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Computer issue 13:04 - Apr 28 with 722 viewsNthsuffolkblue

Wonder if someone on here can help.

I keep getting a small electric shock from the USB stick in my port on my laptop.

A quick Google suggests it may be a fault with my power cable and that I might be able to replace it.

Does this sound like the solution or do I need to get more specialist help?

I have just unplugged it and am now running it off the battery and it is not currently giving me a shock at all.

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Computer issue on 16:55 - Apr 28 with 631 viewsNthsuffolkblue

Anyone able to help at all?

I plugged it back in when the battery ran low and have not had the issue since doing so.

I initially thought it was a static shock but it has been happening for a few days now and I think is likely to do with the computer.

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Computer issue on 16:59 - Apr 28 with 629 viewsEireannach_gorm

Computer issue on 16:55 - Apr 28 by Nthsuffolkblue

Anyone able to help at all?

I plugged it back in when the battery ran low and have not had the issue since doing so.

I initially thought it was a static shock but it has been happening for a few days now and I think is likely to do with the computer.


Sounds like static especially if it goes when you plug it in ( discharges though the mains adapter).

Its static if you get a shock of a plastic part, electrical problem off metal part.
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Computer issue on 21:21 - Apr 28 with 561 viewsNthsuffolkblue

Computer issue on 16:59 - Apr 28 by Eireannach_gorm

Sounds like static especially if it goes when you plug it in ( discharges though the mains adapter).

Its static if you get a shock of a plastic part, electrical problem off metal part.


Not sure how you decide the material determines whether it is static or not.

It is a little difficult to be sure where it is coming from. Sometimes it appears to be through the plastic casing of the laptop which is odd as plastic is an insulator. Sometimes it appears to be more directly from the port or the memory stick. Clearly the port is metal and conductive. The memory sticks (I am using two that I need to use in conjunction) are one with a metal outer part and one larger one that is plastic.

In the absence of any advice I think I will live with it unless it starts happening more frequently.

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Computer issue on 21:42 - Apr 28 with 548 viewsEireannach_gorm

Computer issue on 21:21 - Apr 28 by Nthsuffolkblue

Not sure how you decide the material determines whether it is static or not.

It is a little difficult to be sure where it is coming from. Sometimes it appears to be through the plastic casing of the laptop which is odd as plastic is an insulator. Sometimes it appears to be more directly from the port or the memory stick. Clearly the port is metal and conductive. The memory sticks (I am using two that I need to use in conjunction) are one with a metal outer part and one larger one that is plastic.

In the absence of any advice I think I will live with it unless it starts happening more frequently.


From Wikipedia 'Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. The charge remains until it is able to move away by means of an electric current or electrical discharge. Static electricity is named in contrast with current electricity, which flows through wires or other conductors and transmits energy.'

The only way for static electricity to 'escape' is via a conductor to earth. You are the conductor when you touch something retaining static unless it is discharged by other means.
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Computer issue on 22:33 - Apr 28 with 523 viewsNthsuffolkblue

Computer issue on 21:42 - Apr 28 by Eireannach_gorm

From Wikipedia 'Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. The charge remains until it is able to move away by means of an electric current or electrical discharge. Static electricity is named in contrast with current electricity, which flows through wires or other conductors and transmits energy.'

The only way for static electricity to 'escape' is via a conductor to earth. You are the conductor when you touch something retaining static unless it is discharged by other means.


Yes, sorry, didn't think it through initially. I was thinking it would be me being charged.

If it is me holding the charge it would be the metal that would give the shock. However, if the charge is from the plastic it would be static.

So there are a number of options:

I am getting a shock from an electrical component within the computer that requires the metal to conduct it;

I am getting a static shock from the plastic component in either the computer or the memory stick that has built a charge from somewhere;

I have gained a static charge and it is discharging when I get close to the metal components;

There is a some electrical fault that is conducting from within the computer even through the plastic of the laptop casing.

I don't think it can be the latter because it is intermittent and I think by now there would have been a major failure of the computer or fire! At least I am hoping it is neither that nor the first one. The shock is about what you would expect from a static shock.

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