Brand New Predator Helios 300 giving electric shocks at metallic edge of the chassis when plugged in

utterbutter

I have used this laptop for a few days already but what I dismissed as an minor quibble has persisted making me take notice of this problem. When the laptop is plugged in and I am just browsing the web, and the underside of my arm touches the metallic edge at the side, I get a noticeable electric shock. Sometimes it's almost unnoticeable, other times I can feel a strong tingling sensation where I am touching it. It happens no matter which socket I plug the laptop into around my house. When the laptop is on battery there is no issue. Should I be calling Acer Support and stop using the laptop for the time being to prevent damage to the laptop?

Manny-Acer_Retired

Hi SmallPotato,

If you keep experiencing the issues i will suggest to please contact your local Acer support for better assistance and to be sent for repair to the Service Center. https://www.acer.com/worldwide/ select the country you are in and click on the support tab, on the left hand side you will find and option “contact support”.

Acer-Manny

Imrankhanissm

I was having same problem with my new acer predator helios 300. I thought its laptop problem but its not laptop problem in my case. Check your electric outlet (where you plug your charger) with a tester, neutral should be on left and phase should be on right. Mine was reverse, after reversing the wiring i don’t have that problem.

Don’t reverse wiring if you don’t know about it ask electrician to do that.

1veralynn1

im having the same issue
any help guys?

Skelomorph

I have been seeing many posts about this. I had an old laptop that did this and its 4 years old now.

Unfortunately, there is no easy solution besides getting it repaired/replaced. 

Skelo

SmallPotato

i'm not sure whether this is a faulty or it is build like that, will this cause any issue for hardware? example like battery?
as how i try is that, i try to put my hand pulse on the metallic edget then it will shock, but if my leg didnt touch the ground then it would be fine
Any Acer Moderator can give answer about this ?

ven98

It is grounding issue with the device. I suspect there is a bad ground connection somewhere that gives high resistance to the ground circuit. When you step on the floor with your bare feet(socks also), the current takes the shortest path to ground and it is you in this case. Does this happen, while connected to AC only?

SmallPotato

ven98 said:

It is grounding issue with the device. I suspect there is a bad ground connection somewhere that gives high resistance to the ground circuit. When you step on the floor with your bare feet(socks also), the current takes the shortest path to ground and it is you in this case. Does this happen, while connected to AC only?

i will try connect to AC(direct power) today, as for yesterday i was connecting to Extension, after i try i will update here again thanks ! 

SmallPotato

ven98 said:

It is grounding issue with the device. I suspect there is a bad ground connection somewhere that gives high resistance to the ground circuit. When you step on the floor with your bare feet(socks also), the current takes the shortest path to ground and it is you in this case. Does this happen, while connected to AC only?

Hi Ven98 
Before connecting to AC... I realise even it is on battery also has the same tingling sensation .. do I need to at least test until battery level drop to 98%?

ven98

So it is there on both AC and battery? If yes, then most likely you can't do anything about it, except calling Acer.

SmallPotato

ven98 said:

So it is there on both AC and battery? If yes, then most likely you can't do anything about it, except calling Acer.

hmm, i tried with AC, still the same... but i dont think it has anything to do with AC or battery, most likely because of the building, in the condo where i live, i have the tingling sensation, but when i back to my home town, which is terrace house, doesnt have the issue, with battery or extension, also dont hv the issue like that, will try again in office building, and see whether it has the same tingling issue.

Manny-Acer_Retired

Hi SmallPotato,

If you keep experiencing the issues i will suggest to please contact your local Acer support for better assistance and to be sent for repair to the Service Center. https://www.acer.com/worldwide/ select the country you are in and click on the support tab, on the left hand side you will find and option “contact support”.

Acer-Manny

rcandela

Yea, I have the same problem. Although I might be confusing it for static 

kiddoshobi

Im having this issue as well, My laptop is fairly new so im thinking if it is already faulty or anything. 

BTW i live in a condo as well im not having this kind of issue on my last apartment.

Red-Sand

The issue is making sure your laptop is connected to a grounded outlet. 
I'm on a Helios FB group and there are A LOT of members who had this issue and it was fixed by plugging into a grounded outlet. 

As far as it causing shocks while unplugged you need to give it time to discharge itself... You have a static charge, your carpet/sofa/socks/etc. So as the unit has been plugged in incorrectly for a long time the static build up takes longer to depleate. 

The chassis absorbs the static but once you discharge some by touching it, it can then pull more from internal components which then places more charge on the chassis. 

Make sure your laptop is in a grounded outlet.. If you don't know if your outlet is grounded (just cause theirs 3 prongs doesn't mean it's grounded) you can purchase a GFCI Tester for a few dollars and check your outlet to ensure it doesn't read "open ground".

Small investment to protect the big one. 

beastisbac

Is there any battery limit to test for electric currents on chassis in battery mode ?
Mine is at 10% ( I'm afraid to plug in as it might damage something) , but no electric currents over chassis (battery mode).
Also even when the laptop is turned off and then plugged in , there is a considerable amount of electric current over the entire chassis . 
Please suggest if it's a problem within the laptop or not ?



Thanks....

tejas

utterbutter said:

I have used this laptop for a few days already but what I dismissed as an minor quibble has persisted making me take notice of this problem. When the laptop is plugged in and I am just browsing the web, and the underside of my arm touches the metallic edge at the side, I get a noticeable electric shock. Sometimes it's almost unnoticeable, other times I can feel a strong tingling sensation where I am touching it. It happens no matter which socket I plug the laptop into around my house. When the laptop is on battery there is no issue. Should I be calling Acer Support and stop using the laptop for the time being to prevent damage to the laptop?

i think the problem is simple fault in the earthing of your home, try taking the laptop out to your friends place and see if its giving shock. i am most confident its faulty earthing.

Imrankhanissm

I was having same problem with my new acer predator helios 300. I thought its laptop problem but its not laptop problem in my case. Check your electric outlet (where you plug your charger) with a tester, neutral should be on left and phase should be on right. Mine was reverse, after reversing the wiring i don’t have that problem.

Don’t reverse wiring if you don’t know about it ask electrician to do that.

Red-Sand

It can be one of two things.

1) Earthing in your home is not installed/complete
2) Your power brick is leaking AC voltage

neah23

utterbutter said:

I have used this laptop for a few days already but what I dismissed as an minor quibble has persisted making me take notice of this problem. When the laptop is plugged in and I am just browsing the web, and the underside of my arm touches the metallic edge at the side, I get a noticeable electric shock. Sometimes it's almost unnoticeable, other times I can feel a strong tingling sensation where I am touching it. It happens no matter which socket I plug the laptop into around my house. When the laptop is on battery there is no issue. Should I be calling Acer Support and stop using the laptop for the time being to prevent damage to the laptop?

Likewise, I have barely used my laptop for a few days, it was purchased three months back. I noticed a tingling sensation while using it plugged. Only now, I realised it is an electric shock! It is the same no matter where I go, whichever house I use it in - my hometown, my flat in the city, my friends place in the city, my office, my college etc. Please, help what to do!?

brummyfan2

neah23 said:

utterbutter said:

I have used this laptop for a few days already but what I dismissed as an minor quibble has persisted making me take notice of this problem. When the laptop is plugged in and I am just browsing the web, and the underside of my arm touches the metallic edge at the side, I get a noticeable electric shock. Sometimes it's almost unnoticeable, other times I can feel a strong tingling sensation where I am touching it. It happens no matter which socket I plug the laptop into around my house. When the laptop is on battery there is no issue. Should I be calling Acer Support and stop using the laptop for the time being to prevent damage to the laptop?

Likewise, I have barely used my laptop for a few days, it was purchased three months back. I noticed a tingling sensation while using it plugged. Only now, I realised it is an electric shock! It is the same no matter where I go, whichever house I use it in - my hometown, my flat in the city, my friends place in the city, my office, my college etc. Please, help what to do!?

Hi,
Please contact Acer Support centre in your region and get it serviced by them as @Acer-Manny suggested in an earlier post.
http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/