iPhone 3G electric shock!

[Alex Travellion]

...yes, most things you would!

My new iPhone arrived this morning - I DROPPED IT GETTING OUT OF THE BOX. First scratch before the SIM card is in!

Can these forums help with iPhone users that are just idiots? I expect not!

AT

(This incident is surpassed by only one incident in my life so far - that of the day that I bought a $4000 watch only for the shop keeper to scratch the watch whilst trying to change the strap for me!)

 

[Nipz]

Just got a call from one of the head managers in the UK iPhone team to discuss the problem. He said its a build up of static and nothing to worry about. I told him i still think its crap etc etc and ive got his personal number to get in touch for anything further.

P.S. what are the little icons under our namers about? Havent noticed them before

 

[pjmack]

Anyone who has experienced this knows it is not static. My iPhone has often given me a tingle when it's charging. Just 30 minutes ago I held the phone while it was charging and a tingle started just where my palm and thumb met the metal case. This tingle built until it became a mild but sharp pain, like someone pressing a very fine needle into the palm. This is not static behavior which would be a single shock as built up static was released, and it would then be a while before it happened again. I have read a number of other BBs on the net that would indicate that this is not an unusual "feature" of this phone. Mine's a 3G by the way (most BBs seem to imply that it's the 3G in particular that suffers from the issue). I don't know if everyone with an iPhone gets this, but whilst it's probably not unsafe to the user, I'm not sure what it tells me about the insulation of the device itself and what might be the risk to the internal electronics.

 

[Empgamer]

I have had this a couple of times now. Definitely not right. It also is definitely NOT static. If you don't let go the phone it continues and gets darn painful.

First time I touched the phone when on charge and it tingled. Thought not to much of it when I lifted it to my ear to answer a call then WHACK , jolt straight through the body. Took my breath away.

Forgot about it for ages and just had it happen again. I am not entirely sure it's not the electrics in Abu Dhabi (some placed aren't earthed!!!!) but I will DEFINITELY not be using the iPhone again when on charge. Not for anything

 

[seriouscat21]

I can feel the aluminium edge (atleast i think its aluminium, the shiny rim) of the iPhone sting against my forearm like little constant electric shocks when i have it lying on my desk when plugged in to my pc but nothing as major as what happened to you

this happens to me all the time

 

[delb205]

I haven't had my iphone 3gs for long but this morning it was on charge and when I put it to my ear it felt really strange, so I did it again and the same thing happened (quite a stupid thing to do). It was a bad shock (more than static!!) and I am experiencing like pins and needles in my face, it really worried me thats why I searched the internet to find out if anyone else had had the same problem. I find it ridiculous that in a year from when a complaint was made to apple and they havent tried to resolve this problem.

 

[electrakitty]

I've had my 3GS about two or three weeks and this morning I went to plug it into my computer and as soon as the charger made contact, I got a pretty frightening shock that made my hand close around the phone. I ended up falling down and screaming without knowing I was going to do either. It was really frightening. I plugged it back into the regular wall charger and it's fine. No shock and charging like normal.

 

[braddk]

Static my ass!

This is not static! This is a fault with the design...

I have this now since I have been using my Iphone alot it needs the charging in my macbook pro i7.

And not to be to dependent but I would like to make calls without holding the phone 2 cm from my ear thats not why i payed 1000 doloors for it!

Does anyone know if you can get another or something?

And who ever said its static is a fool...

 

[mirotana]

this happened to me today! with my iphone4 though not the 3gs. It is plugged into the phone charger in the wall, like everyone else is saying. I am although glad I didn't such a big shock, it was only a little one and at first I was so very confused, I though it was maybe my hair getting caught in the case. So I kept sticking the metal bit against my ear when I was talking to see if it would happen again.. and it did, a few times. mildly but still hurt. I have a hard case on my phone which covers the sides but not the top and bottom, so the energy can't earth into my hand, just my ear. good times.

note to self. don't talk on the phone when it's charging and contact apple.

 

[davelikesmacs]

i've got a 3gs 32gb, got it second hand from ebay. I've had it for 3 months or so no problems, the guy I bought it off had bought it outright and then upgraded to iphone 4 and onsold the 3gs. i had mine plugged into a sound system and had this weird tingly feeling in my fingers. I thought my phone was slightly vibrating and i wanted to check so i touched it to my lip which probably wasn't the smartest thing to do, but your lips are sensitive right and I thought my finger was playing games with me. it didn't burn my lip or anything but yeah it definitely gave me a shock. its still plugged in and playing music fine. the 3.5m jack and the sound system are working fine, no shock there, just the silver rim at the front of the iphone while plugged in. strange.

does this damage the iphone? can it be dangerous?

so far i've just had tingles, more or less the same you get if you touch the head of an electric shower head (the type that are common in south america where i'm at atm). tingles but nothing deathly.

 

[ImStrapped]

May have just been static, but as your ear is red, that seems like more that a static shock. I wouldn't be worried about it, hell I remember with my Razr, you could put your tongue on the chromed-plastic hinge and get a zap

lol! good times! haha

 

[caraster]

Caraster

I've had my 3GS about two or three weeks and this morning I went to plug it into my computer and as soon as the charger made contact, I got a pretty frightening shock that made my hand close around the phone. I ended up falling down and screaming without knowing I was going to do either. It was really frightening. I plugged it back into the regular wall charger and it's fine. No shock and charging like normal.

I had a v similar experience last week. Just bought a refurbed 3gs (mistake!) and while on charge I picked up the phone to use. The phone stuck to the palm of my hand and then violently vibrated my hand for about 10 seconds until I realised what was going on and dropped the phone. I had pins and needles in my hand for ages and my forearm was swollen for a couple of hrs after. Really scary! Have reported as still under warranty and sending me a new one so hopefully will be ok. My bro's theory (Technician) was that likely a damaged inverter leaking DC charge into the antenna - deffo not static! Hoping its not more widespread charging issue, some posts make me think otherwise!