Can Feel Current Through Apple USB Keyboard?

Discussion in 'Mac Accessories' started by Tucom, May 15, 2013.

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  1. Tucom, May 15, 2013
    Last edited: May 18, 2013

    Tucom macrumors 65816

    Tucom

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2006
    #1
    Hey all, I'm using this Apple USB Aluminum keyboard that works and functions perfectly except for one bothersome thing -



    I can feel current through the keyboard if I touch almost any corner of the metal of the keyboard.


    It's plugged into an aluminum 20" Apple Cinema Display, and here's the interesting part; if I touch the display while touching one of the problematic corners of the keyboard, I can't feel the current anymore.


    I had an issue like this a long time ago except I could feel the current on the back of my eMachines chassis (and this was when eMachines made AWESOME machines, especially for the price), and that was because the new room I was in wasn't grounded properly, and the wiring was such that if we left it any longer it would have been a serious accident waiting to happen.

    However, I don't believe the place I'm living in now has any issues like that. If I touch the Cinema Display or Mac Pro itself I can't feel any current at all.

    The ONLY thing I can think of is that before using this keyboard I wiped it down and cleaned it with one of those Clorox wipes or whatever, and I think some of the liquid from the wipe got into the keyboard itself beneath the keys, but how would THAT cause current to be transmitted to the top right of the keyboard, when the keyboard's at an incline?


    Any and ALL info would be very much appreciated.
     
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  2. mfram, May 15, 2013

    mfram macrumors 65816

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2010
    Location:
    San Diego, CA USA
    #2
    My guess is some kind of grounding problem with the outlet the computer is plugged in to.
     
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  3. thedeske, May 16, 2013

    thedeske macrumors 6502a

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2013
    #3
    Try to recreate the grounding problem in another room (i.e. different circuit) by way of a long extension cable or just moving the stuff.
    Had the same issue with Apple's current (no pun intended) wired keyboard.

    Another test is use a different keyboard.
    100mA is enough to tingle most of us ;()
     
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  4. m4v3r1ck, May 16, 2013

    m4v3r1ck macrumors 68020

    m4v3r1ck

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2011
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    #4
    When walking on shoes with lether on my carpet (synthetic) I sometime create such a huge static charge I could use it to fill my carr battery ;-(

    Lessons learnt; so I know grab a hold onto the heatingblock (best grounded item here I think) in my office before touching any apples on my desktop! ;-)

    SHOCKING ELECTRICA!!!
     
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  5. TheEasterBunny, May 16, 2013

    TheEasterBunny macrumors 6502

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    Jan 22, 2013
    Location:
    Delaware
    #5
    Shocking info!
     
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  6. SMDBill, May 16, 2013

    SMDBill macrumors 6502

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2013
    #6
    Plug the keyboard into some other device's USB port and see if you get the same result. Even a power charger/adapter. If you do, the keyboard is faulty. If you don't get the same result when doing that, you have an electrical issue in the circuit of the home the computer is plugged into (neutral or ground issue) or the computer.

    Example: we had an AC unit repaired in a small building I worked in. It was raining outside and a technician grabbed the metal door handle (attached to a metal door) and jumped back, shaking his hand from the jolt. I was inside the building and dry, grabbed the same door handle and felt nothing. Because I was dry and had rubber soled boots on I was insulated from ground so I felt nothing, but he was in contact with the source of energy (door handle) and ground (being wet standing on pavement) so he was the conductive path. We found out the AC fan was removed and when they reconnected the wiring they crossed wires either phase to phase or something else, can't recall.

    If you can't duplicate the problem anywhere but on that machine, either the outlet providing power or the internals of the computer itself are faulty in some way by energizing an electrical path that is probably supposed to be carrying ground, not power.
     
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