HELP!!! Electric current (shock) from 27" 2011 iMac?!

[lil.Monster]

HELP!! I am really worried, a few hours ago I was watching a DVD with headphones and suddenly the sound went funny, so I touched my iMac to see if there was something wrong with the static or something. As I did I go a shock, I touched it again and received the same shock, then I touched it for a few seconds and released it was actually a current (like electricity flowing through my Mac, not just static build up), I immediately turned it off (not with the power button because that shocked me too!!). After I turned it off I keep getting the same current through it until I turn the power off in the socket. It is definitely not static. I don't think it has anything to do with humidity either, or earthing because it was earthing fine until it just broke or something. I have also tried different power points but to no success...

So what should I do? Should I be worried? Should I call apple? I just don't want it to explode and cause a fire!! Thank you!!

 

[Consultant]

A desktop computer don't have parts that can explode with any significant force. But contact Apple.

 

[lil.Monster]

Well, I know it won't explode but maybe emit smoke and then catch fire. I will wait overnight to see if it could just be something strange because one minute it wasn't shocking and the next it was so maybe it will reverse overnight... It's unplugged and everything so it shouldbe ok for now. And I still have my iPad.

 

[Gav2k]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)

Is it plugged into an earthed socket?? If it isn't you will get shocked

 

[OptyCT]

There's a story about cows and electric fences. Typically, a farmer will energize the electric fence around his cow field only for the first day. Why? Because cows will make contact with it once, get shocked, and never touch it again. You got shocked multiple times. Just sayin'

In all seriousness, there's probably a contact occurring between an energized part in the power supply and the aluminum case of the iMac. Aluminum is an excellent conductor. So much so that they use aluminum in power lines (most are copper, but aluminum is second). This isn't a problem that will fix itself. Get thee to the Apple Store.

 

[drambuie]

If you are getting a true electrical (not static) shock, it means that the case of the iMac is not grounded. Either there is a problem with the wiring in your home, or there is a problem with the iMac's line cord, or internal ground connection.

 

[VulchR]

Absolutely take the iMac to Apple to determine whether there is something wrong. If there isn't, I suggest hiring an electrician ASAP to determine whether your third prong of your electrical socket is properly grounded. You'd be amazed at how often they're not.

 

[chrono1081]

Absolutely take the iMac to Apple to determine whether there is something wrong. If there isn't, I suggest hiring an electrician ASAP to determine whether your third prong of your electrical socket is properly grounded. You'd be amazed at how often they're not.

This!

When I worked overseas people would get shocked all the time from the computers especially when touching things like the monitor cable or USB cables. It was due to shoddy electrical work in the buildings we were in since our buildings were older. The newer buildings didn't have a problem.

 

[eljanitor]

Take it in to an Apple repair place and have them look at it, it shouldn't do that period.

A desktop computer don't have parts that can explode with any significant force. But contact Apple.

With the exception of any CRT monitor. eMac, old iMac before flat panel displays.

 

[lil.Monster]

Well it seems to have actually resolved itself overnight, I'm toching it and can no longer feel a tingle or buzz. They've been doing renovations in my house so maybe that was it? Or maybe aliens? Lol Not sure... If it starts to buzz again I'm just going to have to take it to apple.
Thanks for everyone's advice!

 

[chrono1081]

I'd still seriously suggest getting the electrical checked....

 

[OliverOSX93]

My PB monitor did that in France. not sure why to this day (the base was ALU metal like an imac) It might be something to do with heat and constant static.