Powerbook is SHOCKING me. Electrocution.

Question

Powerbook is SHOCKING me. Electrocution.

I have a 15" Powerbook with 1 gig of ram.

On and off my Powerbook will literally shock me, usually through one specific area, the bottom left-hand corner of the wrist rests.

I took it into an Apple store and could not recreate it, and Apple didn't want to talk to me, saying if the hardware test came out ok - it did - then they wouldn't be able to do anything, that it was environmental.

While I'm surprised Apple doesn't care their computer is electrocuting me, I realize it COULD be environmental. My landlord checked my electrical plugs, and because it's an old house they are not grounded, meaning that big bottom hole isn't functioning. I have my computer plugged in through a surge protector regardless.

It's not a quick static shock, as Apple keeps telling me it is. When it occurs it's an extended, graduating shock that makes me pull my hand away, it actually hurts that bad. It doesn't do it all the time; sometimes I get a wierd tingling feeling on the wrist rests of the Powerbook.

Has anyone had this problem?

Powerbook 15", Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Dec 3, 2005 11:49 AM

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Answer 1

joeuu

Level 5

5,089 points

Dec 3, 2005 3:04 PM in response to Ian Kristensen

Ian,

If you would have read the user manual, you would have learned not to use your machine while immersed in a bubble bath!
(;>)

Joe

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Answer 2

Jrsy Man

Level 4

1,890 points

Dec 3, 2005 5:00 PM in response to Ian Kristensen

Hi Ian,

While I cannot say this is definetly whats happening to you this really does sound like an 'enviromental' issue. I too get the same shocks from my PB. They started about two months ago. It didn't surprise me when it occured since I had already been through this with my last laptop. The casing on it was all plastic except for the top part of the LCD 'lid'. Once fall and winter hit I would get constant shocks from touching it. I quickly learned to discharge my hand on something metal first before touching my laptop (which I also do now with my PB). Using heat really dries the air out which exacerbates the condition of static discharges. I can also tell you I've gotten some pretty good 'zaps' that have hurt a little. You can try getting a small humidifier to cut down on the effect or remember to discharge yourself before grabbing your 'book. If either of these suggestions do not alleviate this situation then you may want to have the PB checked again.

Jrsy

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Answer 3

carl wolf

Level 6

14,631 points

Dec 4, 2005 8:50 PM in response to Ian Kristensen

Ian,
There are a couple problems here...
First, your landlord has replaced non-grounded, two-prong sockets, with 3 prong grounded sockets, but didn't attach the ground wire. This is in direct violation of both the Uniform and National Building Codes, and the individual codes in each of the 50 states and all municipalities within the US. Your landlord is facing a huge liability and, whether you elect to pursue his negligance in court is up to you.

The problem is not static-related, and it is exacerbated environmentally.

The PowerBook power adapter places one-half of the line voltage onto the chassis ground, and everything attached to the metal frame - including the metal cover. Although the current level is very low - within the compliance agencies' limits. If the air is dry, as it usually is when you heat the air, the "tingling" is more noticeable, but not dangerous.

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Answer 4

Dec 4, 2005 8:59 PM in response to Ian Kristensen

You can do 1 or 2 thing to fix this.

1 = Air is to dry get a humidifier that controlls the air moisture content and your health + hear will be better to manage. = no more static shock from plastic based clothes / carpets etc.

2 = Get a UPS uniteruptable power supply as this will tell you if the wall socket is bad / ungrounded and also protect your Pbook even if this is the case.

UPS = keeps power stable and if something bad happens they will replace the devices connected to it for upto $50k or $250k value.

About $50 for a good one shop around.

Sorry for the spelling ????

Hope this helps as it worked for me.

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Answer 5

Dec 14, 2005 10:15 AM in response to Ian Kristensen

Thanks everyone!

The sockets are good, and we called an electrician who said that if he came out, yeah, to bring it up to code he'd have to replace the wiring and whatnot to make the sockets grounded, which we haven't done. I'm not sure I want to force my landlord to do this as it'd be a huge job and is an inconvienience right now.

I might try the humidifier or keeping static down with a spray or something.

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Answer 6

Dec 14, 2005 12:37 PM in response to Ian Kristensen

Wear rubber gloves.

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Answer 7

Dec 15, 2005 3:42 PM in response to Ian Kristensen

Either the air is to dry and needs a humidifier as plastic based clothes/furniture does build up a charge as cotton does not or less.

Or you have wires that has metal exposed and this will cause shock.

likely non coton clothes + dry air = static shock.

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Answer 8

Dec 16, 2005 7:25 AM in response to Ian Kristensen

I would definitely have those sockets grounded at your earliest convenience. It will make your life so much better and safer...

What you could try is using a product called 'Static Guard" it's a spray that is used to avoid static cling on clothes. You can't miss it, it's in a blue aerosol-type of bottle with an orange top. Pick it up at any drug store, etc. BTW, it's a very cheap product - I picked up a travel version ( small can ) for 49 cents at Walmart.

Spray a little bit on the carpet, working area floor - avoid your computer by all costs! This will help eliminate the static shocks you get.. and will hopefully save your computer from having issues in the future.

You can also try using windex - funny - I was at a trade show a few years back.. major static every-time we touched any of our computers.. They sprayed windex window cleaner on the floors/carpets.. and presto.. cleared the issue up.. Not sure if you could just use water...

Hope this helps..

Rudy

Al 15-1.67Ghz w/1Gb & iMac-G4 20inch w/1.2Gb Mac OS X (10.4.2)

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Answer 9

Wheezer

Level 1

0 points

Jan 1, 2006 9:56 PM in response to Rudy Milkovic

Spray a little bit on the carpet, working area floor
- avoid your computer by all costs! This will help
eliminate the static shocks you get..

The issue is not static electricity (in my case, at least), it's the chassis ground, which is at mains return potential. My kitchen sink and radiator (which is connected to my prep surface), however, are true earth grounds. If I accidentally complete the circuit with my arms, there is an irritating shock, which is not of the discharge variety. (The weather is irrelevant.) The only solution would seem to be isolating the chassis.

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Answer 10

Jan 1, 2006 11:32 PM in response to Ian Kristensen

As an electrical engineer (UK) I can confirm the advice given, apart from the obvious jokers. The problem you are suffering I suffer also. Some people are more resistant to electricity leaks than others and you seem to be one who is more resistant. As long as your PC does not short out you are quite safe however you should reconsider (on behalf of your landlord) the option of providing an earth, even if it is only to the outlet used for your metal PB. Unless you are a several floors up it is not too difficult for a knowledgeable person to rig up.

G5 DP 2.0 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

G5 DP 2.0 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

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Answer 11

Wheezer

Level 1

0 points

Jan 2, 2006 12:20 AM in response to Philippine Swing

As long as your PC does not short out you are quite safe
however you should reconsider (on behalf of your
landlord) the option of providing an earth, even if
it is only to the outlet used for your metal PB.

It seems more common in the States to completely eliminate earth grounds when replacing plumbing, which I suppose is the reason the complaint is relatively uncommon.

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Answer 12

T.M.

Level 1

38 points

Jan 2, 2006 11:23 AM in response to Ian Kristensen

The definition of electrocution is death by electrical currents. Thus if you are alive then your powerbook is not electrocuting you or else you would be dead. Problem solved, haha. But electrical wires could be done wrong as many have said above, forgetting to ground, done in parallel, etc...

Good luck,
TM

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Answer 13

fannara

Level 1

20 points

Jan 3, 2006 2:59 AM in response to Ian Kristensen

I have a 15" Powerbook with 1 gig of ram.

On and off my Powerbook will literally shock me,
usually through one specific area, the bottom
left-hand corner of the wrist rests.

I took it into an Apple store and could not recreate
it, and Apple didn't want to talk to me, saying if
the hardware test came out ok - it did - then they
wouldn't be able to do anything, that it was
environmental.

While I'm surprised Apple doesn't care their computer
is electrocuting me, I realize it COULD be
environmental. My landlord checked my electrical
plugs, and because it's an old house they are not
grounded, meaning that big bottom hole isn't
functioning. I have my computer plugged in through a
surge protector regardless.

It's not a quick static shock, as Apple keeps telling
me it is. When it occurs it's an extended, graduating
shock that makes me pull my hand away, it actually
hurts that bad. It doesn't do it all the time;
sometimes I get a wierd tingling feeling on the wrist
rests of the Powerbook.

Has anyone had this problem?

Hi Ian, I have exactly the same problem as you do. I just got my 15 " powerbook and in it 1 gb of ram. Every now and then I can feel the electric current on the top of the keyboard and in the lower left corner. I live in a totally reformed house in Barcelona and there is plenty of humidity here now so I am not dealing with dry air. I think it has something to do with the machine. I havent taken it to apple yet because it is not a constant problem, it happens randomly. I have also been having problems with the soundcard in the machine. A couple of times a day the sound im playing goes into a loop for 2 or 3 seconds and then continues normally, regardless of what program I am playing sounds from.

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Answer 14

Jan 3, 2006 6:47 AM in response to fannara

This is a known issue with the PowerBook. It's all about whether you properly ground the third pin of the power plug. It's not even a failure, as this is exactly how it's designed to work, and since apple provides a two-prong plug for the power supply, they clearly don't require the use of a proper ground.

The suggestion above to use a UPS is kind of funny, since the PowerBook has a UPS built in, that's what the battery setup is. Using a UPS just to tell you if the AC outlets are properly wired is overkill - devices for testing outlets for improper wiring cost about $10.

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Answer 15

Jan 4, 2006 12:52 PM in response to fannara

You've probably noticed that the shocks are worse when you're working in bare feet or just socks, and that if you raise your feet or wear rubber-soled shoes, there is no shock... or if you use the longer mains connector, which has an earth-prong (assuming your mains system is properly earthed). Why we should all be experiencing this, and yet, as one contributor noted, Apple considers this "normal", I don't know. I have to assume the amount of current passing through our bodies is not dangerous, but it's certainly not pleasant.
(By the way, as well as the tingling, I feel a sort of rippling effect when I pass my hand over the lid of the PowerBook (when in bare feet, etc), which demonstrates that this is not static, but mains current which is leaking through our bodies)
Angus

PowerBook 15" Mac OS X (10.3.9)

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