slight electric shock when using ac adaptor

Dave Berk · 03-15-2007, 06:11 PM

I just got my reader. Looks perfect. I notice, though, that when I try to power it up using the supplied AC adaptor - any place (on the brushed metal) that I touch give off a slight electric shock. When I unplug the cord it stopped. Also, using the usb to power the reader doesn't give off any shock, only the AC adaptor. Anybody experienced anything like that? Should I return the unit?? I'm loath to return the reader, after it took so long to get here ---

RWood · 03-15-2007, 06:17 PM

There is a problem. Mine does not do that and I suspect if many did there would be a total recall. Since the problem is most likly in the charger, call Sony and see if they can just exchange the charger. This means that you can still recharge using the USB (as long as it does not completely drain, someone else mentioned that if the battery is completely dead only the charger will work to start the recharge.)

I don't expect that they will want you to return the whole unit. However, if the second charger still produces the same problem then it is the unit.

As an alternative you might try charging from a PSP adapter if you have one around or know of someone that has one. I use a PSP adapter tip on my iGo Juice universal charger and there was a thread a time back where someone made a charger from standard parts available at any Radio Shack store.

Welcome to the Land of Pleasent Reading.

Dave Berk · 03-15-2007, 06:24 PM

You really think it is just the charger? are you sure? I really hope you are right --- though that leaves how I call sony and ask them to replace the charger when I'm an international customer and shouldn't even have a unit.....

NatCh · 03-15-2007, 06:26 PM

I second the suggestion to try the PSP Charger -- it's the quickest way to see if the problem is the charger or the unit itself. That'll let you decide what the best course is. I expect that if it's just the charger, it'd be less trouble and expense to just buy a PSP charger of your own, compared to exchanging the Reader one.

I hope that's the problem.

RWood · 03-15-2007, 06:35 PM

What NatCh said. Sorry I forgot that you were not in the US. The specs on the charger are 5.2-5.4 v and ~1.5 Amps which match up with the Play Station Portable charger. It sounds like a some of the line voltage is seeping past the transformer to the unit and finding a ground through you hand when you touch it. A straight 5.4 v @ 1.5 Amps would not give you a tingle.

diabloNL · 03-15-2007, 06:52 PM

I have the same. It's a small tingle when you move your finger over the brushed metal. It feels like the 50Hz buzz. You can feel the same when you plug your computer in a non grounded socket and touch the casing. I have this with many devices and I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Maybe it has to do with the fact we have 230V (or do you have 110V?) I think because of the 230V there is some induction on the ground wire that leads to the Reader when connected to the charger. With the PSP charger I have it as well.

More people with 230V can confirm this?

Dave Berk · 03-15-2007, 06:54 PM

thanks for your help RWood and NatCh. I really appreciate it. Checking my PSP adaptor it says 5v while the reader adaptor read 5.2v. Does the difference matter? I'm no expert at electronics.

diabloNL · 03-15-2007, 06:55 PM

simple dave check my post above you.

And no, it doesn't matter the PSP charger is 5 Volts.

Dave Berk · 03-15-2007, 06:59 PM

diabloNL, Yes, I'm 230v. Though I never had anything like that before. I'm not scared for myself, becuase as you say it's not a serious bite (I've had some serious shocks, mostly from the christmas lights, the kind that you tie on the tree) , but I'm afraid it might damage the reader..

edit: sorry, yes, we posted at the same time..

diabloNL · 03-15-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simple dave

diabloNL, Yes, I'm 230v. Though I never had anything like that before. I'm not scared for myself, becuase as you say it's not a serious bite (I've had some serious shocks, mostly from the christmas lights, the kind that you tie on the tree) , but I'm afraid it might damage the reader..

edit: sorry, yes, we posted at the same time..

Don't worry, it won't damage your Reader.

And I have had many electric shocks (no not those ones

) I even past out one time when I was holding the grounding and touched 380V live.

Dave Berk · 03-15-2007, 07:16 PM

Wow. That's a killing shock. You were lucky to survive. What were you doing? I thought it illegal to enable elctric current over 230v in private homes...

diabloNL · 03-16-2007, 02:44 AM

It was an industrial installation and I was alone there. Luckily I survided!

HarryT · 03-16-2007, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabloNL

I have the same. It's a small tingle when you move your finger over the brushed metal. It feels like the 50Hz buzz. You can feel the same when you plug your computer in a non grounded socket and touch the casing. I have this with many devices and I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

Same here. I don't think it's an "electric" shock, just a 50Hz vibration.

Dave Berk · 03-16-2007, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Same here. I don't think it's an "electric" shock, just a 50Hz vibration.

Forgive my lack of knowledge, but what's a 50Hz vibration? From diabloNL I thought it just a weak electric shock.

HarryT · 03-16-2007, 06:25 AM

Perhaps I'm wrong, but what I think is happening is that the charger is resonating at the mains frequency of 50Hz, and that's what we can feel with our fingers.

03-15-2007, 06:11 PM	#1
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	slight electric shock when using ac adaptor I just got my reader. Looks perfect. I notice, though, that when I try to power it up using the supplied AC adaptor - any place (on the brushed metal) that I touch give off a slight electric shock. When I unplug the cord it stopped. Also, using the usb to power the reader doesn't give off any shock, only the AC adaptor. Anybody experienced anything like that? Should I return the unit?? I'm loath to return the reader, after it took so long to get here ---

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03-15-2007, 06:17 PM	#2
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	There is a problem. Mine does not do that and I suspect if many did there would be a total recall. Since the problem is most likly in the charger, call Sony and see if they can just exchange the charger. This means that you can still recharge using the USB (as long as it does not completely drain, someone else mentioned that if the battery is completely dead only the charger will work to start the recharge.) I don't expect that they will want you to return the whole unit. However, if the second charger still produces the same problem then it is the unit. As an alternative you might try charging from a PSP adapter if you have one around or know of someone that has one. I use a PSP adapter tip on my iGo Juice universal charger and there was a thread a time back where someone made a charger from standard parts available at any Radio Shack store. Welcome to the Land of Pleasent Reading.

03-15-2007, 06:24 PM	#3
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	You really think it is just the charger? are you sure? I really hope you are right --- though that leaves how I call sony and ask them to replace the charger when I'm an international customer and shouldn't even have a unit.....

03-15-2007, 06:26 PM	#4
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I second the suggestion to try the PSP Charger -- it's the quickest way to see if the problem is the charger or the unit itself. That'll let you decide what the best course is. I expect that if it's just the charger, it'd be less trouble and expense to just buy a PSP charger of your own, compared to exchanging the Reader one. I hope that's the problem.

03-15-2007, 06:35 PM	#5
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	What NatCh said. Sorry I forgot that you were not in the US. The specs on the charger are 5.2-5.4 v and ~1.5 Amps which match up with the Play Station Portable charger. It sounds like a some of the line voltage is seeping past the transformer to the unit and finding a ground through you hand when you touch it. A straight 5.4 v @ 1.5 Amps would not give you a tingle.

03-15-2007, 06:52 PM	#6
diabloNL Gadget Force® Posts: 705 Karma: 2733 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Netherlands Device: Sony PRS-300 + Cybook with funny screen :P	I have the same. It's a small tingle when you move your finger over the brushed metal. It feels like the 50Hz buzz. You can feel the same when you plug your computer in a non grounded socket and touch the casing. I have this with many devices and I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Maybe it has to do with the fact we have 230V (or do you have 110V?) I think because of the 230V there is some induction on the ground wire that leads to the Reader when connected to the charger. With the PSP charger I have it as well. More people with 230V can confirm this?

03-15-2007, 06:54 PM	#7
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	thanks for your help RWood and NatCh. I really appreciate it. Checking my PSP adaptor it says 5v while the reader adaptor read 5.2v. Does the difference matter? I'm no expert at electronics.

03-15-2007, 06:55 PM	#8
diabloNL Gadget Force® Posts: 705 Karma: 2733 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Netherlands Device: Sony PRS-300 + Cybook with funny screen :P	simple dave check my post above you. And no, it doesn't matter the PSP charger is 5 Volts.

03-15-2007, 06:59 PM	#9
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	diabloNL, Yes, I'm 230v. Though I never had anything like that before. I'm not scared for myself, becuase as you say it's not a serious bite (I've had some serious shocks, mostly from the christmas lights, the kind that you tie on the tree) , but I'm afraid it might damage the reader.. edit: sorry, yes, we posted at the same time..

03-15-2007, 07:16 PM	#11
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	Wow. That's a killing shock. You were lucky to survive. What were you doing? I thought it illegal to enable elctric current over 230v in private homes...

03-16-2007, 02:44 AM	#12
diabloNL Gadget Force® Posts: 705 Karma: 2733 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Netherlands Device: Sony PRS-300 + Cybook with funny screen :P	It was an industrial installation and I was alone there. Luckily I survided!

03-16-2007, 06:25 AM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Perhaps I'm wrong, but what I think is happening is that the charger is resonating at the mains frequency of 50Hz, and that's what we can feel with our fingers.