Help! My M860TU is, uhh... electrocuting me

About a month ago I moved from the US to Jerusalem and knowing the laptop can handle 110 or 220 i didnt think twice about needing anything other than the simple plug converter...

well an unexpected problem has arisen, it seems the 220 is very strong indeed. I am able to detect a very subtle vibration of the chassis usually under the palm rest area that comes and goes. not only that but it seems that that very thin metallic band in between the black brushed aluminum and the silver paint carries a charge from time to time and shocks me! It's nothing painful really, in fact sometimes i dont really notice it as it most typically just feels like my arm is on something pointy.

Any ideas for how to resolve this? The plug adapter does not have the ground and ones that would arent sold anywhere anyway. With the US prongs it has to be set up like this: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v39/killjoy1443/IMG_2398.jpg

I'm also in a 125 year old building and the wiring isnt exactly up to American standards...I forget the technical details but something to the effect of only having a general grounding instead of a ground fault indicator or vice versa... Should I order a new plug so that i could have the ground? Is it possible to get one for free because of how faulty it is to begin with popping out of the back of the laptop all the time? How much would it cost otherwise (taking in mind it would either have to be done locally or shipped to Israel)?

 

hmm maybe you do have to order one before your comp catches on fire

 

i've been saying for ages now that those darned m860tu things should be banned, they're flatout dangerous!

joking aside, i'd recommend ordering a 220V-certified PSU from one of the european resellers (kobalt computers, mycizmo... whatever).

 

a friend of mine had a very similar issue with his M1330. He got the whole machine replaced under warranty

 

My power brick says the input can be from 100-240V should there should be no need to buy a whole power brick again but only cable that connect the brick to the wall plug although a normal adapter should work. I would also get a surge protector if the building power supply is harzardous.

 

There's your problem, your power brick should be grounded. If you cannot find one at your location, you should order a grounded plug converter online. They should be pretty inexpensive.

IMO the power supplies sold by international resselers are the same as those sold in the US; they are just packaged with different power cords. I would not recommend purchasing another power brick. Although if you do, you could always use it as a spare power supply.

 

Get a Belkin Surge Protector(Master Cube) or somethin asap!!

even a Notebook Surge Protector from APC will do!

Also check for proper Ground wiring/earthing of the sockets where u plug ur lappy in.

I had some of those issues like my headphone socket used to "electrocute" me often!! lol

I switched to a grounded socket + a surge protector and now everything runs fine!!