Every year, the energy content of cars is increasing more and more. All kinds of electronic aides, various devices that increase the comfort of movement (radar detectors, remote fans, video recorders) are penetrating deeper into the life of the average motorist. As a result, there is an overload of automobile wiring with its natural aging. But not only faulty wiring leads to the fact that the car is electrocuted. In this article we will try to analyze the main reasons why the car is electrocuted.
Why the car electrocutes: reasons
As you know, in the onboard network of most modern cars voltage is about 12 V, which is due to considerations of safety requirements. If the car electrocutes, it leads only to unpleasant, slightly painful sensations in a person, but not to serious injuries or death. When in use, a car electrocutes most often not because of the on-board system, but because of the buildup of static electricity.
If a car is electrocuting, there may be several causes:
Accumulation of static charge during driving
Since school physics lessons, many people remember the experience with an ebonite stick, which was enough to rub with wool to form an electric charge. In the case of a car, the “stick” is the body itself, and the “wool” is air streams saturated with mechanical particles and dust. The better the weather, the higher the air temperature, the stronger and more often the car body is electrocuted, if there is fog outside, the humidity level has risen to 85 and more percent, or it rains, the problem is not relevant. Practice shows that the phenomenon is sometimes observed in a situation where the vehicle is simply standing in a parking lot. Its cause in such a case is a strong wind, whose streams create an electrostatic charge.
Accumulation of static charge due to friction created by the driver and passengers in the cabin
The process can be compared to the removal of clothes made of synthetic material. It is quite common to hear clicks when removing a synthetic t-shirt or sweatshirt. These clicks are sparks, the same can occur in the car interior, especially if the seat covers are made of polyester, wool, acrylic.
Damage to on-board wiring, equipment
This is the most serious reason why the car electrocutes. It is sometimes dangerous to use such equipment. The essence of the problem is that the damaged bare wire begins to contact the body metal, there is a breakdown, so that touching will lead to a sensitive shock. Yes, the voltage in the on-board network is only 12 volts, but this is not very pleasant.
The main dangers from electrostatic charge shock
It would seem that if the car is electrocuted when going out, there can be no serious consequences. Yes, it is not too pleasant, but there is no real danger. That’s a misconception. Sometimes one small spark is enough for extremely serious negative consequences:
- Ignition of gasoline vapors. Every driver is well aware of the warning signs at gas stations, according to which it is necessary to muffle the engine, exclude smoking in the immediate vicinity of the columns. No wonder, because the air is so saturated with fuel vapors that one tiny coal, weakest spark is enough sometimes for fire or volumetric detonation. It is frightening to imagine what will happen if a spark passes near the neck of the gas tank during refueling.
- Involuntary muscle contractions. The body’s natural reaction to an electric shock is a contraction of the musculature, which leads to a sudden movement, a jerk of the arm, a rebound. If the car is electrocuted, it causes a lot of problems both when boarding and while driving. The simplest example – in the hands of a large box, because of which you literally have to open the doors or trunk with your fingers. A sudden spark – a sudden involuntary movement – a box with expensive goods flies to the ground. Unpleasant! Even more serious are the consequences if the car automatic electrocutes during the trip, when trying to change gears. Accidentally, you can activate the neutral or reverse gear, create an emergency situation. This is also relevant for autos on mechanics.
- Damage to onboard electronic equipment. Yes, the scheme provides for the presence of protective relays, however, sometimes even they can not protect the electronics from voltage surges caused by static charges, it is extremely sensitive and vulnerable to them, and repair is difficult and expensive.
If the car is electrocuting, then the cause, or rather the source of static electricity accumulation should be sought immediately. If you use synthetic seat covers, wear clothes made of synthetics, it becomes obvious why when leaving the car electrocutes. The simple physics of the process, studied in the elementary grades of high school with an ebonite stick. Many people have noticed that this effect is less common in cars with leather seat upholstery.
It is the synthetic clothing that, when in contact with upholstery having a similar material composition, is the one that is electrocuted by the car when exiting. The two items in question are both dielectrics, and when they come into contact, there is a very natural redistribution of charges. As a result, a charge of static electricity is formed. At the moment when the driver gets up from the seat, the dielectrics are separated, and when further touching the metal body of the machine, the energy is transferred with a characteristic well-heard click.
What to do if the car is electrocuting?
Why does the car electrocute – it is clear, however, what means and techniques will help in eliminating the problem? Specific ways of fighting depend on where exactly it is most pronounced – outside or inside the cabin. Both options must be dealt with in detail, as already noted, the unpleasantness is very serious and it is impossible to ignore it, to let it go on its own.
Instructions: what to do if the car body is electrocuted?
So, the machine is electrocuted, how to eliminate? You can use the following:
- Grounding strips. On gasoline trucks and other equipment used for transportation of flammable, flammable liquids, cargo of high hazard classes, they are used in a mandatory manner. However, drivers of ordinary passenger cars, tired of constant electric shocks when landing, can also buy them. The accessory is a clamp on which a rubber strip with a wire inside is fixed. The clamp allows you to fix it on the bottom or, for example, on the exhaust pipe, and the strip becomes a conductor of static charge into the ground. Nothing complicated, but you can forget about the fact that the car is electrocuted! An alternative to the strip is a chain, working on exactly the same principle, but more durable, strong thick metal is erased in contact with the roadway much less readily than rubber.
- Special tires. Some premium cars are equipped with them on the factory assembly line. The main difference from ordinary rubber is the presence of a grounding strip that works in the same way as the accessory described above. Nothing additional hanging on the body will not have to be done, which will preserve the attractiveness of the exterior, and all issues related to safety and convenience will be solved.
- Appeal to the service center. If it is unclear why the electric shock from the car when leaving, the shocks are extremely palpable, and the use of additional protective accessories does not help, you should visit the workshop, there is a high probability of a serious problem, damage to internal power components. It is not worth delaying a visit to specialists.
- Observance of special rules while leaving the salon. This option is for those who are not too concerned about why when leaving the car is electrocuted, who do not want to buy additional protective equipment and visit the service. Immediately it should be said that this option is not the best, because it does not solve the problem of static charge, but simply allows you to “not cross” with it. The secret is that even before leaving, you need to touch the metal part of the body and release it only after both feet are on the ground. Yes, uncomfortable. Yes, unaccustomed. But it works! A slightly simpler method is to remove static charge from the metal without direct interaction. For example, before leaving, you can touch the body with a key or a special antistatic key fob.
- Tightening the minus terminal of the battery. Everything can be so simple! It is worth looking under the hood, if the contact is weakened, it is necessary to restore the original density and strength.
If the car body is electrocuted, the main remedy is a quality grounding of metal parts with the earth.
For this purpose, special rubber strips with a metal rod inside are available on sale, which should be attached to the body. The main place of connection is the rear part of the car (suspension elements, rear bumper reinforcement). To reduce resistance, the place of contact between the tape and the metal element should be cleaned well. Additionally, when leaving, you can be advised not to touch metal parts, using only plastic door handles. If you comply with these requirements, you can completely forget about electric shocks.
Instructions: what to do if I get an electric shock inside the car?
It is not always the car that electrocutes when it goes out. The malfunction sometimes manifests itself in perceptible shocks right in the cabin! In this case, first of all, you need to look at what material the seat covers are made of. Woolen, synthetic products tend to accumulate electric charge, it is worth replacing them with leather, not necessarily natural, eco-leather or cotton will do. A similar problem occurs if the driver himself prefers to wear clothes made of these materials, which are in the “high-risk” group.
If there is no desire to change your favorite outfits and covers, then it is necessary, at least, to treat them with an antistatic spray. It is sold now almost in any supermarket, is inexpensive, and treatment is enough for 3-4 weeks. In addition to the above treatment can be carried out and dry cleaning of the interior, the less dust – the lower the risk of static electricity.
As in the situation with the body, however, if there is no positive result after performing the above actions, you should visit the workshop as soon as possible. It is highly probable that there is a serious problem with the vehicle’s wiring.