Powerbook 12in Electric SHOCK!!!

[claytonbench]

Ive just recently statred getting shocked after my 12in powerbook has been plugged in to charge. I get one shock every 5 or so mins. Any one else experience this??

[rainman::|:|]

this is not good. can you give more info, like where you get shocked, how much (relatively) it is, etc...

pnw

[claytonbench]

If I dont take my hands off the laptop after I get the shock the first time I wont get shocked again but if I take my hands off for maybe five minutes it builds up a new charge and I get a little zap. The voltage cant be too high (it doesnt really hurt all that bad, if anything it is REALLY ANOYING!!!!). hope this helps clarify.

[Kwyjibo]

are u sure this is from the computer and not from stati electricity...the pb is metal

[Keith Purfield]

Yeah, judging from your description, it sounds like static electricity.

Have you tried touching something else that's metal (without touching rubber nor wood first)?

[claytonbench]

I thought it was static electricity at first, so I started troubleshooting... it only happens when plugged into the charger

[billyboy]

It doesnt sound like static, because I have intermittent buzzes if I use my PB, but no way is it a shock, just a sensation of the current running through the casing. This is down to the supply in the particular house I am in at the moment plus my propensity for static in a town up in the mountains. Some people feel nothing and think I am mad, others feel it and think that them that cant sense anything are lying! It has been like that from the day I first plugged it in here, and didnt appear out the blue like it sounds yours has.

If it has just started shocking you after owning the PB a while then Id suggest some electrical fault has developed. Either get an electrician to check out your powerpoints, or get a technician to check out the adapter and/or Apple to verify the PB.

[tjwett]

if it was the middle of winter i'd probably write this off as static electricity since it used to happen to me with my TiBook all the time during dry weather but right now it's very humid still in most of the country and i also now own a 12" PowerBook and have never had any shock with it, static or otherwise. sounds like you have a short somewhere, probably realted to the power unit inside the machine. get it looked at ASAP.

[G5orbust]

have you tried degaussing your powerbook? You know, grounding it.

Also, you may want to consider the possibility that your powerbook has a faulty wiring job. Aluminum, like other similar metals, is conductive. A melted wiring insulation, for example, could be your problem. The 12 inch powerbook gets pretty damned hot, so that could be a possible accomplice to the culprit.

[claytonbench]

how do i ground it

[OutThere]

I would say that you should definitley take it to the Apple Store, or call apple about it. A computer shouldn't shock you...

[G5orbust]

Originally posted by claytonbench
how do i ground it

Im not exactly sure, but you could try using a anti static wristband, though they are usually reserved for people, and see if it degausses it. I suggest degaussing it on a piece of metal that you dont care about and that isnt connected to anything that can catch fire (IE: a doorknob on a door)

[billyboy]

Yeah, and get a fire extinguisher handy, rubber wellies, take any braces out your mouth, remove all rings and ....:rolleyes:

[BenWakin]

Originally posted by OutThere761
A computer shouldn't shock you...

Unless it's a G5 that replaces the Apple you have now. :)

[Eniregnat]

have you tried degaussing your powerbook? You know, grounding it.

Degaussing you PB would be a bad idea. That would mean passing it though a high powered alternating magnetic field.

The unit it's self should not gain a charge, because it is grounded though the AC converter. This almost seems like something that you should call Apple about.

The anti-static wrist band is a good idea. If your building up the charge it should disapate it. If the computer is building it up, you should still get shocked when you touch it (after the time you stated) but it will at least let you know that your not the cause. The anti-static wrist strap slowly bleads off charge, it isn't like strapping a grounding wire to your body, which some people might be into.

[Macmaniac]

Go to tech support now, no matter how slight it may be, something is very wrong.

[Flynnstone]

Take it in.

If I was to guess .. I think its in the power adapter. Can you try someone elses?

Take it in. Last thing anyone needs is to be electrocuted. I would think Apple is very interesting in this.

[tazo]

This happens on a lot of laptops, especially the tibooks and alubooks.

believe it or not it also happens in the pc world ;) my dad's panasonic toughbook shocked me the other day

[G5orbust]

Originally posted by Eniregnat
Degaussing you PB would be a bad idea. That would mean passing it though a high powered alternating magnetic field.


peculiar, I had always thought of degaussing as just disipating an electric charge. I guess my education is incomplete (well, of course it is, Im a sophomore in high school) and I should take a "physics and electromagnetics" course to learn more about this :)

By the way, how did you know that degaussing thing. Are you an electrical engineer?

[Arnel]

I remember someone mentioning this on one of these forums when the AlBooks has just come out.

Doesn't the AC adapter come with two plugs - one that fits onto the adapter, and one on a lead? The adapter for the iBook does, in the UK at least, but I'm guessing it's the same for the PowerBooks.

Well, only one of those plugs (the one with the lead I think) actually has the ground connected. So try using that and see if it cures the problem...

Neil.
a.k.a. Arnel

[Eniregnat]

G5orBust (Great name and goal) I work as an audio engineer (sans degree- but I am working on it). T.V. repire people degauss (http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0%2C%2Csid9_gci213666%2C00.html) T.V. sets (but not true flat screens), and in the old days people degaussed their floppies shortly before the poliece showed up to bust them for copyright infringement. ;)

When you take physics, the first week or so will probely be spent on the history of physics, or when you get to electro-magnetic theroy thyou will likely be introduced to Guass (http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Gauss.html) and Wilhelm Webber (http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Weber.html). In honor of Gauss's work with magnetism a unit was named after him.

Encarta Dictonary
measure of magnetism: the centimeter-gram-second unit of magnetic flux density, equivalent to 10–4 tesla.
Symbol G
Late 19th century. Named for the German mathematician Karl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855), who applied mathematical principles to magnetism.
any way to de Gauss is to remove a magnetic moment.

Of a comical note at this site (http://www.tapeerasers.co.uk/degauss.htm)-

Degaussers can also protect against computer viruses. The only way to safeguard your company integrity and computer systems is to make sure that every piece of magnetic media is completely virus free before using it on your system and a degausser will do this for you. Heck, a flam thrower protects against computer viruses also Not every kind of magnetic media can be erased with a degausser. Some magnetic media is damaged by it (or at least can't easly be reformated), though it's still a quick way of deleting information. .

I wan't to know more about people that have had problems with grounding on laptops.1

[frescies]

Ok ok here is what you need to do.

1.) Take the powerbook outside.
2.) Get an extension cord and plug it in.
3.) Get a hose and get an area of the ground (directly on the ground, or soil,.... not concrete or some other ground covering) soaking wet.
4.) take off your shoes and stand in the muddy puddle you just made.
5.) Then...... Grab the powerbook!!!! and hold on!


One of two things will happen. N

1.) Nothing will happen and you will not feel the shock that you usually feel. There will be no wiring fault in the casing and the shocks that you have felt will represent some sort of static build up, reflecting an odd atmospheric condition or some other environmental static electricity influence.

2.) You will feel a rather sizeable shock if the casing does have a wiring fault. You will short circuit something and act as a ground yourself and you will definately feel it (if it doesn't kill you.... Though it is HIGHLY unlikely that it would).

If you have ba11s of steel, this is the best way to find out yourself if there is indeed something wrong.



P.S...... This test is even more accurate if you lick your hands before grabbing the powerbook.

[patrick0brien]

-claytonbench

It really could still be static shock, and it makes sence that it only happens when it is plugged in and that's your ground. You won't get a shock whn it isn't plugged in as the PB is separate from the wall and therefore the ground. This goes hand in hand with it not shocking you if you remain in contact with it while plugged, you are grounded and unable to build up a charge.

How strong a shock are we talking? And how long a duration? If it is a stinging, instantaneous shock, well, I'd say introduce some moisute into the air as it's most likely static.

However, if there is any discernable length to the shock - let alone a vibrating one (doubtful as the PB is Direct Current), then be very concerned, and have Apple take a look at it.

Static can give very powerful shocks, they are very high voltage after all (little current though). Personally I've had shocks go through leather jackets, and such. Some of the most powerful I've felt have been from when I've exited my car in winter - some damn near knock me on my ass.

Check your humidity, and see if what kind of surface you are sitting/walking on, and what clothes you tend to wear - wool is teh worst for this.

[billyboy]

Its becoming difficult to tell which suggestions are for real now:confused:

If the thread was entitled, My Van der Graaf Generator is shocking me when i hug it, is that normal?, then I can go with some of the trouble shoots. However this is a Powerbook for goodness sake.

What´s the next suggestion, use it in a humid greenhouse onlyand see if that helps.

[LimeiBook86]

My friend often tells me his new 12 inch powerbook shocks him, he sits on a leather chair, the powerbook is on a wood desk. I thought it was just him, I guess he's not alone. My Clamshell never shocks me besides in the winter, well that's probably because it is mostly plastic....:p

thats all i gotta say
-limey

[TEG]

I just got a new pair of shoes, and this started with me. On my TiBook, I noticed it at work, when comming back from a meeting, and touched my PB and was shocked. Try a different pair of shoes and see if you get shocked. Or even no shoes. If you do, its static then.

TEG

[Tim from Melb]

I have a Ti PowerBook and I also get shocked occassionally as well as feeling regular tingling, the feeling of current running through me. This only seems to happen when it is plugged in though.

The other night I noticed something strange as well. I have trouble with my power adapter, sometimes it is plugged in and turned on but doesn't work, then I move the cable around a little and it just works. As I was plugging it in the other night I noticed a blue light inside the power cable, it was glowing blue 'inside the casing', then I moved it a little and it glowed orange, also inside. Very wierd.

I'm on holidays at the moment, but I'm just about to head home and get it checked out, even as I type the tingling feeling is strong. Can't be good!

[jvandergriff]

I have a 12" powerbook and have noticed a similar problem. Whenever I slightly touch the powerbook, I get a high voltage shock. Could it be that the high voltage transformer/circuit that steps up the voltage necessary to drive the backlight on the display is somehow grounded to the case improperly?

Just a guess...

I wish Apple would actually make some sort of response. While it doesn't seem life threatening or that dangerous, it's still a really weird quirk from an otherwise so well designed product.

[LimeiBook86]

I get an electric tingle once and a while on my new 12'' 867, but it doesn't bother me much...

[idkew]

never been shocked by my TiBook.

[Craigy]

When i place my TI Book on crarge - a stange thing happens. The area al around the track pad and keys feels 'rough' to the touch and a little zingy - when the psu is unplugged this goes away. Also while on charge I occasionaly catch my wrists on the two from corners and get quite a zap!

This does not happen every time I place it on charge - and the TI book has had a fair bit of abuse so i'm not complaining realy.
I did notice that if I pressed down of th right front corner it went away... Maybe there is a grounding wire to the casing that may have come loose....?!*

A little anying but no performance issues.

[Teronke]

Yep

I've also experienced electric shock through my Rev A 12' PB.

Similarly it only happens when the PB is plugged into the charger. And on the whole it only happens when the PB is running hot although shock does occasionally occur when the PB is cool.

The static seems to build up surface of the underbody part of the PB. And I think by typing you're wrists are effectively bridging the underbody part of the PB with the the metal plate below the keyboard. This results in the user feeling an uncomfortably zap as the static tries to jump over the grey plastic rim separating the underbody from the keyboard metal plate. My other theory is that the magnet near the mouse button is drawing static when the PB has been plugged in for a while, although this theory doesn't quite explain why I've experienced shock from touching the sides of my PB.

I have had this problem from day one and I've had my PB for over 2 months now. So I think the chances of the static burning out internal components is neglible. The amount of static involved is

My charger also switches off occasionally i.e. there is no green or orange light and the PB goes to battery mode even though it is properly plugged in to the charger. There is, however, an Apple knowledge base article on this

I have spoken to Apple in Hong Kong about it. They don't seem to know what I'm talking about but I have been reassured that the charger is part of the machine and therefore covered fully under the warranty. However, to fix the charger or to get a new one I'm going to have to leave my PB there with the charger so they can assess the problem.

So I'm holding off in fixing the problem until my workload dies down a bit (which probably isn't until half way through next year). I'm just hoping I'm right when I say that it shouldn't burn out the internal componenets. Fingers crossed.

[Makosuke]

The elaborate test involving the puddle was absolutely correct, but I woudn't try it myself.

Arnel's comment about the two different plugs is on the right track--assuming you're in the US, the two-blade plug that snaps directly onto the square block is not grounded, while the longer cord with the three pins is.

However, although I can't test this, I think the ground pin is only for shorts in the power brick; the thin DC cord running to the powerbook doesn't seem to have a seperate ground line, so unless the problem is in the brick, switching probably won't tell you anything.

Ok, here's some advice (really repeating what several other people already said) that should tell you something:

If it's your PowerBook that's building up a charge (which sounds a bit odd to me, but I suppose it's possible), then you can do this to test: ground the PB's metal case. Just run a metal wire of some sort from the PB to something definitely grounded (a metal part of your house would be the easiest and safest, or you can use the ground pin hole on an outlet if you're careful/know what you're doing/brave). A static wrist strap would be an easy way to make the connection.

If that fixes your problem, then it's the PB with the charge, since the ground connection bled the charge off and left you safe.

If you still get shocked, then it's almost certainly you with the static charge.

You could do the same thing by grounding yourself, with revesed results--if you get shocked when you're grounded, your PB is the problem, while if you're fine while grounded it was static on your body.

The easiest way to ground yourself (but slightly less positive) would be to touch a doorknob or something similar and metal, but a wrist grounding strap would be even better.

I'd say the grounding yourself test is slightly less positive than grounding the computer case, but either would probably give you an idea of the problem.

[Nikko1965]

I get this all the time as the Dutch just don't bother earthing outside of the kitchen. If I grab my Palm Pilot off the cradle or touch the back of the PC or just the monitor screen- wahey! Warm and fuzzy. Do it barefoot and/or after a shower and my ears pop. I quickly learnt to keep my shoes on or put my barefeet on the wooden chair slats while working at home. I suspect it's the PC but as everything runs via one power strip then everything else on the strip is affected.

Static and bad earthing feel very diferent; one is a momentary snap of discharge the other makes your muscles contract slightly and doesn't stop til you let go. Thankfully it's only 12V but the current is still enough to say hello.

If your sockets have earthing points and this is happening, call in a sparks, if not try Timberland for new slippers.

Cheers,

Nick

[jvandergriff]

I don't think the PB is building up a charge - it's a constant zapping. This isn't like a spark of static electricity...

The best way I could describe it is this:

Has anyone here ever messed with TV flyback transformers? Camera flash circuits? Neon drivers? Well, if you haven't, they all operate on the principle of stepping up voltage to drive the neon tube, flash tube (and charge the cap), etc. There's a very high voltage/low current emanating from the underside of the 12" powerbook. It's not a slowly building charge. I get shocked CONSTANTLY.

I have the rev A 12". Does anyone in here have the Rev B 12"? I'd be interested to hear Apple's position.

[Nikko1965]

Voltages and currents are measurable. Got a meter handy? It'd be interesting to see the actual values of the problem.

Cheers,

Nick

[jxyama]

man... a lot of misconception about electricity there...

patrick0brien wrote it right.

-grounding the PB means it's connected to the ground. (duh) if PB is connected to AC, there's your ground, going via the electric outlet.

-if PB is not connected to the AC, then it's not grounded. it's isolated.

in order for the static electricity in your body to channel out of you and go through PB, PB must be grounded. otherwise, the electricity that leaves your body cannot go anywhere. (and hence won't leave your body.) you only feel the "shock" when current - which is the movement of charges - goes through you. so you should only get shocked if either PB or you are grounded.

CONCLUSION: whether it's faulty PB or static electricity, you won't feel the shock unless PB is plugged in. (or you are somehow always grounded... dunno how, except for you to be touching some grounded metal all the time.)

so that answers one question. now, the problem is determining whether it's a faulty PB or simply static electricity. try the following: get your first shock. sit and don't go walking around on the carpet (thus building static electricity) but move your hands away from the PB. wait a bit and touch PB again - see if you get shocked again. if you do, then i'd highly suspect a faulty PB or AC adapter) as you've had no chance to build more static electricity after the initial discharge. take both of them in to have them looked. as "nick" wrote above, if it's not just a momentary shock but a constant "buzz" then it can't be static electricity. i've heard of some people with such a problem with PB 12" rev. A. go get your PB and AC adapter checked asap. i highly suspect faulty AC, maybe a fray wire or something..?

[pixelsmudge]

I can feel current running through my TiPB whenever it's plugged in. Luckily I live in Japan and the voltage out here is pretty low, but when I go to Europe the voltage is considerably higher and I really notice the difference. I can feel a constant tingle in my wrists and it becomes unbearable. I can only stand to use it on battery power.
The thing I've noticed it that the power adaptor is no longer earthed like the older ones - you'd have thought that Apple wouldn't have dropped that feature when releasing a titanium cased laptop! DUH!!!!

[mattroberts]

its quite likely that the reason people are getting shocked is not the computer (or power adapter) but the fact your houses were not wired correctly. This is often the case i worked summers once as an electricians assistant.

It may be that the sockets in you home were never effectively grounded (or wired for it ) and that the charging of the battery helps build up some static electricity on the box. you become the ground when you touch it as it is a metal case.

try a different locations outlet (another building) and see if it keeps happening. if it does there could be a loose connection somewhere but i would think you would notice the 110 volts if it was coming straight from the wall outlet ;)

cheers
matt

[jvandergriff]

Okay, then explain why I get shocked at home, at school, traveling, and work. Could it be that all those places...at least 5 building on campus, then work, home, and I would get shocked whenever I traveled and plugged it in. Are you telling me that they ALL have wiring faults?

I'm taking a multimeter to my powerbook today. I will post my results here when/if I get any.

In theory, I should ground one of the terminals of the multimeter to a metal surface or ground on an outlet, then touch the other to the powerbook case while it is plugged in. Is this correct?

Otherwise, I don't see how I could measure a voltage unless I have something to compare the input to...

[mattroberts]

it could just as easily be a connection to the grounding within your powerbook from the amp that charges the battery. or possibly with the ac adapter. either way since it only happens when the PB is plugged

I'm willing to assume its not a direct connection from the outlet but that there is some 'bleeding' going on. My money is the internal transformer charging the batt, the excess voltage is not grounded(be it with your home or through the internal ground to the ac adapter .

this should be how you testing the outlets within your home.
*Ripped of the web*

http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/homemaintenance/electrical/grounding.htm


cheers

[Makosuke]

Originally posted by jvandergriff

In theory, I should ground one of the terminals of the multimeter to a metal surface or ground on an outlet, then touch the other to the powerbook case while it is plugged in. Is this correct?That sounds right to me, and if it's not static, this should definitely show something.

The only case it wouldn't show up on a meter is if there's something wrong with the ground on the outlet you're measuring against; in that case the entire PB's "ground" (which I assume is where the metal case is held electrically) might be floating relative to the ground of whatever you're standing on, in which case you'd feel it. That would be the building's fault, not the PB's, but it sounds like you've ruled that out by trying it several places.

In regards to the third ground pin (in the US, anyway) on PowerBook adapters, I'd like to reiterate that there actually is a ground on the power block--if you look at the round thing sticking up where the plug part slides in, you'll see that there's metal underneath it. The compact, fold-down plug doesn't use this, but the long cord with three pins has a visible connection to it.

That said, if I understand the principle correctly (please correct me if I'm wrong), I'm not entirely sure that it would make a difference in this case; the Powerbook only seems to have two DC wires going to it, so the ground pin would just be in case of a short in the AC-DC brick. Am I misunderstanding the use of a third ground pin?

[SilentPanda]

Originally posted by claytonbench
Ive just recently statred getting shocked after my 12in powerbook has been plugged in to charge. I get one shock every 5 or so mins. Any one else experience this??

Go into "System Preferences", click on "Accessibility", then click on "Shock Timer", and make sure that it's set to "off". It's just there so you don't use your computer for hours on end...

[jap4n]

youre not using the laptop in the bath are you?

:s

(jokes) :p

[jvandergriff]

Oh, so THAT'S what I shouldn't be doing! All this time, I've been sitting in a tub of water! No wonder I keep getting shocked!

I'm reminded of the "good/bad" speech from Ghostbusters:

"Don't cross the streams." (Egon)

"Why?" (Peter)

"It could be bad." (Egon)

"I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean bad?" (Peter)

"Try to imagine all life stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light." (Egon)

"Total protonic reversal..." (Ray)

"Okay, that's bad. Thanks for the saftey tip, Egon." (Peter)

I'll have to check that out. It never hurt when I sat in the tub with my toaster, tv, hair dryer, or strobe lamp, so why would it hurt me to sit in the tub with my laptop?

Hehe. You just had to make sure I wasn't sitting in the tub... :D

[jvandergriff]

I'm pretty sure I've got the results I was looking for...

.02V @ 340ma

Anyone else agree?

This "shock" phenomenon is real and measurable.

[mattroberts]

you should really get apple to take care of it. it can't be good for you or the computer :)
cheers

[isd_glory]

Originally posted by jvandergriff
I'm pretty sure I've got the results I was looking for...

.02V @ 340ma

Anyone else agree?

This "shock" phenomenon is real and measurable.

1. The minimum voltage it takes to get through human skin on a semi-dry day is somewhere around 30 volts. As long as your hands arent wet, you can generally grab the terminals on a car battery without worrying about a shock. You wont ever feel a 0.02 volt shock.

2. Unless you're using a really expensive meter (costing in the thousands of dollars) you are likely to get phantom readings when attempting to measure an open circuit. I've got several meters here, and they all tend do that. For instance, my pillow "measures" about 0.015 Volts.
Straight from the manual:
Phantom Readings
If you do not connect the meter's probes to a circuit, and select DC or AC volts, the display might show a phantom reading. This is a wandering effect produced by the meter's high input sensitivity and is normal for most high-quality, high-impedence meters. When you connect the probes to a circuit, a real measurement appears.

Its very likely just static electricity. Wait for the weather to change, and see if it still happens.

[jvandergriff]

I've had the thing since June and I've noticed the same thing ever since I took it out of the package.

I've got revised readings that I took with a more accurate multimeter (mine was, well, crappy).

Using the more accurate meters, I get 49.6 volts. I could not get a reading on the current - either I did it wrong, or it's not measurable with the equipment I have access to.

That 49.6 volts was measured on 5 different meters and averaged. The units I used were: 2 WaveTek Meterman meters, a tpi-133, a Micronta range doubler, and a BK tool kit 2706A. All produced results from 48-51 volts.

There's no way you can attribute 50V to the internal component characteristics of the multimeters.

[mattroberts]

I just got my brand new PB 12.1 inch (As BElow) and have had no shocks... if this is not static electricity it is defintely something that you should bring up with apple.

cheers
matt

[Makosuke]

Originally posted by jvandergriff
Using the more accurate meters, I get 49.6 volts. I could not get a reading on the current - either I did it wrong, or it's not measurable with the equipment I have access to.That is real, bad, and not supposed to be happening. If it's not funky wiring, then there's something seriously wrong with either your PB or the adapter. 0.02V is for practical purposes zero, but 50V could actually be dangerous. I'm not surprised you were having trouble getting an accurate current measurement, but in any case call Apple.

The funny thing is, I'm pretty sure that the PowerBooks don't use more than 24V DC, so it seems like there shouldn't be that much voltage there unless the outlet wiring is funky.

It sounds like you've already tried it in enough places to rule out bad wiring, but just out of curiosity have you tried looking for a voltage differential between the neutral half of the outlet and actual ground? It'd be an interesting additional piece of info.

In any case, though, that sounds dangerous, so you should call Apple and see what they say.

[Mord]

my ibook gave my a shock from the latch just after i had a bath and it broke the track pad i used my mouse untill apple picked it up to fix it, they did but two weeks later it broke again they piked it up they fixed it and you guessed it it broke again i noticed there was a price cut on my ibooks so igot a new one and £100 yay ocasionaly it shocks me but only when my skin is wet other wise its fine.

[Chucky]

It doesnt sound like static, because I have intermittent buzzes if I use my PB, but no way is it a shock, just a sensation of the current running through the casing. This is down to the supply in the particular house I am in at the moment plus my propensity for static in a town up in the mountains. Some people feel nothing and think I am mad, others feel it and think that them that cant sense anything are lying! It has been like that from the day I first plugged it in here, and didnt appear out the blue like it sounds yours has.

Ever since I moved to Korea (from Canada) to work, I've been getting the same feeling in my powerbook. I've even used a transformer to step down 220V to 110V and still feel the same thing. Can anybody give me a solution to this annoying problem?
Thanks Chucky

[superbovine]

just use the cord with the ground connector to your powersuppy. don't use the one without the ground connection ;) otherwise you will be the ground connection.

[jvandergriff]

just use the cord with the ground connector to your powersuppy. don't use the one without the ground connection ;) otherwise you will be the ground connection.

I tried that. It didn't work. I still get shocked. :) Anyone else have an already mentioned solution that has always failed to solve the problem?

[lframe]

I've been suffering from this problem since my first 400mhz Ti and it's still just as bad with my 800Ti. As I sit here in France with my feet on a plastic mat for insulation, I'm still getting zapped when my elbow touches the window frame. If my foot strays off the mat, BZZZZ. If anyone has any doubts about the validity of the claim, tote your Ti to the garage, where there's bare concrete, plug it in, take off your shoes, plant them on the floor, and then run your wrist over the case. Unplug the power and the problem goes away. The same effect is even more exciting when you touch a cold water pipe!!

Measuring the voltage - You'll need a high impedence volt meter or an oscilloscope to measure the leakage. I used an oscilloscope and measured 60 volts AC. I wasn't able to get a current measurement but it's pretty small. If you try this, measure between the PB case and a cold water pipe or ground-pin on an electric outlet (make sure you know which pin that is). A door knob or most metal in your house won't work.

The problem got really bad when I moved to France and the voltage doubled (230 volt over here). I live in a newly-rewired flat that has all new electrical service, outlets, wire, circuit breaker box, etc. The problem wasn't with the wiring in the house in the US and it's not the problem here in France.

The problem is the Apple power supply. I've read that in the design of "Class III power supplies" they often couple the AC line to the ground pin/wire on the DC cord (the cord that connects the PB to the power adaptor) through CAPACITORS which would explain why you get a high voltage shock with almost no amperage. I've had 60 volt/20 ampere AC shocks from CATV distribution equipment and they'll knock you on your butt.

I am now convinced that this is a design defect, regardless of whether the US government approves the Class III spec for power supplies. I've read hundreds of posts about this and it's a real problem on a large scale. Any electric shock is dangerous to some people. Anyone with electronic implants (pace makers, monitors, etc.) is at risk from even small electric shocks for example.

Apple's support website has quite a collection of posts on the subject but hasn't addressed or so much as answered a single one of them. This is an admission of guilt by omission in my opinion. I've had their forum experts answer my posts in less than an hour when my problem was a TCP/IP issue. Apple always goes silent on issues like this, right up until the USCPSC forces a recall (http://www.cpsc.gov/).

People are getting shocks from their metal-clad Apple P-books. End of discussion. Contact the USCPSC, Apple, ZDnet, every publication you read and get some action going. This is not a "maybe it's just me" thing. I am paying for AppleCare on a machine that gives me a painful electric shock unless I use it with my feet on a plastic mat. I don't need any more proof.

[srbz]

I have a 12" ibook 500.

For as long as I can remember, I have been getting a mild shock from one of the screws on the bottom of the ibook when I set it on my lap and it contacts the skin on my leg.

It is a continuos flow, not a zap.

At first I thought it was just hot, but it can happen soon after I start using it.

[wide]

It doesnt sound like static, because I have intermittent buzzes if I use my PB, but no way is it a shock, just a sensation of the current running through the casing. This is down to the supply in the particular house I am in at the moment plus my propensity for static in a town up in the mountains. Some people feel nothing and think I am mad, others feel it and think that them that cant sense anything are lying! It has been like that from the day I first plugged it in here, and didnt appear out the blue like it sounds yours has.

If it has just started shocking you after owning the PB a while then Id suggest some electrical fault has developed. Either get an electrician to check out your powerpoints, or get a technician to check out the adapter and/or Apple to verify the PB.

I feel it too..one of the reasons I don't like the PowerBook line that much. Especially becauae when you ask a salesperson at the Apple store about it, they say it's nothing

[OldManJimbo]

Years ago when my father was working as a repairman for the telephone company in San Francisco, he received a repair order that siad, simply - "Phone rings, dog barks."

When visiting the residence he was told that the dog, which was tied up outside, would yelp and howl everytime the phone rang. The strange thing was, the phone was inside and unless the dog had exceptionally good ears, he couldn't hear the ringing.

Upon investigating the situation, Dad discovered the dog had a metal choke chain and was anchored to the water faucet near the front of the house. The same water pipe that served as the ground for the home's electrical system, including the 105-volt line that used to drive a telephone's ring circuit.

Seems as the dog, would lie on the ground in a puddle of water to keep cool, and was completing the ground circuit. Everytime the phone would ring, a strong jolt of current would run through his metal collar causing him to leap off the ground, thus breaking the circuit and relieving his pain.

--
My advice - get your PowerBook to the shop ASAP, not only could you cause serious injury to yourself, a computer that has that kind of jolt is in danger of frying itself from the inside out.

[jackieonasses]

just giving my input.


but if it shocks you once the power supply is plugged in then you know it most likely (although not 100%) that it is faulty. switch it with someone you know. check that and if it works......well call apple.

[azntigger0212]

my 12" pb that I got a month ago started shocking me today! I've felt some bad static shocks before...and this is NOT static. first i felt it at my elbow from the edge of the pb, then i thought it was just static, but when i tried to take a closer look at the edge my nose touched the edge, and it HURT! It's a constant shock that feels like my skin is getting fried. Definitely calling applecare tomorrow cause this is insane! I know I'm in a place with really high voltage (230V) but the charger/pb is supposed to be able to take this voltage! have to stop typing now cause i get shocked everytime I touch the edge!