anyone...but it cant be good for the equipment. Has anyone got the solution to "gently" discharge this static before touching a piece of equipment? HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Sounds like it isn't properly grounded!
Posted by Steve Purcell (Member # 1140) on :
Do you have a carpeted floor?
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
properly grounded.. carpeted floor.. dry hands, not sweaty.. enough humidity in the air... all pluses.
Posted by dispatch (Member # 1053) on :
Touch something ELSE that is grounded, before you touch the electronic equipment! A lamp or not so sensitive device maybe. You could always run a ground wire from a nearby outlet or other ground to the table so you have a place to discharge yourself first. If the machine is properly grounded, it is usualy safe, that is where the electricity is going when you get zapped, but it does pay to be safe ( those main boards ar expensive!)
Posted by Tony Lucero (Member # 1470) on :
THE METAL PLOTTER STAND SITS ON A CARPETED FLOOR. THE PLOTTER HAS RUBBER FEET THAT SIT INTO THE HOLES IN THE STAND BASE. THE POWER CORD HAS A THREE PRONG PLUG THAT GOES INTO THE WALL SOCKET, WHICH IS USING THE METAL CONDUIT AS A GROUND BACK TO THE BREAKER BOX. SHOULD WE RUN A WIRE FROM THE PLOTTER SHROUD TO A KNOWN GROUND POINT...LIKE THE OUTLET CONDUIT?
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Tony,
We grounded thr chassis of our cutter and the stand it sits on to the earth ground on the outlet that provides the power.
Doing this has practically eliminated the build up of static electricity that occurs during the cutting of vinyl with it zipping back and forth and what-not. I also try to remember to touch the stand before I touch the cutter. I honestly can't remember the last time I suffered any major shock.
A major discharge of static electricity can blow out a board or one of the many little, itty, bitty tiny capacitors and resistors. Boards aren't cheap. Neither is the down time you will suffer because of a cutter loss. a piece of wire will ground it all. Well worth the effort.
Have a great one!
Posted by Steve Nuttle (Member # 2645) on :
UFO's??? Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
I would clean a spot on the casing, or stand, down to bare metal and attach ground wire with sheet metal screw. Ideally that wire can be attached to a grounding rod driven into the ground. Or it can go under the floor to a water pipe.That gives the machine a dedicated ground independent of the wiring, which I think is better. That should discharge all static to ground, eliminating the problem.
Well I guess that'll work...it won't stop You from being charged though...do door knobs give you trouble too?? Posted by Laura Butler (Member # 1830) on :
Try licking your fingers or put a coffee can with water in it, in the same room to put some moisture back in the air. We do this in our basement when the wood stove is going (which is every night in the winter here in Michigan.
Posted by Inga Smukal (Member # 3370) on :
Sounds like you might need a electrician? Know any good ones?
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Tony,
Don't feel alone! Mine does that all the time too! I think it's my electrifying personality!
I don't know a solution but wanted you to know you're not alone.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
You might find it hard to believe but a static spark can discharge several thousand volts. You need to consult an electrician about this but I can't see why it would hurt to ground the stand to the ground on an outlet.
My plotter was zapping me when it was on the ceramic tile floor in the next room. This room has a bare concrete floor and so far I haven't noticed any static at all.
Also, when filling your gas can at the self service pump, set that bad boy on the ground before filling it. One spark and you could go up in flames. Happened to a guy just the other day. He got burned pretty bad.
Posted by John Smith (Member # 1308) on :
Tony, a few years ago I worked with Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) components. I had to be certified to work with electronics packaging. We had an area that was only used for electro static free packing and handling. Now, here is the problem you have. Bottom line is.... YOU are the problem.... not your plotter. As you stated, the equipment is properly grounded. YOU are not. The only way to get around this is strap a copper wire around your ankle and screw it tightly to the same grounded outlet your plotter is grounded to. Other than that, do as others do, touch something prior to touching your plotter to discharge the static out of your body. But, this is not something that is on your mind all the time. Just make you a big note that says DISCHARGE STATIC PRIOR TOUCHING PLOTTER. Winter time is the worse for ESD buildup. Just my dos centavos here
Posted by Ernie&DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
John is right, shuffling around on a carpet wearing synthetic fabric and rubber soles is a great way to generate static electricity.
You can increase the humidity or use an anti-static ion source to discharge any static that wants to build up. It won't hurt to wear natural fiber clothes or possibly try those anti-static fabric softeners or dryer towels.
When the static in our shop is so bad that pouring paint wants to fly around and land in undesireable places, we turn on the anti-static ion source designed for electronic assembly. The problem is instantly solved, it also comes in handy when we are upgrading computer components.
ernie
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
And, don't forget the most important thing....
DON'T PET THE KITTY BEFORE YOU REACH FOR THE PLOTTER.
Posted by Tony Potter (Member # 1199) on :
This sort of applies to the exploding gas tanks at pumps as well...
Static builds up, most times when people start pumping gas and getting back into the car till done. and when they get out and do not discharge the static... grab the handle and static discharges to the tank/pumpnozzle connect and it ignites the gas fumes.... pow.... bad news...
So smack the car/lamp/fridge/whatever and get it over with...
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