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Electric shock when landing a jump

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Created by stuntnaz > 9 months ago, 20 Mar 2015
stuntnaz
NSW, 540 posts
20 Mar 2015 8:43PM
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The last two session I have been getting
electric shocks when I land a jump and the
Higher I go the bigger the shock when
I land .
I kite with a mate all the time and the
Last two session he has had one shock
Were I'm getting quite a few .
The conditions have been 25 to 30 knots south cloudy low dark
Cloud and fronts with some rain and no lighting around at all. I have noticed
It happens when the fronts get closer to
Were we kite .
Just don't under stand why I would be getting
More shocks than my mate when were kiting at
The same place and time . I do have plates and screws in my foot not sure if that has anything to do with it .
Can anyone explain ???

loftsofwind
QLD, 226 posts
20 Mar 2015 7:53PM
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Yea its cause of the storm, This is usually normal when theres lightning around whilst your kiting. Idk the science behind it

mofo
QLD, 91 posts
20 Mar 2015 7:53PM
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Static electricity builds up thru your lines when you jump.you get charged up and when you land you earth out thru the water which is at the same potential as ground, same as when you drag you feet on the carpet then zap someone else when you touch them .

stuntnaz
NSW, 540 posts
20 Mar 2015 9:11PM
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Thanks guys but why one person more
Than the other in the same spot .
It gets that annoying last session I switched
To my surf board to stay on the water .

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
20 Mar 2015 10:01PM
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Select to expand quote
stuntnaz said...
The last two session I have been getting
electric shocks when I land a jump and the
Higher I go the bigger the shock when
I land .
I kite with a mate all the time and the
Last two session he has had one shock
Were I'm getting quite a few .
The conditions have been 25 to 30 knots south cloudy low dark
Cloud and fronts with some rain and no lighting around at all. I have noticed
It happens when the fronts get closer to
Were we kite .
Just don't under stand why I would be getting
More shocks than my mate when were kiting at
The same place and time . I do have plates and screws in my foot not sure if that has anything to do with it .
Can anyone explain ???




Sounds like your more positive about life where your mates more negative and down to earth

Mark _australia
WA, 23454 posts
20 Mar 2015 10:46PM
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^^^ you've written some online dating profiles in your time by the sound of it.


RobT
WA, 28 posts
20 Mar 2015 11:49PM
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Sounds like you jump higher than your m8, simples, just jump lower than he does.

dusta
WA, 2940 posts
21 Mar 2015 12:15AM
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so who rang up science hour yesterday and spoke to Dr Karl about this huh ? :)

Just2807
180 posts
21 Mar 2015 1:21AM
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Well, as far as i can remember static electricity, it generates on the surface of any object (only surface). It gets "generated" by friction (doesn't matter what's the connection of friction, solid on solid, gas on solid, gas on liquid...). Effect is greater the more surface u have + depending on material characteristic.

How to fix it?

Ground objects have a conductor or semi conductor connected to the ground so any concentrated static is instantly "flushed" to the ground (or anything that is capable of conducting) by more conductive connection than your body.

My only guess is to tie a long polyester line from your bar, it should be long enough to always touch the water so charge "empties" itself true that line, not your body.

Since that is not an option, next thing is to isolate yourself by never touching the ground/water. Since that is even less possible, there is no solution.

Also, humidity actually "cuts off" the number of charged particles, effect is greater in dry environments. (u get shocked more easily on the water but smaller number of particles charge up). Factor is body friction too and body chemistry. Depends from person to person.

Your suit is probably polyester and this will sound silly, but 100% cotton wear wouldn't get any of the charge :D

So, i would really be interested in solution too :D Can't seem to find any solution at the moment other than insulating yourself with some kind of special bodysuit to prevent discharge going true you.

Different kite materials get different "holding charge" characteristics too.

stuntnaz
NSW, 540 posts
21 Mar 2015 8:47AM
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Interesting ! I feel most of the shock in my
Right foot were I have six screws and a plate.
I wonder if a small static line off the board would help , like 100mm or 200mm off one of
The Fin screws would work , the line would hit the water just before the board .

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
21 Mar 2015 8:06AM
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Select to expand quote
stuntnaz said...
Interesting ! I feel most of the shock in my
Right foot were I have six screws and a plate.
I wonder if a small static line off the board would help , like 100mm or 200mm off one of
The Fin screws would work , the line would hit the water just before the board .




Strange as you'd of thought the bone would of "fused"

stuntnaz
NSW, 540 posts
21 Mar 2015 12:02PM
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(Google) Titanium is not a good conductor of electricity. If the conductivity of copper is considered to be 100%, titanium would have a conductivity of 3.1%. From this it follows that titanium would not be used where good conductivity is a prime factor.
Don't think it has much to do with my screws and plate !

Just2807
180 posts
21 Mar 2015 10:08AM
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Titanium is maybe not so good as cooper, but is far more better than any other "non-metal". Try to wear cotton cloth around that foot, and cover it with regular "surf sock" or whatever u use in that situation.

Static has almost nothing to do with conductivity, doesn't matter, titanium, aluminum, cooper, sand, bird, tree.... Remember as a kid u got air balloon rubbing on your hair and it caused static charge? Well, that rubber is 100000 less conductive than titanium and has tone of static. It gathers on the surface, doesn't go true material. Also that big old fat catod tv-s, when u clean that small layer of dust charged with static, it is layered over glass (screen) and glass is terrible conductor.

It is possible that more charge is layered around part of the leg u got metal inside, so whole charge gets flushed in that area because most of the charge is collecting there on the surface of that "critical" area. Metals attract more static than other materials (very good charge holders).

(u have to discharge it before it comes to your leg if that is the main problem, if u get leg insulated, charge will have to go other way, if no other way, it will discharge sooner or stay away from insulated part and will "wait" till it gets connection somewhere else.)

Try to insulate that part of leg with some static resisting cloth/fabric/tape. Might be a solution.

Static gets discharged on places where is bigger concentration of charged particles, not at the point where friction is lowest (highest conductivity). Don't confuse it with electric current. 2 different things.

Plummet
4862 posts
21 Mar 2015 1:44PM
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Stop wearing ya missis lacy undies under ya wettie.

stuntnaz
NSW, 540 posts
21 Mar 2015 5:40PM
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Select to expand quote
Plummet said...
Stop wearing ya missis lacy undies under ya wettie.


Must be the kiwi in me lol !!

billykiter
WA, 303 posts
21 Mar 2015 10:49PM
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Select to expand quote
stuntnaz said...


Must be the kiwi in me lol !!


Ahhh that explains it then. Too much contact with sheep.

jms
NSW, 131 posts
22 Mar 2015 11:42AM
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There was a tiny bit of thunder and lightning in botany bay on Friday, and a guy on the beach got a shock when doing a small beach jump.

It was funny watching all us kiters book it back into shore when we heard the thunder!

Loftywinds
QLD, 2060 posts
24 Mar 2015 10:33AM
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Could it be related to the St Elmo's Fire phenomenon? Yachts experience it more often it seems.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Elmo%27s_fire

Jedibrad
NSW, 527 posts
24 Mar 2015 12:12PM
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i was practicing grab rail airs and my free arm was the firsts bit to touch the water… was much worse

fingerbone
NSW, 921 posts
24 Mar 2015 3:49PM
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Jump higher...you may go back to the future....

Loftywinds
QLD, 2060 posts
24 Mar 2015 5:01PM
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Select to expand quote
fingerbone said..
Jump higher...you may go back to the future....


That's if he came from the "future". If so, then why come into our time line unless kites in the future become so stupid and a pain to repair/maintain/use that everyone reminisces the "good ol days" of kiting?

TheSailingMoose
VIC, 142 posts
26 Mar 2015 7:22PM
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Select to expand quote
Just2807 said..

Since that is not an option, next thing is to isolate yourself by never touching the ground/water. Since that is even less possible, there is no solution.



He could take up paragliding? It's pretty much the same thing as kiting just without the board, he wouldn't have to touch the ground or the water and he could get some "fully sik" air time, win-win.

terminal
1421 posts
26 Mar 2015 6:10PM
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It means there is a potential for lightning. I've seen kiters in Spain getting shocks while the lightning was a few miles away.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2381677/How-know-youre-struck-lightning-Picture-brothers-hair-end-minutes-before.html

Puetz
NT, 2185 posts
3 Apr 2015 8:37AM
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... www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-02/man-survives-lightning-strike-on-darwin-beach/6366796

a few days ago and right where we kite too!


stuntnaz
NSW, 540 posts
3 Apr 2015 1:09PM
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Puetz said...
... www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-02/man-survives-lightning-strike-on-darwin-beach/6366796

a few days ago and right where we kite too!



Glad everyone is ok , hope the man recovers well . The lighting must travel through the ground a fare way , reminds me of that soccer game years ago when lighting struck the field and dropped all the players at the same time .
From now on if I get a shock while I'm kiting
I'm just going to get off the water and kite another day !!!

puppetonastring
WA, 3619 posts
5 Apr 2015 6:22PM
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Try a little leap off the beach & in storm charged conditions you will hear the crack.Thats the time to call it a day IMO. I saw the results of a lightning strike on one of my students at footy training one night.It aint nice.

RAL INN
SA, 2895 posts
6 Apr 2015 9:56AM
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This goes way back to when Kite surfing started.

As a topic that is.

Ahead of a storm that maybe already or is building to an electrical type, the air is being Ionised.
when you travel through the air, detached from the grounding water, you get ionised as well.
the shock is the charge releasing to the surface.

usually the wind ahead of these fronts(storms) is sweet as, so HTFU and enjoy the fun.



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"Electric shock when landing a jump" started by stuntnaz