Help my mouse is electrocuting me and making strange noises

Question

Level 1

8 points

Help my mouse is electrocuting me and making strange noises

This is not a Joke.
I am not on Drugs.

I just bought a Mac PRO about 3 weeks ago. Ever since I set it up I noticed that the mouse made a strange clicking noise. Now dont be a smart-*** like the guy at the Apple store that asked me if this is what I meant as he proceeded to click the mouse. I know how a mouse works.

The mouse made a slight continuous clicking sound. Almost the same sound you would get from clicking the mouse in the normal fashion but as fast as you possibly could and much lower in volume than an actual mouse click.

Now for the scary part. The noise got progressively louder (still not as loud as a normal mouse click) and I could swear that I felt it in my hand.

Now the feeling is getting stronger in my hand. I can literally feel the mouse shocking my finger. My hair is not standing on end but it feels similar to those glass ball toys that have the electricity inside and when you put your hand on them the electricity follows it. If you put a coin on the top of one of those balls and then put your finger on top of the coin (but not touching it) the electric bolt will jump from the coin to your finger giving you a mild shock. Or sort of like an old Missile Command arcade game when the paint around the track ball started to wear off but before it would give you a full on shock. Sorry, I know those two are somewhat unique references but they are the only sensations I can relate it to. If you dont know what I am talking about just think of a mild buzzing in your finger tip.

In any case, it is definately electrical energy for the following two reasons
1. I can feel it residually in my hand after using the mouse for a while. It feels sort of like the buzzing nerves in your hand after riding a motorcycle.
2. When I touch the case of the computer the noise stops (ground issue) and as soon as I let go it starts again.

As you have probably guessed the smart-*** at the Apple store was no help.

Anyone familiar with this problem? Any advice?

I am trying to make a video of the incident but it is hard to get the sound to reproduce properly (or at all). If I get a good clip I will post a link to it so you can all see the incredible Apple Mighty Electrocuting Mouse.

Mac Pro 4 core 2.66, Mac OS X (10.4.10), 2x 750gb 7.2k + 150 gb 10k 8gb (4x2gb)

Posted on Jul 16, 2007 6:58 PM

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Answer 1

Doug.

Level 1

15 points

Jul 16, 2007 7:12 PM in response to advil

The first two bits of advice that come to mind are also the most obvious. You didn't mention trying them, but they seem to be the most logical considering you just got your Mac Pro recently.

Option 1: try a different mouse, or if you don't have a spare mouse, try your mouse in a different port

Option 2: Call Apple

Between those two options, they should get solved.

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Answer 2

advil Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 16, 2007 7:36 PM in response to Doug.

The first two bits of advice that come to mind are
also the most obvious. You didn't mention trying
them, but they seem to be the most logical
considering you just got your Mac Pro recently.

Option 1: try a different mouse, or if you don't have
a spare mouse, try your mouse in a different port

I tried the mouse in both ports on the keyboard and it did not make a difference. I dont have another mouse.

Option 2: Call Apple

This would have been my option 1 with a NEW computer. However, as you might have gathered from my post I was already in the Apple Store to have an AirCard installed ( I am still amazed that they wont let me put it in myself but whatever) and for my mouse and told the guy my problem. He was no help and simply shrugged his shoulders. Out here in Las Vegas most of the dolts working at the Apple Store seem to be recent discharges from the CompUSA's that are cutting back. Dolts may be to harsh but it aint no genius bar.

I love the fact that when I call Apple I get a guy that speaks english as a native tongue and knows what dude means ( I am sure up by you its the same eh) but they told me to take it to the genius bar.

The only Apple store in Las Vegas is actually in a large shopping mall on the Strip. Not the streets you want to travel on as a local (too much traffic and tourists) and I already had the once in a lifetime experience of walking through a MALL with a 40lb Mac PRO in a giant piece of luggage with wheels. At $138 a share you would think that they could just send someone to my house to look at this thing.

F_it Im going to the real bar, have an Apple Martini and punch a genius in the mouth.......
Then I will call Apple again.

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Answer 3

Jul 16, 2007 8:29 PM in response to advil

Okay, being the devils advocate here...

1. Electrocution by 24V @ 500 mA is very unlikely, unless applied directly across cardiac muscle. Further there is no reasonable electrical path for the voltage to reach you through the mouse shell.

2. the tingle may be an early sign of RSI or Carpel Tunnel Syndrome from poor ergonomics.

3. Any buzzing/clicking noises could be of mechanical or electrical origin so assuming a grounding issue just because it stops when you touch it is not a definite answer.

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Answer 4

advil Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 16, 2007 9:07 PM in response to Forrest McElfresh1

Of course I am not being electricuted because I am replying to you. I am being shocked. In case you did not read the post This is not a joke.

I will clarify in the hopes that you can lend more advice specific to my problem.

The tingle is not Carpel Tunnel. The tingle is distinct in my finger. I can feel this in my finger at the exact rate that the audible clicking is heard.

The shocking occurs when I touch the mouse on the right hand side. I can rest my finger on the right side without pressing anything and that is when the sound APPEARS.

While the sound is occuring (with my right hand still on the mouse) if I touch the CASE OF THE COMPUTER with my OTHER HAND the shocking and clicking stop instantly. If I let go of the CASE with my left hand the sound comes back. I can do this over and over with the same result.

From what I understand USB supplies voltage from the computer to the mouse. I am being shocked by the mouse and when I touch the side of the computer case (a grounded area) the shock stops. So I think this means that it is electrical and not mechanical. If I am wrong explain how this could be mechanical. Please?

By the way if you are interested here is the internal design of the Mighty Mouse that someone took apart.
http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/hardware/dissect.ars
Could you please review the diagrams and circuit boards and figure ou twhy the mouse is shocking me?

Thanks

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Answer 5

Jul 16, 2007 10:43 PM in response to advil

Could you please review the diagrams and circuit
boards and figure out why the mouse is shocking me?

Thanks

I think I have some idea why.

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Answer 6

Jul 17, 2007 4:33 AM in response to advil

The tingle is
distinct in my finger. I can feel this in my finger
at the exact rate that the audible clicking is heard.

From what I understand USB supplies voltage from the
computer to the mouse.

Yes, but it is only 5 volts. (FireWire can be around 24 volts.) All of the exterior of the mouse is plastic, so it would take a very high voltage to give you an electric shock. You should check, though that the electrical outlet used for the computer has a good ground connection.

explain how this could be mechanical.
Please?

When your fingers are resting on the mouse, you may be moving the scroll-ball. This does generate a small, fast, clicking sound, and and a vibration that mat be felt in the fingers. Put your ear close to the mouse while you turn the scroll-ball. Is that the fast clicking you have been hearing? Certain vibrations in the fingers or hand can be interpreted as a tingling, or electric shock. That is how joy-buzzers work.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_Buzzer>

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Answer 7

Jul 17, 2007 8:10 AM in response to advil

Have you made sure that your electrical outlet is wired correctly? Additionally, do you use a UPS?

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Answer 8

Jul 17, 2007 2:44 PM in response to advil

Sorry for my earlier smart-aleck response. But this really is making a mountain out of a molehill. Instead of asking people to analyze the circuit design of the mouse for potential flaws, let's get back to reality.

1 - it seems likely that the mouse may have an electrical fault. Stop using it.

2 - new mice are inexpensive. Buy a new one and see if the problem goes away. If it does - problem solved. Wouldn't that be nice? Return the defective mouse to Apple for a refund. If problem persists then there is a deeper and possibly more serious electrical issue. It probably should fall back in Apple's lap.

3 - Before doing any of this, follow the other poster's suggestion and make certain the Mac is plugged into a grounded outlet. Keep in mind that even if the outlet has three holes it does not guarantee that the ground is wired up or that the connection is reaching a proper ground. There are cheap testers that you can use to positively identify whether or not proper ground exists for the outlet.

G4/533,powerbook G4/667 iMacG4flat/MBP

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Answer 9

advil Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 17, 2007 7:50 PM in response to JOHN ALBERGO

1 - it seems likely that the mouse may have an
electrical fault. Stop using it.

You are getting warmer however the mouse does not have a fault. When I took the mouse into the Apple store the "genius" plugged it into another Mac PRO not mine (and yes I am an idiot as well for not calling him on that one) and the mouse worked fine no shock, no click

2 - new mice are inexpensive. Buy a new one and see
if the problem goes away. If it does - problem
solved. Wouldn't that be nice? Return the defective
mouse to Apple for a refund. If problem persists
then there is a deeper and possibly more serious
electrical issue. It probably should fall back in
Apple's lap.

See response above mouse alone is not the problem.

3 - Before doing any of this, follow the other
poster's suggestion and make certain the Mac is
plugged into a grounded outlet. Keep in mind that
even if the outlet has three holes it does not
guarantee that the ground is wired up or that the
connection is reaching a proper ground. There are
cheap testers that you can use to positively identify
whether or not proper ground exists for the outlet.

This is a good idea. I proceeded to check what I have plugged in. The Mac PRO, monitor and such are all plugged into a plug strip called APC. This plug strip has two lights on them one that says "protection working" and one that says "Site Wiring Fault". The protection light is on and the fault light is off. Just for fun I plugged the mac into the wall directly. no solution. I grabbed a three prong heavy gauge extension cord from the garage. I plugged into an outlet across the room and turned on the power strip. This time the red light came on for Site Wiring Fault on the plug strip. What the **** I thought. When I unplugged the cord from the wall to check another outlet I noticed that the third prong (ground) was pulled out of the cord. HMMM, that seems to mean that when there is improper ground the red light will go on. Hmmmmmmm, it seems that I have an innexpensive socket tester already plugged into the MAC. The red light is not on in the original configuration therefore there is not a ground problem.

Reality check
The mouse on my brand new overpriced computer is shocking me.
I called Apple and they sent me to the dipstick bar.
Dipsticks check oil but apparently know little about mice.
The request for review of the circuit board was in response to the electrical engineer that told me there was no way the mouse could be shocking me when it actually is. I thought that he might enjoy figuring out how something was happening that he believed could not happen.

If this is such a molehill how come you cant climb it?
Wouldnt it be nice if you were useful?

Somebody help me please!

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Answer 10

Jul 18, 2007 6:21 AM in response to advil

You are getting warmer however the mouse does not
have a fault. When I took the mouse into the Apple
store the "genius" plugged it into another Mac PRO
not mine (and yes I am an idiot as well for not
calling him on that one) and the mouse worked fine no
shock, no click

So, after all this discussion you finally bring out this essential piece of information? Why this game of blind-man's bluff?

Hmmmmmmm, it seems that I have
an innexpensive socket tester already plugged into
the MAC. The red light is not on in the original
configuration therefore there is not a ground
problem.

Good to know.

If this is such a molehill how come you cant climb
it?

That was based on the information you gave at the time. NOW you let us know that the mouse worked fine on another computer. So now that you've eliminated that possibility, troubleshooting goes on. That's how it works.

Have you tried plugging the mouse directly into the USB ports on the Mac, or just the KB? Is your KB plugged directly to the mac, or is it plugged into some other USB hub (such as the ones provided on a monitor)? You need to definitively isolate the cause all the way back to the Mac. If that turns out to be the case then you'll need to contact Apple again.

Wouldnt it be nice if you were useful?

You'll have an easier time without that chip on your shoulder. Are you this nice to everyone who tries to help you?

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Answer 11

Jul 19, 2007 5:58 AM in response to advil

Advil-

I've had similar experiences with the mighty mouse myself, so I know you're not crazy! My mouse will do everything you describe if I'm holding a guitar (touching the strings so there's a ground connection) in my studio while operating the mouse. To remedy this, I've made sure everything is on the same circuit and it seemed to stop the problem entirely.

Some things to check:

Make sure the ground on the outlet you have your mac plugged into is good. Make sure any inter-connected gear is on the same circuit. Make sure you're not accidently touching anything metal while operating the mouse that could be grounding you to another circuit somehow. I'm sure somewhere in here lies the answer for you...

good luck!

mac pro Mac OS X (10.4.10)

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