Nylon switch cover plate screws

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3















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?










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  • 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
    Mar 11 at 0:27

















3















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?










share|improve this question
























  • 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
    Mar 11 at 0:27













3












3








3


1






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?










share|improve this question
















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






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share|improve this question













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edited Mar 11 at 0:47







David Doria

















asked Mar 10 at 16:41









David DoriaDavid Doria

23018




23018












  • 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
    Mar 11 at 0:27

















  • 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
    Mar 11 at 0:27
















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
Mar 11 at 0:27





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
Mar 11 at 0:27










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















2














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.






share|improve this answer






























    0














    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






    share|improve this answer























    • 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
      Mar 11 at 0:48











    • People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.

      – manassehkatz
      Mar 11 at 1:04











    • 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
      Mar 11 at 1:52











    Your Answer








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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    2














    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.






    share|improve this answer



























      2














      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.






      share|improve this answer

























        2












        2








        2







        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.






        share|improve this answer













        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.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Mar 10 at 16:56









        HarperHarper

        76k449153




        76k449153























            0














            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






            share|improve this answer























            • 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
              Mar 11 at 0:48











            • People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.

              – manassehkatz
              Mar 11 at 1:04











            • 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
              Mar 11 at 1:52















            0














            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






            share|improve this answer























            • 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
              Mar 11 at 0:48











            • People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.

              – manassehkatz
              Mar 11 at 1:04











            • 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
              Mar 11 at 1:52













            0












            0








            0







            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






            share|improve this answer













            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







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Mar 10 at 16:45









            manassehkatzmanassehkatz

            10.8k1439




            10.8k1439












            • 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
              Mar 11 at 0:48











            • People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.

              – manassehkatz
              Mar 11 at 1:04











            • 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
              Mar 11 at 1:52

















            • 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
              Mar 11 at 0:48











            • People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.

              – manassehkatz
              Mar 11 at 1:04











            • 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
              Mar 11 at 1:52
















            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
            Mar 11 at 0:48





            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
            Mar 11 at 0:48













            People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.

            – manassehkatz
            Mar 11 at 1:04





            People who have this problem a lot will often go with more comprehensive solutions - e.g., humidifier installed as part of the furnace.

            – manassehkatz
            Mar 11 at 1:04













            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
            Mar 11 at 1:52





            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
            Mar 11 at 1:52

















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