Car Accessory Query

[pubrunner]

This morning, I saw something that I've not seen in a long time. A car driving in front of me, had what looked to be a rubber strip hanging down - just touching the road.

What exactly is the purpose of these ?; some say that they are an anti-static device - but isn't rubber an insulator and a very poor conductor ?

Or are these strips to prevent car-sickness ?

Years ago, these seemed to be retro-fitted to many cars, but are rarely seen nowadays - why is this ?

Does anyone have one of these on their car ? Please enlighten me .

 

[XRHYSX]

They are rubber with a copper strip down the center, I'm thinking of getting one, if I wear my trainers I get quite a shock off my car, have to make sure I only touch the plastic bits, which I always forget to do until its to late....

 

[pubrunner]

. . . if I wear my trainers I get quite a shock off my car, have to make sure I only touch the plastic bits, which I always forget to do until its to late....

Ta for the reply !

So not for car sickness then !

I've not seen them on a car in a long while - I didn't realise that they were still available.

 

[green1]

Ta for the reply !

So not for car sickness then !

I've not seen them on a car in a long while - I didn't realise that they were still available.

Less need for them as car electrics have got better over the years.

 

[fossyant]

They don't half make a racket if you are in the car

 

[Globalti]

I've got into the habit of tapping my car with a knuckle before touching the door handle as I got sick of receiving a static jolt. They are supposed to earth the car but I wouldn't be seen dead with such a naff accessory!

The worst static shocks I ever got off a car were in Aviemore about 15 years ago when it got down to minus 25 c and the air was so dry that just walking through the powdery snow built up a huge charge, which discharged into the car with a loud crack. Amazing.

 

[Aperitif]

I've got into the habit of tapping my car with a knuckle before touching the door handle as I got sick of receiving a static jolt. They are supposed to earth the car but I wouldn't be seen dead with such a naff accessory!

The worst static shocks I ever got off a car were in Aviemore about 15 years ago when it got down to minus 25 c and the air was so dry that just walking through the powdery snow built up a huge charge, which discharged into the car with a loud crack. Amazing.

A loud crack is unenviable.

 

[Dayvo]

I think it's a retro thing: they were all the rage in the 80s.

 

[Night Train]

They are supposed to earth the car but I wouldn't be seen dead with such a naff accessory!

I suppose if it worked, and was needed, it could always be hung from somewhere under the belly of the car so it was less visible.

 

[Over The Hill]

I think it's a retro thing: they were all the rage in the 80s.

Now not needed on most 80s cars as they have the exhaust pipe dragging along the ground!

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Thought tyres were rather more conducting now (by the use of additives to the rubber) so car is usually grounded.

The worst static shocks I ever got off a car were in Aviemore about 15 years ago when it got down to minus 25 c and the air was so dry that just walking through the powdery snow built up a huge charge, which discharged into the car with a loud crack. Amazing.

However If the human gets charged up then bingo. One's crack may be loud!

 

[biggs682]

A loud crack is unenviable.

thought i would beat Fnnar to this

i have experianced a loud crack !

 

[colly]

Dodgem cars at the fairs have these, but they're all fitted the wrong way up for some obscure reason.