[jackandjohn]

There's been some talk about the benefits of equalizing the electrical potential between the human body and the earth.

I want to keep everyone's hats on the table and not at all talk about the claims, ONLY to the measurement.


The first step when measuring the difference, is to connect:

Body > Volt meter (set to AC Volts) > Ground​

The measurement then varies depending on the strength of the electric fields.
For the sake of argument, let's say this measures around 2V.

The next step is to connect directly to ground, usually done through bare feet on a conductive surface, so:

Body > Conductive surface > Ground
While also staying connected to the volt meter for "measurement"​

So, let's say that the volt meter now shows 0.01V.


So, the questions are:

1. Is this a valid test?
2. Does this actually show a reduction in voltage passed as it seems to?
3. Does this show equalization between the body and ground?

Thanks in advance for the insightful and educated responses.

 

[farlsincharge]

Forgive my ignorance, but I have only heard of "earthing" people to prevent static charge build up while working on electronics. I cannot see any other benefit, in fact it sounds dangerous.

Now equipotential ground grids are a different matter. As a method of teaching my apprentice I have spooled off wire and hooked up a voltmeter to the ground in spots 100 feet apart on a service that had a broken neutral and was feeding back through the ground. This was done to illustrate the dangers of step potential. I think in that instance I got a reading of about 35 volts.

Your test is valid
It does not show a reduction in voltage passed as the two volts was a potential difference.
It does show equalization between body and ground.

 

[pete87]

I do remember Providing Grounding for the Doctors in OR rooms that were filled or a gas was being used . Long time ago .






Pete

 

[Zog]

I believe he is talking about ESD (Electro Static Discharge), it's used for manufacturing and handeling of sensitive electronic parts.

Google "ESD Controls" and you will find a world of info on controls and measurement methods.

 

[Semi-Ret Electrician]

What the OP is talking about is a very complicated field in itself.

Just hooking up a voltmeter etc. is a good indication of the need, but hardly scientific.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

(I assume this thread is about the idea that being grounded has some health effects)
If you drain away the voltage, you make current flow on or through the body. Is that better than just letting the body stay at the elevated voltage?

I have read about products to ground you while you are sleeping...have no idea if there is anything to this idea...I tend to doubt it has any real merit.

 

[Meadow]

The earth doesn't absorb voltage out of the body. Your body does have micro volts of DC from chemical reactions to function, but those are independent of the earth.



The real issue is external EMFs being imposed onto the body. Grounding does little of that if anything it makes you a better antenna for static and radio frequency fields.

 

[JRaef]

Although the concept of ESD protection is very valid, I fear this is not what the OP is referring to. I recently came across this myself when friend bought into it and asked my opinion later. I had to check it out, it's another form of the lunacy that is apparently taking over the populace, like EM fields causing cancer, copper bracelets etc.

If you want to make yourself sad about the human condition of rampant crackpottery, do a Google search on "grounding during sleep". It has fostered an entire industry. Tin foil hats are no longer good enough I guess...

 

[RIVETER]

There's been some talk about the benefits of equalizing the electrical potential between the human body and the earth.

I want to keep everyone's hats on the table and not at all talk about the claims, ONLY to the measurement.


The first step when measuring the difference, is to connect:

Body > Volt meter (set to AC Volts) > Ground​

The measurement then varies depending on the strength of the electric fields.
For the sake of argument, let's say this measures around 2V.

The next step is to connect directly to ground, usually done through bare feet on a conductive surface, so:

Body > Conductive surface > Ground
While also staying connected to the volt meter for "measurement"​

So, let's say that the volt meter now shows 0.01V.


So, the questions are:

1. Is this a valid test?
2. Does this actually show a reduction in voltage passed as it seems to?
3. Does this show equalization between the body and ground?

Thanks in advance for the insightful and educated responses.

I would not post it unless I tried it first. Tell us what your results were.

 

[The_Modifier]

As the OP is not in the trade:

About jackandjohn
What is your electrical related field/trade:
System Admin, specialist in hardware
Location
Canada

 

[Meadow]

Although the concept of ESD protection is very valid, I fear this is not what the OP is referring to. I recently came across this myself when friend bought into it and asked my opinion later. I had to check it out, it's another form of the lunacy that is apparently taking over the populace, like EM fields causing cancer, copper bracelets etc.

If you want to make yourself sad about the human condition of rampant crackpottery, do a Google search on "grounding during sleep". It has fostered an entire industry. Tin foil hats are no longer good enough I guess...

I agree bracelets and the rest is BS. However EMFs increasing Cancer risks particularly childhood leukemia has been proven with evidence. At worst its debatable, but not something that's BS. POCOs do EMF disclosures for a reason.

 

[MWayne]

Question to the OP, if you're going to use AC voltmeter what hertz is the human body?

 

[Fredman]

I would weigh in but there's people here who are just too afraid of science.

And they supposedly work with electricity. :laughing:

 

[uconduit]

Not a valid test. Voltmeters usually have an input impedance of 10 megaohms. You are grounding yourself as you measure

 

[Military Veteran]

Not a valid test unless paralleled with a 10k resistor if you work near high power rf stuff you could get up to 20 volts from a test like that.

 

[brian john]

I would weigh in but there's people here who are just too afraid of science.

And they supposedly work with electricity. :laughing:

Weigh in or why post Mr. Science.

 

[just the cowboy]

Although the concept of ESD protection is very valid, I fear this is not what the OP is referring to. I recently came across this myself when friend bought into it and asked my opinion later. I had to check it out, it's another form of the lunacy that is apparently taking over the populace, like EM fields causing cancer, copper bracelets etc.

Same here but this guy bought a "VIB" machine ( for $10,000) that lit up a bunch of tubes filled with noble gases, and they said the field from it was good for you, (Lights were pretty). Later it was said to cause cancer.:whistling2:

 

[mayanees]

here, here

http://www.kroschelfilms.com/grounded

I'm actually a believer.
Plastics entered the soles of shoes in the late 60s and insulated the population from free electron flow with the earth. That resulted in static charge being much more prevalent. Static charge can be as high as 3 Volts, and our neuro system functions in the nano-volt range, so I believe that presents issues for normalcy.
And the biggest claim to success for earthing or grounding the human body is inflammation reduction, which solves lots of problems.
But take this assessment with a grain of salt, because I'm a barefooter, and it fits perfectly with my way of life. I take any and every opportunity to put my feet in the grass!
The best thing about it is the cost! FREE
You can reap the benefits by just walking in the grass barefoot. Bedsheet kits are available for about $130 that plug into a grounded outlet and isolate the ground prong and bring it out to the metal-coated bedsheet.
I watched the entire documentary Grounded, and it sold me on the benefits, and I live much more in contact with the earth as a barefoot runner, and a barefooter wherever I can get away with it, and I get relief from ground contact.
John M

 

[RIVETER]

http://www.kroschelfilms.com/grounded

I'm actually a believer.
Plastics entered the soles of shoes in the late 60s and insulated the population from free electron flow with the earth. That resulted in static charge being much more prevalent. Static charge can be as high as 3 Volts, and our neuro system functions in the nano-volt range, so I believe that presents issues for normalcy.
And the biggest claim to success for earthing or grounding the human body is inflammation reduction, which solves lots of problems.
But take this assessment with a grain of salt, because I'm a barefooter, and it fits perfectly with my way of life. I take any and every opportunity to put my feet in the grass!
The best thing about it is the cost! FREE
You can reap the benefits by just walking in the grass barefoot. Bedsheet kits are available for about $130 that plug into a grounded outlet and isolate the ground prong and bring it out to the metal-coated bedsheet.
I watched the entire documentary Grounded, and it sold me on the benefits, and I live much more in contact with the earth as a barefoot runner, and a barefooter wherever I can get away with it, and I get relief from ground contact.
John M

Around here running barefooted in the yard can be nice unless you have a dog..

 

[Meadow]

http://www.kroschelfilms.com/grounded

I'm actually a believer.
Plastics entered the soles of shoes in the late 60s and insulated the population from free electron flow with the earth. That resulted in static charge being much more prevalent. Static charge can be as high as 3 Volts, and our neuro system functions in the nano-volt range, so I believe that presents issues for normalcy.
And the biggest claim to success for earthing or grounding the human body is inflammation reduction, which solves lots of problems.
But take this assessment with a grain of salt, because I'm a barefooter, and it fits perfectly with my way of life. I take any and every opportunity to put my feet in the grass!
The best thing about it is the cost! FREE
You can reap the benefits by just walking in the grass barefoot. Bedsheet kits are available for about $130 that plug into a grounded outlet and isolate the ground prong and bring it out to the metal-coated bedsheet.
I watched the entire documentary Grounded, and it sold me on the benefits, and I live much more in contact with the earth as a barefoot runner, and a barefooter wherever I can get away with it, and I get relief from ground contact.
John M

We aren't dairy cows. And grounding doesn't just soak up power. I don't think its to safe either sleeping on a metal sheet. What happens if your house gets hit by lightning?

If static electricity is a concern use a humidifier.