electrical question - grocery store remodel

[lindermant]

My local grocery is currently undergoing a rather extensive remodel (done in stages - maybe 50% completed).

While shopping yesterday, I was getting a noticeable zap in my left hand while pushing the cart around the newly completed bakery/deli/produce section. The zap came every 3-5 steps the entire time I was in the newly finished section.

I brought it to the attention of an employee and the manager, and they both looked at me like I was crazy and said no one else had reported anything like it (and both declined to push my cart a few steps to see what I was talking about).

I want to go back today and see if it happens again, and if so speak to the manager. What might be the problem? Bad ground?

 

[9c1]

What were you touching when the zap happened?

Sounds like static electricity. That also happens when one walks across a wool carpet and touches an electrical switch faceplate, or sometimes as one slides across the seat of a car while exiting and touches the door.

Friction between the carpet and shoes, clothing and seat covers builds up an excess of electrons. They discharge with a zap when one touches a grounded electrical faceplate or the relatively uncharged car door.

In the food market if you got a zap when you touched one of the displays or shelves it could be that the display or shelf is connected to something energized. This is VERY dangerous and should be looked into.

If on the other hand you got zapped as you were walking -- try a different pair of shoes or other clothing material. Static electricity can build up from ones clothing (rubbing of trouser legs against each other) during the dry winter weather.

 

[Rick in PA]

Static electricity, as 9c1 says. Could be charging between your shoes and the floor. Could be charging between the shopping cart wheels and the floor. Either way something (either you or the cart) is charging enough to break-down the air (spark discharge) in a repeated cyclical manner.

One clue is it only occured in the one new section. My bet is that it's related to the flooring. The floor is new and clean (i.e. a good insulator). Once the flooring has been used for a while and exposed to dirt & salt tracked-in by customers, soap solutions from mopping, etc. it will probably become mildy conductive (at least from a static electricity point of view). That would change the charging characteristics and more likely allow the charges to bleed off. Then the problem disappears.

 

[oilyriser]

some floors have metal strips in them every few steps...

 

[lindermant]

Quote:

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What were you touching when the zap happened?

---

Both hands were on the cart (cart did not have a plastic covering over the metal handle), I was wearing rubber soled athletic shoes, and the flooring was wood/laminate.

I was getting zapped while walking. I ran several errands that day, and did not experience it at any other location (which made me think it was not static electricity). As for the weather, it was in the mid-to-high 50's (not sure of the humidity).

I'll let it ride...

 

[9c1]

I kind of assumed you were touching only the cart, but .....

My take would be static electricity. Maybe the wheels of the cart were generating it. Not to worry.

 

[beercollector]

There's a door at work that sparks a lil blue flash everytime a key is inserted to lock it. Linoleum floor, wooden door, brass handle. I don't know how it happens, but it just does.

 

[oilyriser]

pinched nerve?