Shocks from laptop when plugged in?

[shadow2201]

Hey guys,

I am working on a laptop here at my job, and I keep getting small to moderate shocks whenever I touch the keyboard or whatever. It only happens when it's plugged in. I've never had it happen with a laptop before, and it's happening with 2 different chargers. I've read that this happens when the charger cords are bad, or shorting out. Is this the only reason? Could the charger I got with the laptop be the wrong one and it's too much for the laptop to handle?

Laptop is a Dell Latitude E6530 using Dell OEM laptop chargers.

 

[Boozad]

It sounds like something isn't grounded. Whether that's down to the chargers or the laptop itself I couldn't say. Either way, stop using it when it's plugged in as it's dangerous. Take the laptop and chargers to a repair shop and get them looked at.

 

[Marsby]

Is this a carpeted office?

 

[shadow2201]

Yes it's carpeted, but wouldn't I get shocked even when its not plugged in? And on other things? The only shocks I receive, are when I touch that laptop when it's plugged in.

 

[Wandering one]

Almost certainly the receptacle that you are plugged into is not grounded or improperly wired. Try to plug in somewhere else, preferably in a different area. There is a good possibility to damage your computer as they are more sensitive to strange electrics than you probably are.
Art.

 

[Marsby]

Yes it's carpeted, but wouldn't I get shocked even when its not plugged in? And on other things? The only shocks I receive, are when I touch that laptop when it's plugged in.

Do you get tiny shocks any where else in the office when touching anything? Like maybe walking out to the elevator bank and touching one of bare spots on the metal frames? Also, this laptop, aren't all of the contact surfaces plastic? If you're getting shocked through a plastic keyboard, the only thing that is practical that would account for that is the very high voltage (but very low power) of static electricity. Only one half of the power supply is grounded, as it is supposed to be. But when dealing with static electricity, you can get any path of the least resistance for the discharge.

 

[shadow2201]

Yes it's carpeted, but wouldn't I get shocked even when its not plugged in? And on other things? The only shocks I receive, are when I touch that laptop when it's plugged in.

Do you get tiny shocks any where else in the office when touching anything? Like maybe walking out to the elevator bank and touching one of bare spots on the metal frames? Also, this laptop, aren't all of the contact surfaces plastic? If you're getting shocked through a plastic keyboard, the only thing that is practical that would account for that is the very high voltage (but very low power) of static electricity. Only one half of the power supply is grounded, as it is supposed to be. But when dealing with static electricity, you can get any path of the least resistance for the discharge.

No other shocks that I have noticed, just simply from touching the keyboard on this one laptop, and only when it's plugged in. I am going to try plugging it in on the other side of the office, see if it still shocks me.

 

[Marsby]

No other shocks that I have noticed, just simply from touching the keyboard on this one laptop, and only when it's plugged in. I am going to try plugging it in on the other side of the office, see if it still shocks me.

Are all of laptop contact surfaces plastic...?

 

[Layback Bear]

Does this laptop do it's little shock thing for any other person?

 

[strollin]

It's been 6 hours since shadow2201 last posted that he was going to try an outlet on the other side of the office, I wonder what the result of that experiment was? Especially since the laptop itself is not grounded through the power adapter.

I'm with Marsby, the case and keyboard in most laptops are plastic which means there's no way to get a shock from them via the power supply. The most logical thing then is that the OP is getting electrostatic shocks from built up static electricity.

Even if the laptop case and keyboard are metal, usually there's no more than 19V anywhere in the laptop chassis which is hardly lethal.

 

[Layback Bear]

That is why I asked if another person also get the shock. I have no idea how one gets a shock on a plastic anything except humidity at high levels. Different people, with different clothing have different levels of static electricity.

 

[strollin]

Layback - Low humidity is more apt to cause electrostatic shocks than high humidity.

 

[Layback Bear]

Well yes and no.
I was thinking how the static electricity was being transferred over the plastic to something that has a charge or ground. Moisture on the plastic.