static charge in dust collector

Anybody have any suggestions for ways to quickly remove the charge built up in a DC system? I have a PVC system that is not grounded (It was initially, but the grounding wires were causing problems, not allowing material to pass through, so I ripped it out). I'm now getting shocks when I touch the blast gates. Can I just hook up a temporary ground to uncharge the system, or something???

Reply to
Doug
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Couple of options.

  1. Use a stick to open/close the blast gates
  2. Have your kids open/close the blast gates
  3. Run a wire from the PVC to ground
  4. Have your MIL open/close the blat gates

At work we convey thousands of pounds of plastic material a day through PVC. We run wires from it to ground and have no problems. While Option 4 may be the most satisfying, #3 should work as well.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

#4 sounds best to me.

Reply to
Ray

Hook wires to outside of ducting.

Touch with the end of a screwdriver blade that you are hold>Anybody have any suggestions for ways to quickly remove the charge

Reply to
Jim Behning

That's the problem with PVC. It is great because the cost is low and the inside is smooth and allows laminar flow. If your PVC is 6" you may be able to apply metal sticky tape to the inside and use a small bolt on the ends to attach a ground. I have been thinking about this problem and considering 4" PVC. Is there a conductive paint that can be applied to the inside of a PVC pipe? (Wrapping the outside with a ground wire has little effect.)

Reply to
Phisherman

Has anybody tried an laundry anti-static sprays such as "Static Guard" applied to the outside of the PVC pipe?

-- Jack Novak Buffalo, NY - USA (Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)

Reply to
Nova

Are the blast gates metal? If they are why not just ground the gate themselves? If they aren't...well, hard for me to suggest replacing them (although very inexpensive for me to do anyway -- not my money, right?).

;)

Mike

[snip]

Reply to
Mike in Idaho

  1. Run a humidifier. This is the option many electronic shops sue to control static.

Barry

Reply to
B a r r y

A higher moisture content will control static. Where I worked with computers we used to mist our clothes with water to stop static charges. A little fabric softener can be added to the water. However, in the wood shop, low humidity keeps the tools free from rust. Grounding metal blast gates will help, at least some.

Reply to
Phisherman

I humidify to get up to 25-30% this time of year. My tools don't rust at that level. Please don't confuse adding a bit of humidity during cold, dry seasons, with humid conditions.

Barry

Reply to
B a r r y

Wrapping the outside has no effect. PVC is an insulator. In fact, if you put conductive paint on the inside and wrap the outside, you have a nice long tubular capacitor!

Grant

Phisherman wrote:

Reply to
Grant P. Beagles

wrapping the outside DOES take care of the problem. I was having the same prob. and I wrapped the entire system with thin copper wire and ran it to ground. Problem solved. No static shocks anywhere on the ducting or the blast gates.

jack

Reply to
Jack Gray

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