News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Ask HN: What is your “I don't care if this succeeds” project?. Parent comment

Re:Ask HN: What is your “I don't care if this succeeds” proj... by blunte on Thursday February 10, 2022 @07:49PM (#30295270)
Wow. I had never experienced this until I moved from US to NL. It sometimes really bothers (scares?) me. If you have two Macbooks side by side, and you touch them both at the same time, you can get an even bigger sensation.

Now since you're in this area of expertise, do you think it's possible that on rare occasions I could lightly stroke another human (let's say in a bed, on a waterbed (water filled rubber container)) and feel the same sensation as I feel sometimes when I stroke the computer? Could be that both turn me on, but I'm pretty sure this was not imagined. It was also rare and strong when it happened.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: What is your “I don't care if this succeeds” proj... by FriedPickles on Thursday February 10, 2022 @08:22PM (#30295548)
The sensation comes from the Macbook case voltage differing from that of ground, and finding a path to ground through your body. Sometimes, when you feel the sensation coming from the computer, if you lift your feet off the ground the sensation stops. This is because you are no longer a path to ground.

It's totally possible for this path to ground to go through two humans, making it feel like their skin is buzzing! For example, if your friend is in bed using a Macbook, they're insulated from ground and thus at Macbook case voltage. If you stand on the ground beside them and touch them, the current now finds a path to ground through both your bodies!

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: What is your “I don't care if this succeeds” proj... by raverbashing on Friday February 11, 2022 @01:49AM (#30297906)
> until I moved from US to NL

So, my guess is you're using the 2 pronged brick (US) plug with a US->EU plug adaptor.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: What is your “I don't care if this succeeds” proj... by blunte on Friday February 11, 2022 @11:56AM (#30303702)
It also happens with EU spec machines and their respective EU power supplies. Could be that some of these older homes aren't properly grounding some outlets, so regardless of what you stick in there, maybe you're not getting a ground.

Despite how dangerous it sounds, I've never heard of anyone having a real shock... so I guess it's fine.

[ Parent | on HN ]