HT203298: Apple Earbuds and static electricity

Learn about Apple Earbuds and static electricity
rltproffitt
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Earbuds create painful shock.

The design of the new earbuds is shocking people because they conduct static.  The old ones did not.  I gurantee that the $80 replacement phones don't shock people.  This is a painful and potentially lethal product.

iPhone 5, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Dec 3, 2013 2:08 PM

by rltproffitt,Solvedanswer
rltproffitt rltproffitt
Level 1 (0 points)
A:

I have had three pairs of these earbuds and they all do the same thing, which is shock the **** out of your ears with a burning sensation.  I don't care if it is a 3v shock or a 30,000v shock. Earphones are not suppose to shock people in the interior of their ears.

 

I have been a long time customer since the early days of the IIe.   I don't know if you get paid by apple or what but obviously you have not experienced this.  These earbuds (the new ones) are a  shoody product that should be investigated and fixed.  All of your (apple) excuses and psuedo understanding of electricity still does not justify a dangerous product.  Give me a break!  Go ahead walk next to a live wire with those earbuds on and tell me your opinion then.

 

For any else with this problem.  If you bring in the earbuds and complain enough they will give you a new pair. Since the new pair are just as crappy as the old pair you can do this over and over again.  Eventually, apple will get the message.  I can see the evening news now.  Young child with apple earbuds gets a shocking surprise.  Shame on you apple.  Jobs must be turning over now.

Posted on Dec 4, 2013 12:48 PM

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rltproffitt

Q: Earbuds create painful shock.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Rudegar,

    Rudegar Rudegar Dec 4, 2013 7:39 AM in response to rltproffitt
    Level 7 (28,411 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 4, 2013 7:39 AM in response to rltproffitt

    if it's static electricity then the amps are next to 0 and because of that it could never ever ever ever be lethal even to small furry animals

     

    but you can let apple know about their static issue using the feedback

    http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

  • by rltproffitt,

    rltproffitt rltproffitt Dec 4, 2013 9:47 AM in response to Rudegar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 4, 2013 9:47 AM in response to Rudegar

    That is nonsense.  You have a open conducter of electricity in the human ear, a centimeter away from the brain.  Static is not the only carrier of eletricity that can conduct through these earbuds.  For instance, standing next to an electric oven that is 220.  If that current runs up from that oven into these buds it could be lethal.  Or any open circuit like a misty rain around an airconditioning unit that is malfunctioning.  The potential hazards go on an on.

  • by Rudegar,

    Rudegar Rudegar Dec 4, 2013 12:12 PM in response to rltproffitt
    Level 7 (28,411 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 4, 2013 12:12 PM in response to rltproffitt

    Static is 4000 to 35000 volts

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_electricity#Static_discharge

     

    When you speak of 220 you are speaking about normal ac not static

    Headset audio volts and currents are less the 9volt battery which i guess we have all tried to put our tongue on as kids

  • by rltproffitt,Solvedanswer

    rltproffitt rltproffitt Dec 4, 2013 12:48 PM in response to Rudegar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 4, 2013 12:48 PM in response to Rudegar

    I have had three pairs of these earbuds and they all do the same thing, which is shock the **** out of your ears with a burning sensation.  I don't care if it is a 3v shock or a 30,000v shock. Earphones are not suppose to shock people in the interior of their ears.

     

    I have been a long time customer since the early days of the IIe.   I don't know if you get paid by apple or what but obviously you have not experienced this.  These earbuds (the new ones) are a  shoody product that should be investigated and fixed.  All of your (apple) excuses and psuedo understanding of electricity still does not justify a dangerous product.  Give me a break!  Go ahead walk next to a live wire with those earbuds on and tell me your opinion then.

     

    For anybody else with this problem.  If you bring in the earbuds and complain enough they will give you a new pair. Since the new pair are just as crappy as the old pair you can do this over and over again.  Eventually, apple will get the message.  I can see the evening news now.  Young child with apple earbuds gets a shocking surprise.  Shame on you apple.  Jobs must be turning over now.

  • by Rudegar,

    Rudegar Rudegar Dec 5, 2013 8:29 AM in response to rltproffitt
    Level 7 (28,411 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 5, 2013 8:29 AM in response to rltproffitt

    no I don't work for apple and I don't use the headset because I think it's crap (that being said I only have the old version but reviews I read say that the new one sound a bit better but is still garbage)

    I use a bluetooth stereo headset from nokia it works fine for calls and music

     

    if you wish to complain then you really should use the feedback channel I posted in the other post

    because it would cost apple a lot of money if they were to filter customer satifaction out of all the support posts in these forums (where most posts resolution are 1. restart the ios device or 2. yeah water does do damage and make ios devices act strange)

  • by rltproffitt,

    rltproffitt rltproffitt Dec 5, 2013 9:10 AM in response to Rudegar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 5, 2013 9:10 AM in response to Rudegar

    Yawn.  Stop posting nonsense and worse potentially harmful information.

  • by Rudegar,

    Rudegar Rudegar Dec 5, 2013 12:20 PM in response to rltproffitt
    Level 7 (28,411 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 5, 2013 12:20 PM in response to rltproffitt

    Im sorry if these forums supported a ignore feature so i would not be able to accententially reply to more posts you would post the i would click it in a heartbeat to spare you of any more anguish

  • by Myra J,

    Myra J Myra J Feb 21, 2014 11:15 AM in response to rltproffitt
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Feb 21, 2014 11:15 AM in response to rltproffitt

    Yes, the Apple earbuds shock me. Inititally it happened when I walked under high voltage cables, but recently it doesn't matter where I am, and being in a dry environment, building up static electricity is not a factor. This happens when it's dry, when it's damp, raining, whatever. It's very frustrating because I generally like the earbuds. (my 2 cents)