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Log InI built a swing set for my Grandkids with a plastic…
Mar
23
2009
I built a swing set for my Grandkids with a plastic tube slide on it. When they go down the slide they are getting shocked from the static. Anyone know how to fix this problem?
Answer #2
Have you tried washing the slide with downy fabric rinse or rubbing the surface down with a dryer sheet?
Answer #3
Try earthing the plastic part of the slide. A short piece of earthing cable would do attached to a length of 15mm copper pipe driven into the ground. As long a piece as you can manage. Also avoid dressing the children in man made fibres such as Polyester or nylon like materials, cotton is the best. Tony
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Answer #1
Hi Ofdog, welcome to Community Knowledge :)
I had the same issue with static electricity on plastic slides at the park giving my daughter a shock. When the weather was dry and cool, the static electricity was awful and it got to the point that she was afraid to slide.
We went to a science education show about electricity, and I asked the presenter about this. He suggested rubbing the slide down with those dryer sheets you get for eliminating static electricity on clothes. Something about doing that would line up all the negative/positive ions, I think… I didn’t follow all the details. He also suggested the kids slide down on them.
We haven’t tried it, didn’t seem to be as much of a problem this winter as it was last winter. But if you get a chance to try it, stop back by here and let everyone know if it works!
I wonder if there’s a market for extra large dryer sheets made for sliding down on?
When the weather is humid it shouldn’t be much of an issue.