From: me@somewhere.net   
      
   On 01/03/18 14:50, default wrote:   
   > On Tue, 27 Feb 2018 13:25:08 -0800 (PST), "malua mada!"   
   >  wrote:   
   >   
   >> I need to bleed static out of a moving aluminum structure. I have a springy   
   aluminum tongue (flashing) wiping on an aluminum arm (flat stock 1").   
   >> Continuity is good to start with but after a year or so fails. Wiping   
   pressure is still fine, and continuity between any two points on either tongue   
   *or* arm is fine but not between the two pieces.   
   >> I thought this was an improvement on a copper wire connection that would   
   fatigue and break.   
   >> I also thought it would be self cleaning.   
   >> Thanks for any insights   
   >   
   > Way back in the ancient past almost all cars had grounding straps. The   
   > tires were insulators, and the friction of autos moving through air   
   > would cause static charges to build on the surface of the auto. (at   
   > least that was the theory) The first passenger to step out of the   
   > vehicle would be the one to discharge the static, and get shocked.   
   >   
   > I seem to remember that you could get a pretty painful shock just   
   > touching cars that were parked occasionally.   
   >   
   > I seldom see a grounding strap so I assume they put some compound in   
   > the rubber of the tire to bleed off static?  I notice on my wife's old   
   > Toyota I'd get shocked (only on dry days) when I touched the outside   
   > of the car, but that may have been from sliding on the seat when   
   > getting out.   
   >   
      
   I *always* go out of my car with my hand touching the metal first and   
   then putting foot on the ground.   
      
   Pere   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)