Dell laptop giving electric shock

Assumed to be grounded....that's comforting!! WHy is there a need for a 110 transformer in the first place?

Wow... that's shocking!

Were they wearing a wool sweater?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=iauaDVVPGW8

Looks like somebody enabled "shock the user when doing stupid things" in the BIOS. :P

I like how the last shock was so sever that the user could not let go, then you continue to let us know the computer will be alright.

PMM2 wrote:

The machine was plugged into a 110V transformer which they assumed to be grounded when the initial shocks occured. They transferred to a new transformer and then the major one occurred a few minutes after.

Finger of blame is pointing there. What's the 110V transformer for?

I know that when I've been using a 12v->240v inverter to power a laptop in the car, I've received mild shocks from the casing.

Can you open it? Maybe there is a loose wire touching the outside case? I'd ship that sucker back and demand a replacement. If the user was that stuck to it because the shock was that severe, that machine needs to go.

Did you tell them that volts don't matter and it's the amps that kill? All joking aside, if they received multiple shocks, why were they still using it for the grand finale? I've had some bad experiences with 110v transformers when I was overseas. I once had the power arc from the power cable to the body of hair clippers, but every time something like that happened there was damage to the equipment.

Seriously man... Just put the Inspiron out to pasture. Or if its under warranty, threaten Dell until they give you a brand new machine. You think your user is going to want to risk their life on it again?

PMM2 wrote:

The machine was plugged into a 110V transformer which they assumed to be grounded when the initial shocks occured. They transferred to a new transformer and then the major one occurred a few minutes after.

You mean the laptop charger? Is it a Dell genuine charger?

Also might not have anything to do with the laptop. You may have an electrician check that circuit. If there is an interruption on the neutral the power will flow through the ground making the ground the live path and not just the safety path.

PMM2 wrote:

The final one was so severe that the user could not be detach from the laptop

I would have the circuit inspected by a certified electrician, and if you have an off brand charger ditch it and get an official dell charger. If you can plug it in somewhere you don't need to use a converter, you'll be much better off

thats all that matters right?

Tim-H wrote:

I like how the last shock was so sever that the user could not let go, then you continue to let us know the computer will be alright.

I don't know this holds for laptops, but many cases these power units work like this:
120Vv In Line>Capacitor>GND, Neuteral>capacitor>GND. Some cases this GND is connected to the low voltage output ground. In theory if the line capacitor was failty and shorted you could get mains voltage on ground. Although it sounds like you tried multiple anddid same thing which makes me think something is wacky in the laptop.

Yes there could be a lot of current, but usally laptop only run on 20V and 20V plus resistance of person in normal cases is so much you wouldn't even feel it. It could be the first power pack was faulty damaged the laptop, then somehow due to the laptop issue the 2nd one did the same thing.

Ok, besides the fact that I highly doubt it was that severe, and I am assuming "110V transformer" is the power adapter, maybe the shocks are from the screen controller? Many laptop screens use a high voltage inverter to drive the back light.

Maybe the inverter is bad, or a wire is pinched and the user found it the hard way?

Its a new feature in Windows 10

As mentioned, check for loose wiring inside the laptop touching the case.

As for the power charger, inspect VERY CLOSELY at all ends to see if there is any fraying or when bent, exposed wires. Users are pretty rough on their power chargers.

Lastly, purchase one of those Outlet Testers usually $10 or less and make sure the outlet is STILL wired correclty. Never assume, eh?

As the OP is from the UK, is he using 240V/50Hz? [edit: don't know where I saw the UK. Maybe I it was the shock.]

If so, then he has a 240V -> 110V converter and has the laptop charger plugged into the 110V socket.

If the laptop charger is using a 3-prong adapter, then the 240/110 converter is the likely cause of voltage on the case of the laptop in relation to other electrically grounded items that the user is in contact with.

Repair or replace the converter.

//www.pcworld.com/article/141516/article.html

PS. 50Hz AC doesn't prevent a person from being removed. Only DC can do that by causing the muscles to contract. That's why we use AC; it makes the muscles 'pulse' so you don't get the grip of death.

EDIT: So, if the converter really is the power brick for the laptop, it's still unlikely since it's a transformer-isolated supply.

This is some crazy shit right here. I figured OP meant static electricity. Had to be detached from the laptop? That's electrocution, not a shock!!

My previous job I had an HP laptop, anytime I wanted to use it, I had to discharge myself or I'd risk zapping the touchpad.

Alrighty... did anyone check where the OP is from,

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

They use 230V power, so the "110V Transformer" is likely one of those step down jobbies that you can install either for a room, or several peices of equipment to run stuff that is 110/120V without the use of additional adapters.

So why use this thing in the first place?

Every notebook power brick I have ever seen is a combination 110/240V adapter, and all you need to do is change the plug [aka "prongs"] on it. Dell additionally is a three prong hot/neutral/gnd type plug.

If the notebook has something arcing from hot/neutral to ground, and the ground plug going into the "whole room" 110V transformer isn't grounded properly, then the user is going to get zapped.

As someone said above, lose the 110V transformer, find the correct plug/prongs for the notebook power brick and see if the problem goes away [bet it does].

It can only be an fault within the laptop itself. If it was the adaptor or receptacle, you would have been able to find it right off. If you've ever taken apart a laptop, some manufs [like Acer] use just a piece of tape to hold the socket in place. That socket can come loose, and allow the charger prong to come into contact with the system housing. But, I would put my money on a short somewhere on the board.

Tim-H wrote:

I like how the last shock was so sever that the user could not let go, then you continue to let us know the computer will be alright.

Sounds pretty awesome if you ask me. I would test this out on other users... You know, just to see if it's user specific or not... Start with your problem users first.

i don't think this is good for the dell people