Clie keeps electricuting me!

[ammar766]

Im curently on vacation in egypt and one thing i've noticed is the power is really wierd, I was connected online throgh usb a minute ago and my clie kept electricuting me like one of those prank pens. I could'nt finish my email, lol Im worried if it will hurt my Clie in anyway? Whats up? It's kinda funny when you think about it lol

[jjesusfreak01]

Hmm, thats odd. I wouldnt think that normally a Clie would be capable of outputting that amount of power. I would imagine it has to have something to do with the power output of the USB rather than the Clie itself.

[ammar766]

Yes its definetly from the usb you wont belive the pain im going throgh to type this, lol.

[kiteandcamera]

Compose your email offline, then connect and send. It won't be such a shocking experience.

[ammar766]

lol your funny but will it screw up my Clie?

[kiteandcamera]

I have no idea if it will screw up your Clie as I have never heard such an unbelievable story about physically uncomfortable shocks when connected via USB. Since you suffered the shocks when you posted message #3 in this thread, I figured you might avoid some of the pain by composing your messages offline, connecting when you are through and sending those messages. Perhpas you could just use a computer instead of the Clie to do email. Maybe Egypt is very dry and you are experiencing static shocks like one would feel in a dry environment suring the winter where rubbing your feet on the capret causes static electric shocks when touching another person/object.

[ammar766]

No, no thats definitly not it its, my Computor I relize any thing I connect to my computor shocks, My microphone, my webcam but thankfully not my keyboard lol.

[alt236]

Looks like there is a grounding fault somewhere....
It's a desktop right?

[ammar766]

Yup. I have no problems on my laptop.

[yorrick]

The fault is with the PC not the Clie.
Either you are getting a static shock from the Clie since the shielding of the case is connected to the USB shield and isn't earthed to the AC. This could zap the USB interface permanently. Unlikely to do anything to the Clie since it is properly shielded (though a electro-static zap big enough could arc the Clie circuits...)
Otherwise, there is a fault with the laptop/PC power supply where the active or neutral is touching the earth. THIS IS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING AND DANGEROUS!

The second fault would not occur on laptops since they are "double insulated" which means that they have dispensed with the earth and the active/neutral is properly insulated from circuitry and the USB. I would guess it's more likely static zaps given that Egypt tends to have low humidity.

[ammar766]

Ya thats what they feel like, static shocks like when you rub your pants and touch a door knob.

[alt236]

How often does it happen?
Is it continous (every time you pick it up)? Or you need to wait a few minuted until it happens again?

[ammar766]

Oh no, its fine as soon as I put my usb in it starts shocking all over, But its only with my computor anything I plug into it shocks me, anyother computor I plug it into works fine.

[alt236]

It might be the PSU as yorrick said.
Getting it checked would be advisable.... Or possibly, try a socket at a different part of your house (not the same room though).