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EvryDayImShufln

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 18, 2006
1,094
1
Hi

Yesterday my C2D MBP, after I shut the screen and left it to sleep, gave me a huge shock. All I did was walk away from it, then go back to it 10 seconds later to put something in front of the light so I could sleep.

It had given me small shocks in the past before once in awhile, but this one was BIG. Easily the most painful shock I've had in my life, and scared me alot. What if next time I get a bigger shock? It's really weird and I can't figure out why this would happen.

Any ideas? thanks
 

siurpeeman

macrumors 603
Dec 2, 2006
6,321
24
the OC
treat her right or she'll bite back. in all honesty, static electricity is quite common, and i wouldn't worry too much about it. if you're really concerned, however, you might want to consider an antistatic coating spray for your floors, chair, etc. to avoid the shock. also, maybe leather-soled shoes or increasing the humidity in the room might work.
 

TBi

macrumors 68030
Jul 26, 2005
2,583
6
Ireland
Um... let me think what would i do if my laptop shocked me... would i call apple, say it to them and get a replacement or complain about it on a forum...

Hard choice...
 

sunfast

macrumors 68020
Oct 14, 2005
2,135
53
I got a small shock from a screw on the case on the bottom of my MacBook but it was just a small static one. If I got a proper shock I'd be venting down the phone at apple
 

persep

macrumors member
Sep 12, 2006
56
0
Spain
Hi,
have you been using the 2 pin power cord?
something happened to me on an iBook. It's because Apple's power adapter are not too good and shielding electricity when they are not grounded. You have to use the 3 pin power cord.
 

sycho

macrumors 6502a
Oct 7, 2006
865
4
I'm sorry, but some one has to say this:

You guys are wussies. Once you have real current going through you, then you will appreciate the very little static shocks.
 

aristobrat

macrumors G5
Oct 14, 2005
12,292
1,403
Yesterday my C2D MBP, after I shut the screen and left it to sleep, gave me a huge shock. All I did was walk away from it, then go back to it 10 seconds later to put something in front of the light so I could sleep.
Over the last few weeks, it's been mega-cold in my part of the US, so the heat-pump's been running almost non-stop.

The heat-pump has a neat way of taking humidity out of the air.

Soooo, if I walk across the carpet and touch my MBP (or my dog or cat), I can get a pretty huge shock too. At least my MBP doesn't growl at me when it happens. :)
 

ekenny

macrumors regular
May 28, 2005
178
0
New York
Im the type of person that gets shocked touching everything. Like getting out of the car and closing the door, I get it, touching door knobs, I get it, etc. Ever since I first got my MBP, if I get up and walk around, and then come back to it, I get shocked. Sometimes its small, but sometimes its big. It doesnt seem to matter if I use the 2 prong or 3 prong adapter.
 

tpjunkie

macrumors 65816
Nov 24, 2002
1,251
5
NYC
youd be dead, most likely.

Nah, I've gotten 120V shocks from improperly grounded outlets and light switch boxes while doing some electrical wiring...it stings and can make your arm go numb, but it sure doesn't kill you. But yeah, its winter time, it's dry, I get shocked on my MPB everyday, especially right when I come home from work. Nothing to worry about really. If it was a dangerous amount of current it'd fry the circuitboards in your machine (we have had that happen at work with imacs with bad power supplies).
 

TBi

macrumors 68030
Jul 26, 2005
2,583
6
Ireland
Im the type of person that gets shocked touching everything. Like getting out of the car and closing the door, I get it, touching door knobs, I get it, etc. Ever since I first got my MBP, if I get up and walk around, and then come back to it, I get shocked. Sometimes its small, but sometimes its big. It doesnt seem to matter if I use the 2 prong or 3 prong adapter.

Stop wearing polyester!

Plus you can stop getting shocked by a car by either:
open the door and put your hand out touching the roof before you put your foot outside

or

put your foot outside on the ground then put your hand on the roof.

I think the former is the correct one.
 

nitynate

macrumors 6502a
Jan 22, 2006
866
0
Clearwater, FL
0_o

What's a static shock?

You mean like up north if you drag your feet on the carpet then touch metal? :p


I've never felt that where I live.... Why the difference in static electricity?
 

TBi

macrumors 68030
Jul 26, 2005
2,583
6
Ireland
0_o

What's a static shock?

You mean like up north if you drag your feet on the carpet then touch metal? :p


I've never felt that where I live.... Why the difference in static electricity?

Humidity. The moisture in the air conducts the static electricity away from your body. The lower the humidity, the less of this conduction and the more of a whack you get when you touch a grounded surface.
 

richard4339

macrumors 6502a
Sep 6, 2006
896
112
Illinois
My MBP has been giving away quite a few shocks to me lately. I've thought nothing of it really (its cold here, dry air, it happens). However, yesterday, I got the fortune of hearing what sounded like an electrical discharge yesterday when attempting to restart my computer (I had to remove the battery to get it to reset). This is one of many small problems I'm having with my machine, and I've just ordered AppleCare (box should arrive today), so AppleCare will be hearing from me tonight.
 

Sdashiki

macrumors 68040
Aug 11, 2005
3,529
11
Behind the lens
Right. Because I am posting from the grave right now.:rolleyes:

like that Twilight Zone episode where the old lady gets phonecalls from her dead lover, only later to find a downed telephone wire at his grave....

120V CAN kill you.

we've all had a quick numbing from an improperly grounded wire, light fixture or switch.

but dont think that the wall outlet cant kill you.
 

TBi

macrumors 68030
Jul 26, 2005
2,583
6
Ireland
120V CAN kill you.
So can 12V if the current is high enough. It's the current that kills, not the voltage. That's why you usually get a mild buzz when you touch a loose wire, you're not fully shorted to ground so you aren't the best path for current to flow so you only get a buzz.
 

sycho

macrumors 6502a
Oct 7, 2006
865
4
like that Twilight Zone episode where the old lady gets phonecalls from her dead lover, only later to find a downed telephone wire at his grave....

120V CAN kill you.

we've all had a quick numbing from an improperly grounded wire, light fixture or switch.

but dont think that the wall outlet cant kill you.

I have not said that household current can't kill you. :rolleyes:

I have had a number shocks during my life, from both AC and DC sources. When you say stuff like "you'd most likely be dead" that shows me that you are uneducated on this topic. Yes, I know 120V AC is dangerous, I have dealt with it on many occasions, I have dealt hands on with 208V 3phase AC as well. A little tiny static discharge onto your MacBook Pro is nothing to cry over, there are plenty of other worse shock, hell, a camera flash circuit is 100x worse, I would know.
 

KKP925

macrumors member
Jan 16, 2007
32
0
Calgary, Alberta
On my way through Airport security last Thursday, my MacBook Pro gave one of the guards quite a shock when she touched it while it was in one of those plastic trays!!! That'll teach 'em to touch my Mac!!! :D
 

EvryDayImShufln

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 18, 2006
1,094
1
Anyway, as cocky as anybody wants to be, this is not a manliness contest. Yes I am quite certain that sticking 2 prongs of a fork in an outlet will hurt more than the shock I received from my macbook, but NOBODY can deny that it is not pleasant to get shocked.

I actually have mine plugged in with the 3 prong extension cable, to a power bar.

And to TBi, if everybody called apple before posting in forums, these forums would right away be alot less useful. I don't want to bug apple with something that is common.
 

kill-your-tv

macrumors member
Feb 5, 2007
53
0
U.S.A.
Hi

Yesterday my C2D MBP, after I shut the screen and left it to sleep, gave me a huge shock. All I did was walk away from it, then go back to it 10 seconds later to put something in front of the light so I could sleep.

It had given me small shocks in the past before once in awhile, but this one was BIG. Easily the most painful shock I've had in my life, and scared me alot. What if next time I get a bigger shock? It's really weird and I can't figure out why this would happen.

Any ideas? thanks

Alright check it out. Got my new MBP C2D. Laying on the couch on top of my old ibook ac adapter that is plugged in. MBP is on my stomach. Feel a burning sensation and I cant figure out what it is. Come to find out if my MBP is pluged in and my ibook adapter it plugged in without being connected to my comp, I can touch the ibook adapter and it will glow green! Guess that means my eternal battery is full...:cool:
 

amycishere

macrumors 6502
Feb 1, 2007
328
6
I will be using mine on the floor but it will be on a book, is that ok? My floor is a carpet. The macbook by the way.
 

inrsoul

macrumors newbie
Feb 14, 2007
9
0
Hi all!

Correct me if i'm wrong.. It's the current (amp) that kills not the voltage.

btw, i'm going out to get my first mac today and it's gonna be a macbook pro! :D too exciting!
 
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