5 replies to this topic

[jvl]

when viewing the pitstops in a race, the cars run over these strips to ground the static electricity in the cars. But my question is what detremental effects does static electricity have on f1 car.

[david_martin]

Static electrical discharge and refuelling and not a happy combination.

[palmas]

Haven't you ever had a static discharge while stepping out of your car? well, imagine the fuel vapours and a spark: the F1 car would be finned for using a jet engine:lol:

[Engineguy]

Originally posted by palmas
Haven't you ever had a static discharge while stepping out of your car? well, imagine the fuel vapours and a spark: the F1 car would be finned for using a jet engine:lol:

I always wondered about how those grounding brushes worked on the nonconductive jabrock planks on the bottom of the car, but come to think of it, I get a serious painful zap:eek: nearly every time I get out of my car... wearing rubber soled shoes. Never have understood static electricty.

[8nebula]

If it happens at night you can definitely see the sparks.....not good when refueling. Interestingly some people seem to be more prone to shocks than others, I have a friend who regularly gets shocks from the car door, It probably has alot to do with the type of clothes and shoes worn.

[palmas]

Engineguy, statics voltage easily reachs tens of kiloVolt, so is is able to disrupt the electrical rigidity of the air, when you see the spark. So what you have to do is supply an alternative electrical path. It doesn't have to be a good electrical conductor, just be better (and more important, sooner) than the air/fuel hose combination.
Take a note about carbon fibre: it is not a bad conductor at all.

This electricity is prone to apear in al moving parts with some friction, and there are plenty in a car. Any way the actual solution is better than the typical pig tail you see in street cars.