Thinkpads Forum

One of my x60s has just given me an electric shock or 2 , Never had this from a laptop before,It was docked on the ultrabase & my finger touched the fingerprint reader & then the palmrest & i got 2 noticeable shocks. i know that usb ports sometimes can spark when inserting a device but a little concerned if it reacts in this way to my finger. Any one else ever experience this?
I dont want to appear over dramatic but Is it dangerous, Should i be worried?
Thanks

Was it static electricity on your body getting grounded (i.e. due to dry weather are you currently getting shocked on everything around)?

blink wrote:I dont want to appear over dramatic but Is it dangerous, Should i be worried?

Assuming that this is not due to static electricity and you're using an AC adapter, then "yes" and "yes". It's possible that there's a problem with the AC adapter or the mains wiring. The power supply should be isolated from the mains but there's been times that a defective adapter or a mis-wired AC outlet can put enough voltage (and current) onto metal parts of a computer.

If your system is not connected to an AC adapter, then there should be no way that you can get a continuous shock.

My guess is a short in the fingerprint reader. I have seen that more than once. Once it gave minor shocks (you could feel them). Once it got so hot, I couldn't hold my finger on it, and my hands are fairly tough.

Do you happen to own a VOM (Volt/Ohmmeter) or can you borrow one to check any voltage between one of the two metal protrusions of the fingerprint reader and a metal part, say a hinge?

On the other hand, dying for one's Thinkpad is the sort of stuff from which legends arise and it will gain you a whole lot of respect here.

Art

ArtShapiro wrote:On the other hand, dying for one's Thinkpad is the sort of stuff from which legends arise and it will gain you a whole lot of respect here.

That same respect will drift into legend territory if you can illuminate a lightbulb in your mouth while touching the FPR.

Uncle Fester would be proud!

I had two different Thinkpads giving shocks through the fingerprint reader area (right corner of palmrest), which turned out due to a problematic splitter. Changing splitters or plugging them directly into the wall made the problem go away.

Thanks so much for all your replys guys,sorry i have not reported back sooner as i have been rather busy, but i am here now checking in & i am reasonably well still alive & kicking so that is good! Harry & Art I am not Legend
Not had an issue since, maybe it was static as ivan suggested? However the weather over here had been rather damp for around a week & i never got a shock off anything else so im not sure? On your advice i have now changed adaptors & maybe i will get another splitter extension plug & i will see how i get on.
Sorry i dont have access to a VOM to test at present, if in re occurs though i will definately look into trying to get one. May have been a short in the fingerprint reader as richk said?

Thanks again for all your helpful advice, Its Kinda annoying that perhaps i will never quite put my finger on what was the cause, but fingers crossed it wont happen again.
Ok sorry i will stop with the finger references now!!

Could also do with some virus help at the moment on an x22 but that will be another topic.
Cheers
edit: possible virus problem posted here if anyone can please help? http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=93715