Current in case?

Just tonight, I was using my Envy 14 on AC power when I noticed that I was getting a low-grade current running through the case. The machine was on a desk and I was using a mouse for a mouse-only game, so I wasn't touching the case much and as a result I don't know how long this was going on. Basically, when I touched the lower portion of the case (didn't try any other parts) I was getting a low-grade electrical shock, kind've like touching the orb on a van de Graaf generator. I shut down and disconnected the power. I tested it after unplugging and didn't get a shock.

Well over a year ago, my AC adapter was clawed up a bit by my cats, on the cable an inch or two off of the computer-side plug. I've had it taped up with electrical tape ever since and never experienced any problems, it's worked like normal. Is it likely that this is an adapter thing or is it possible that some component has created a circuit with the case?

Any ideas?

 

That means you have a bad ground and the adapter cable being chewed is probably part of the case and also the PS could be of low grade in that is isn't no longer working efficiency anymore thus can't handle the power and causing shorts and the case becomes positive charge and when yourself a negative charge touches it you get shocked. I would replace the adapter to avoid any future shocks and for laptops shocks no matter how small isn't a good think to have going on and shortens lifespan quicker. What might be a small shock to you is alot bigger for a laptop.

 

Thanks. I definitely agree that a current running through the entirety of my laptop is a very bad thing that I want to avoid at all costs. So you think it's probably the adapter? Right now, my plan is to take it by my laptop repair guys in a couple days and if they can't figure anything out (I tried it again on AC power with no reproduction of the problem) I'll go downstairs and buy a new HP adapter. A dead adapter after almost three years is hardly unusual, after all.

 

Adapters are electrical device hardware and as such are prone to failure for various reason known and unknown. A new adapter would help to avoid any stray voltage shock to your laptop and yourself as well. But if it continues you might want to check the environment your working at if that isn't contributing to the build of straw voltages charge thus causing shocks that you might not notice til it happens. Shocks or discharges are not a good thing to have around electrical equipment of any kinda as it can have unforeseen consequences down the line that you might not know or see coming.

 

I might need to add that this wasn't a one-time, walking across a carpet in socks shock, but a consistent low-grade buzz, like licking both terminals of a battery.

The desk it's on is a wireframe rack with a thin layer of insulating paint on all surfaces and those plastic tabs holding the shelves in place and thus also insulating the shelves from one-another. There are other electronic items on it, including the power strip they're plugged into, but nothing on the same shelf as the laptop. I also haven't been able to replicate it since it happened - off or on AC power, I'm getting no buzz from touching the case. I'll definitely take it in on Monday and replace the adapter if they can't find anything wrong. I'm just hoping that it's nothing internal - my hope has been to give this laptop to my girlfriend after I buy a new one so she can finally replace her crappy 2006 Acer budget machine.

 

Buy a new adapter.

It will probably fix your problem. Even if it doesn't, you should get one anyway, because of a fire hazard. Spending $80 to replace a part that needs replacement anyway is a pretty good investment to prevent the risk of your house burning down.

You wouldn't use a extension cord with a frayed cable. So why would you use an AC adapter with a frayed cable?

 

Consider it done (in three days). Should be about half that cost, though; laptops and such are more expensive here in China, but accessories like AC adapters (even the real thing direct from an HP retailer), and repairs are typically much cheaper than in the US. Not really a worthy tradeoff but it reduces a bit of the sting, and it's nice if you buy in the US and accessorize and repair in China...

Still definitely gonna have the repair guys take a look at it. They're used to seeing me by now - they reflowed the GPU in my Inspiron about four years ago, looked into a motherboard problem with the same machine around the same time, repaired and replaced the fans in my Envy 14 once each, and fixed half a dozen computers that I brought in for friends with little-to-no tech or Chinese ability, mostly burnt-out screen LEDs but at least one motherboard replacement. All that service and all those parts have probably cost a total of about $300, including the repairs for friends.

 

How strong is the shock? A lot of people mention that they get this with the MacBook, Elitebook and other metal laptops. My Elitebook did this for about half a year while I lived in an apartment that apparently had bad (or missing) ground connection at the socket - still works fine...

 

Strong enough to be worrisome, not strong enough to make more than a couple hairs stand up. That it occurred but the laptop's still working perfectly and it hasn't recurred, I'm hopeful that it's not a big deal, but I'm also hoping that it will never happen again...