Electric Shock from Laptop!

animaX

Hey lads, looking for a bit of advice. Lately my laptop has been giving me minor shocks but only when its connected to my TV to watch videos, movies etc. There must be some sort of static charge building up because when I go to switch the display back to the laptop screen I get a buzz (and not in a good way!).

It never happens any other time. Is there anything I can do to stop this? Some way of discharging the static? Its an old laptop so there's no point in sending it back or anything.

Saruman

Wearing plastic based clothing does not help.

Overheal

Ive had that happen before. Its not a good thing. What kind of cable are you using to connect to the tv?

animaX

Overheal wrote: »

Ive had that happen before. Its not a good thing. What kind of cable are you using to connect to the tv?

I'm using an s-video cable with a composite converter. I don't think the problem is with the cable though, I've been using it for well over a year with no trouble.

Gurgle

animaX wrote: »

Hey lads, looking for a bit of advice. Lately my laptop has been giving me minor shocks but only when its connected to my TV to watch videos, movies etc. There must be some sort of static charge building up because when I go to switch the display back to the laptop screen I get a buzz (and not in a good way!).

It never happens any other time. Is there anything I can do to stop this? Some way of discharging the static? Its an old laptop so there's no point in sending it back or anything.

It sounds like a ground-return issue.

Is the TV plugged directly into the wall or via an extension lead?
Same question for the laptop?

The outside connector of the 'Video in' socket on the TV, the laptops 'Video out' socket (the outside of the S-Video to Composite), the laptop's DC power supply negative terminal, and the TV plug's ground pin should all be connected to ground.

One of those things.... isn't.

animaX

Gurgle wrote: »

It sounds like a ground-return issue.

Is the TV plugged directly into the wall or via an extension lead?
Same question for the laptop?

The outside connector of the 'Video in' socket on the TV, the laptops 'Video out' socket (the outside of the S-Video to Composite), the laptop's DC power supply negative terminal, and the TV plug's ground pin should all be connected to ground.

One of those things.... isn't.

Wow, sounds like you know what you're talking about! The laptop and the tv would both be connected to the wall, along with a surround sound system (via a double adaptor). There is an s-video cable running from the laptops s-video out into a composite converter and then a cable running from the composite converter into the tv (yellow connector). As for the audio, there is a cable going from the headphone out on the laptop to the surround sound system.

I've been using this system for well over a year but the shocks have only started in the last few months. I don't know if its related but the video cable has also gotten a bit dodgy lately, the colour often cutting out.

The only other thing I should mention is that there is a slight bit of wear and tear on the laptop charger cable where it meets the AC-adaptor block. A bit of wire is slightly exposed but not protruding.

zilog_jones

Do you have an analogue cable TV connection? There can often be ground loops in the cable co-ax system, so try disconnecting it if you do and see if it makes a difference.

animaX

zilog_jones wrote: »

Do you have an analogue cable TV connection? There can often be ground loops in the cable co-ax system, so try disconnecting it if you do and see if it makes a difference.

Yeah I think I do. I'll try disconnecting the tv cable next time