Nylon switch cover plate screws
Every time someone touches any of my light switches they get a static shock. I know the root cause is the humidity is too low, but until I fix that, I heard that nylon cover plate screws (vs the usual metal ones painted white) would help this problem (I guess the theory is that the screw is touching the box which is what the person is "discharging" through). So I was going to pick up some of these to test it out, but I couldn't find them in hardware stores or on Amazon. There must be a reason these are so hard to find - is there a reason not to use these? Or can anyone recommend where I can buy them?
electrical switch screws
asked 9 hours ago
David DoriaDavid Doria
23018
add a comment |
Every time someone touches any of my light switches they get a static shock. I know the root cause is the humidity is too low, but until I fix that, I heard that nylon cover plate screws (vs the usual metal ones painted white) would help this problem (I guess the theory is that the screw is touching the box which is what the person is "discharging" through). So I was going to pick up some of these to test it out, but I couldn't find them in hardware stores or on Amazon. There must be a reason these are so hard to find - is there a reason not to use these? Or can anyone recommend where I can buy them?
electrical switch screws
asked 9 hours ago
David DoriaDavid Doria
23018
When someone touches your light switches, you get a shock?! That's quite a trick.
– J...
4 hours ago
I read it that way, too. I want to see a video of that trick! It has to make someone go completely neurotic!
– fred_dot_u
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Every time someone touches any of my light switches they get a static shock. I know the root cause is the humidity is too low, but until I fix that, I heard that nylon cover plate screws (vs the usual metal ones painted white) would help this problem (I guess the theory is that the screw is touching the box which is what the person is "discharging" through). So I was going to pick up some of these to test it out, but I couldn't find them in hardware stores or on Amazon. There must be a reason these are so hard to find - is there a reason not to use these? Or can anyone recommend where I can buy them?
electrical switch screws
asked 9 hours ago
David DoriaDavid Doria
23018
Every time someone touches any of my light switches they get a static shock. I know the root cause is the humidity is too low, but until I fix that, I heard that nylon cover plate screws (vs the usual metal ones painted white) would help this problem (I guess the theory is that the screw is touching the box which is what the person is "discharging" through). So I was going to pick up some of these to test it out, but I couldn't find them in hardware stores or on Amazon. There must be a reason these are so hard to find - is there a reason not to use these? Or can anyone recommend where I can buy them?
electrical switch screws
electrical switch screws
asked 9 hours ago
David DoriaDavid Doria
23018
asked 9 hours ago
David DoriaDavid Doria
23018
edited 1 hour ago
David Doria
asked 9 hours ago
David DoriaDavid Doria
23018
asked 9 hours ago
David DoriaDavid Doria
23018
asked 9 hours ago
David DoriaDavid Doria
23018
23018
When someone touches your light switches, you get a shock?! That's quite a trick.
– J...
4 hours ago
I read it that way, too. I want to see a video of that trick! It has to make someone go completely neurotic!
– fred_dot_u
2 hours ago
add a comment |
When someone touches your light switches, you get a shock?! That's quite a trick.
– J...
4 hours ago
I read it that way, too. I want to see a video of that trick! It has to make someone go completely neurotic!
– fred_dot_u
2 hours ago
When someone touches your light switches, you get a shock?! That's quite a trick.
– J...
4 hours ago
When someone touches your light switches, you get a shock?! That's quite a trick.
– J...
4 hours ago
I read it that way, too. I want to see a video of that trick! It has to make someone go completely neurotic!
– fred_dot_u
2 hours ago
I read it that way, too. I want to see a video of that trick! It has to make someone go completely neurotic!
– fred_dot_u
2 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
A new trend is switch plates which snap on, and do not use cover plate screws at all. That is worth looking into.
Of course, none of that will solve the underlying static problem; you'll just get nailed instead by the next metal thing you touch. I would want a metal cover plate isolated by a 1 megaohm resistor to safety ground, because that would actually dissipate the charge.
And of course, make sure your safety ground and grounding electrode are tip-top to be sure you aren't actually getting bit by mains current. That is somewhat different in sensation, and also does not disappear in high humidity.
answered 9 hours ago
HarperHarper
73k448148
add a comment |
Shopping is off-topic, but...
Kyle Switch Plates
Easy to find if you use "plastic" instead of "nylon" in your Googleing: plastic switch plate screws
answered 9 hours ago
manassehkatzmanassehkatz
9,3601336
I did find a few here and there on very specialized websites, I guess I was more wondering why these are not a standard thing that you just get at a big box store near the light switches? Like do people not use these for some reason? And I guess I'm also wondering if anyone can confirm that they actually "fix" this problem?
– David Doria
1 hour ago
People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.
– manassehkatz
1 hour ago
Also keep in mind that light switches are not the only grounded item in most homes. Exposed metal on appliances, light fixtures, faucets (almost by definition since the copper pipes have (historically) been part of the grounding system, though not so much now because of plastic in so many places), etc. So nothing wrong with plastic screws for the switch plates, but that isn't going to totally eliminate the problem.
– manassehkatz
43 mins ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "73"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fdiy.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f159512%2fnylon-switch-cover-plate-screws%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
A new trend is switch plates which snap on, and do not use cover plate screws at all. That is worth looking into.
Of course, none of that will solve the underlying static problem; you'll just get nailed instead by the next metal thing you touch. I would want a metal cover plate isolated by a 1 megaohm resistor to safety ground, because that would actually dissipate the charge.
And of course, make sure your safety ground and grounding electrode are tip-top to be sure you aren't actually getting bit by mains current. That is somewhat different in sensation, and also does not disappear in high humidity.
answered 9 hours ago
HarperHarper
73k448148
add a comment |
A new trend is switch plates which snap on, and do not use cover plate screws at all. That is worth looking into.
Of course, none of that will solve the underlying static problem; you'll just get nailed instead by the next metal thing you touch. I would want a metal cover plate isolated by a 1 megaohm resistor to safety ground, because that would actually dissipate the charge.
And of course, make sure your safety ground and grounding electrode are tip-top to be sure you aren't actually getting bit by mains current. That is somewhat different in sensation, and also does not disappear in high humidity.
answered 9 hours ago
HarperHarper
73k448148
add a comment |
A new trend is switch plates which snap on, and do not use cover plate screws at all. That is worth looking into.
Of course, none of that will solve the underlying static problem; you'll just get nailed instead by the next metal thing you touch. I would want a metal cover plate isolated by a 1 megaohm resistor to safety ground, because that would actually dissipate the charge.
And of course, make sure your safety ground and grounding electrode are tip-top to be sure you aren't actually getting bit by mains current. That is somewhat different in sensation, and also does not disappear in high humidity.
answered 9 hours ago
HarperHarper
73k448148
A new trend is switch plates which snap on, and do not use cover plate screws at all. That is worth looking into.
Of course, none of that will solve the underlying static problem; you'll just get nailed instead by the next metal thing you touch. I would want a metal cover plate isolated by a 1 megaohm resistor to safety ground, because that would actually dissipate the charge.
And of course, make sure your safety ground and grounding electrode are tip-top to be sure you aren't actually getting bit by mains current. That is somewhat different in sensation, and also does not disappear in high humidity.
answered 9 hours ago
HarperHarper
73k448148
answered 9 hours ago
HarperHarper
73k448148
answered 9 hours ago
HarperHarper
73k448148
answered 9 hours ago
HarperHarper
73k448148
73k448148
add a comment |
add a comment |
Shopping is off-topic, but...
Kyle Switch Plates
Easy to find if you use "plastic" instead of "nylon" in your Googleing: plastic switch plate screws
answered 9 hours ago
manassehkatzmanassehkatz
9,3601336
I did find a few here and there on very specialized websites, I guess I was more wondering why these are not a standard thing that you just get at a big box store near the light switches? Like do people not use these for some reason? And I guess I'm also wondering if anyone can confirm that they actually "fix" this problem?
– David Doria
1 hour ago
People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.
– manassehkatz
1 hour ago
Also keep in mind that light switches are not the only grounded item in most homes. Exposed metal on appliances, light fixtures, faucets (almost by definition since the copper pipes have (historically) been part of the grounding system, though not so much now because of plastic in so many places), etc. So nothing wrong with plastic screws for the switch plates, but that isn't going to totally eliminate the problem.
– manassehkatz
43 mins ago
add a comment |
Shopping is off-topic, but...
Kyle Switch Plates
Easy to find if you use "plastic" instead of "nylon" in your Googleing: plastic switch plate screws
answered 9 hours ago
manassehkatzmanassehkatz
9,3601336
I did find a few here and there on very specialized websites, I guess I was more wondering why these are not a standard thing that you just get at a big box store near the light switches? Like do people not use these for some reason? And I guess I'm also wondering if anyone can confirm that they actually "fix" this problem?
– David Doria
1 hour ago
People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.
– manassehkatz
1 hour ago
Also keep in mind that light switches are not the only grounded item in most homes. Exposed metal on appliances, light fixtures, faucets (almost by definition since the copper pipes have (historically) been part of the grounding system, though not so much now because of plastic in so many places), etc. So nothing wrong with plastic screws for the switch plates, but that isn't going to totally eliminate the problem.
– manassehkatz
43 mins ago
add a comment |
Shopping is off-topic, but...
Kyle Switch Plates
Easy to find if you use "plastic" instead of "nylon" in your Googleing: plastic switch plate screws
answered 9 hours ago
manassehkatzmanassehkatz
9,3601336
Shopping is off-topic, but...
Kyle Switch Plates
Easy to find if you use "plastic" instead of "nylon" in your Googleing: plastic switch plate screws
answered 9 hours ago
manassehkatzmanassehkatz
9,3601336
answered 9 hours ago
manassehkatzmanassehkatz
9,3601336
answered 9 hours ago
manassehkatzmanassehkatz
9,3601336
answered 9 hours ago
manassehkatzmanassehkatz
9,3601336
9,3601336
I did find a few here and there on very specialized websites, I guess I was more wondering why these are not a standard thing that you just get at a big box store near the light switches? Like do people not use these for some reason? And I guess I'm also wondering if anyone can confirm that they actually "fix" this problem?
– David Doria
1 hour ago
People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.
– manassehkatz
1 hour ago
Also keep in mind that light switches are not the only grounded item in most homes. Exposed metal on appliances, light fixtures, faucets (almost by definition since the copper pipes have (historically) been part of the grounding system, though not so much now because of plastic in so many places), etc. So nothing wrong with plastic screws for the switch plates, but that isn't going to totally eliminate the problem.
– manassehkatz
43 mins ago
add a comment |
I did find a few here and there on very specialized websites, I guess I was more wondering why these are not a standard thing that you just get at a big box store near the light switches? Like do people not use these for some reason? And I guess I'm also wondering if anyone can confirm that they actually "fix" this problem?
– David Doria
1 hour ago
People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.
– manassehkatz
1 hour ago
Also keep in mind that light switches are not the only grounded item in most homes. Exposed metal on appliances, light fixtures, faucets (almost by definition since the copper pipes have (historically) been part of the grounding system, though not so much now because of plastic in so many places), etc. So nothing wrong with plastic screws for the switch plates, but that isn't going to totally eliminate the problem.
– manassehkatz
43 mins ago
I did find a few here and there on very specialized websites, I guess I was more wondering why these are not a standard thing that you just get at a big box store near the light switches? Like do people not use these for some reason? And I guess I'm also wondering if anyone can confirm that they actually "fix" this problem?
– David Doria
1 hour ago
I did find a few here and there on very specialized websites, I guess I was more wondering why these are not a standard thing that you just get at a big box store near the light switches? Like do people not use these for some reason? And I guess I'm also wondering if anyone can confirm that they actually "fix" this problem?
– David Doria
1 hour ago
People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.
– manassehkatz
1 hour ago
People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.
– manassehkatz
1 hour ago
Also keep in mind that light switches are not the only grounded item in most homes. Exposed metal on appliances, light fixtures, faucets (almost by definition since the copper pipes have (historically) been part of the grounding system, though not so much now because of plastic in so many places), etc. So nothing wrong with plastic screws for the switch plates, but that isn't going to totally eliminate the problem.
– manassehkatz
43 mins ago
Also keep in mind that light switches are not the only grounded item in most homes. Exposed metal on appliances, light fixtures, faucets (almost by definition since the copper pipes have (historically) been part of the grounding system, though not so much now because of plastic in so many places), etc. So nothing wrong with plastic screws for the switch plates, but that isn't going to totally eliminate the problem.
– manassehkatz
43 mins ago
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Home Improvement Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fdiy.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f159512%2fnylon-switch-cover-plate-screws%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
When someone touches your light switches, you get a shock?! That's quite a trick.
– J...
4 hours ago
I read it that way, too. I want to see a video of that trick! It has to make someone go completely neurotic!
– fred_dot_u
2 hours ago