BMW Advantage Vest/Shocking

[fuel007one]

Wore t shirt, sweatshirt, vest, then jacket and noticed that this thing was shocking due what I think was static but it was hugely noticeable. Once the thing was on me no problem until I tried to take it off then it started back up.

Anyone have any experience with these or been shocked? Wondering if simply applying some anti static spray will eliminate it.

Thanks

[meese]

Never had that trouble with mine.

[messenger13]

Nope...no problem here. Sounds to me like a short, or something. Not just static.

[fuel007one]

Thanks everybody. What is strange is that the shocking/static occurs before I plug it in which must be static no? The sweatshirt/tshirt underneath had a ton of static and just wondering whether or not the liner has conducting wiring in it (seems hard not to right? heat?). Bot it on Ebay from a dealer so just trying to find out what to do. Will try the anti-static spray on the underclothing and see what happens.

Thanks again one and all.

[messenger13]

By the way...you really don't want to wear a sweatshirt UNDER a heated vest. You're insulating the heat away from you, which is counter-productive. I wear a long-sleeved T-shirt under mine. Food for thought.

[BEhrler]

I would doubt very much that you would feel 12 volts.

[messenger13]

I would doubt very much that you would feel 12 volts.That vest is about 4 amps @ 12 volts (actually more like 14). I DOUBLE DOGG DARE YOU to hold the positive and ground leads of a 4-amp/12V circuit. I'm betting you'd more than just feel it. (How much money you got?)

[BEhrler]

I'll go you one twenty times more. I'll grab a positive and negative pole of an 80 amp battery anytime. In fact try sticking your finger in your cigarette lighter in your car. Feel anything? Bet you didn't. You name the $$$$'s

[dshealey]

That vest is about 4 amps @ 12 volts (actually more like 14). I DOUBLE DOGG DARE YOU to hold the positive and ground leads of a 4-amp/12V circuit. I'm betting you'd more than just feel it. (How much money you got?)

How much money are you willing to lose Joe? 12 volts will not shock you at all. You won't be able to feel it unless you stick one lead on your tongue, or maybe some even more sensitive area. :D

I will hold any 12 volt leads you can find, AC or DC.

Go stick you fingers on the battery terminals, car or motorcycle. You will feel exactly NOTHING.

You lose!

[messenger13]

I will hold any 12 volt leads you can find, AC or DC.So you would hold the leads to a 12 volt / 600 amp circuit? Really?

I guess I learned something today...

[dshealey]

So you would hold the leads to a 12 volt / 600 amp circuit? Really?

I guess I learned something today...

Absolutely. You are making the same mistake most people with minimal electrical training do. Your battery is capable of hundreds of amps if the load resistance is low enough.

The source of an electrical current can only control the voltage, not the current. The resistance of the LOAD is what determines the current (amps).

The source will supply whatever voltage it is, but may be CAPABLE of thousands of amps, depending on the load resistance. So in this case, you may have a 12 volt 600 amp capable service, but the circuit amperage is determined by whatever is hooked to it. Look at it this way: Your battery is capable of a couple hundred amps easy on a short circuit, but it powers the instrument light bulbs which only "draw" a few milliamps. The starter on the other hand will draw probably 40-80 amps depending on the starting load and speed.

The formula is volts/resistance=amps. If you measure your body resistance from one hand to the other you will typically get something between 100,000-1,000,000 ohms resistance, usually over 200,000 ohms. So with a 12 volt supply the current would be 12 microamps (0.000012 amps) at the lowest resistance. At 100,000 ohms to get just one amp flow would require a voltage of 100,000 volts. (Volts=amps X restance)

Actually, you have to get up usually well over 50 volts to be able to feel it. Grab the leads of your heating system thermostat supply, which is 24 Volts AC, which has peak to peak voltage of around 34 volts. You won't feel it.

[messenger13]

Wow! (Mind officially blown!) Thanks for taking the time David...makes perfect sense . . . NOW. http://70.84.70.244:8080/default/images/smilies/awcrap.gif

[BEhrler]

Now back to the original post. Were you wearing a cotton shirt under a polyester sweatshirt? If so that may have been the source of the static. I've always had trouble with polyester clothes and static.

[BEhrler]

Joe
A check will be fine. :)

[meese]

Yeah, those engineers are good for some things now and again. :D

Think of voltage as potential energy, as in how tall is the waterfall? Then current would be how much water is flowing over the waterfall. So a 100' waterfall with a trickle of water does very little "work", but a 10' waterfall with a rush of water can do a lot of work.

Your recent alternator upgrade didn't change the voltage available on your Ninja, but gave you more wattage, which at a (relatively) fixed voltage means more current to run more accessories.

We use power supplies in semiconductor machines that put out 5,000 volts DC, but miniscule current (microamps). That creates a static charge that holds the wafer in place during processing, but has a small enough energy output that it doesn't affect the process, or destroy the circuits that are being created. We also use RF generators that output a hundred volts or so @ 13.56 MHz AC, but at up to 3,000 watts. Those are scary dangerous, and actually have to be water cooled while running. You can bet they are handled with the appropriate cautions.

I don't think I'd want to lick either one though, or your new alternator for that matter. :)

[fuel007one]

Appreciate all this info and knowledge. I was wearing cotton tshirt and 50/50 cotton/polyester sweatshirt. would love to find the "purfect" long sleeve shirt/fabric to wear with this in temp ranges of 30-60 f.....

[messenger13]

...would love to find the "purfect" long sleeve shirt/fabric to wear with this in temp ranges of 30-60 f.....I wear a product called Skinny's, by Schampa. Forum member tmgs sells the stuff on his website (http://www.bikershut.net/). Or you could send him a PM. Holds the heat in while letting your skin breathe. I love the stuff. I own both the shirt and pants and won't leave home without them. Whether I'm wearing them or have them packed.

[jamesgoodchild]

Heck, in that temp. range 30 - 60 F, we typically wear shorts and a t-shirt. :rolleyes:

Did I mention I live in the land of ice and snow?

[scottydawg]

I have stuck my finger in a cigarette lighter and it gave me a hell of a jolt so I disagree with that.

[dshealey]

I have stuck my finger in a cigarette lighter and it gave me a hell of a jolt so I disagree with that.

I don't know what was going on there, maybe something like a starter solenoid releasing, or door unlocking solenoids? There HAD to be something inductive that was powered then powered off while your finger was in the socket for this to be possible. A powered solenoid that has it's voltage turned off can cause an "inductive kick back" which will develop a fairly high voltage spike, but only for a couple milliseconds. It is absolutely and positively impossible to get shocked by 12-14 volts DC. Maybe if you have a cut or something you may barely feel it, or stick your tongue on it. :D

[fuel007one]

shorts and tshirt in 30F eh? you are indeed a stud....

[messenger13]

I have stuck my finger in a cigarette lighter and it gave me a hell of a jolt so I disagree with that.FWIW Scotty...yesterday I tried the experiment in two separates cars. In both, I couldn't feel a thing. :( Man! How I so wanted to argue with the eggheads on this one.

Eggheads = 1
messenger13 = 0

Chalk one up to higher education, I guess. :o

[scottydawg]

Well I was about 8 years old when it happened and my brother talked me into doing it in a 1966 Chrysler Imperial... I will NEVER forget how it felt LOL.

[messenger13]

Did we have the SAME brother. or what? :D

[NOGILLS2]

Sounds like urinating on an electric fence!!!!!

[meese]

"The forum's foremost know-it-all, aka 'messenger13', confirmed today that he is once again WRONG...and we are RIGHT! :D(I didn't have time to edit the original cartoon again, as I'm sitting in PDX airport waiting on a flight. Maybe after I get home, as I think it might also apply at some point in the future. ;))

[hschisler]

(I didn't have time to edit the original cartoon again, as I'm sitting in PDX airport waiting on a flight. Maybe after I get home, as I think it might also apply at some point in the future. ;))Just trying to help a brother out...

[meese]

Just trying to help a brother out...Howard, Howard. That cartoon still claims he's right, when that's clearly not the case. :) Double check my wording again. But thanks for helping out. :)

[hschisler]

Howard, Howard. That cartoon still claims he's right, when that's clearly not the case. :) Double check my wording again. But thanks for helping out. :)Yep, caught that later on. Close but no cigar.

[messenger13]

Howard, Howard. That cartoon still claims he's right...Meese...sometimes all a guy needs is a friend or two watching his back. ;)

[meese]

Be glad to watch your back, Joe. Or you can watch mine. I suggest the route (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?p=44607) that Don posted in the CCR forum, for starters. Or anywhere without a 45 mph speed limit. :D