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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
 
I get shocked to!

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!
 
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.
 
My 15" TI book does this also

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.
 
Electric Shock - You're not alone

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.
 
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.
 
Bad earthing

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
 
Totally weird

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.
 
Meter it

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

Cheers,

Nick
 
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..?
 
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!!!!
 
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
 
One hole in your theory

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...
 
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
 
Re: One hole in your theory

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?
 
Re: Powerbook 12in Electric SHOCK!!!

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...
 
That could be bad

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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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