help needed after laptop exploded when using hdmi cable

[Richard Burns]

I have manged to find my laptop instructions (from 2006) and it is not clear cut but does say plug into computer before AC power but does not say why.
However this is probably very out of date now.

 

[DPG]

It shouldn't matter which order you plug them in - I don't get that at all. The only thing I can think is that if there is a voltage on the earth of the tv connectors (which there sometimes is on non class I TV's, etc.) and the shield of the hdmi connector maybe touched the data pins of the socket and thus applied the voltage to them. The design of the hdmi socket makes this unlikely though. Daz

 

[g1190]

i thought it wouldnt matter which order i plugged them in too. so does that perhaps mean the fault could lie in the tv, or in the cable i used? the sony repair guy said something about earthing, and the tv, but i cant remember what it was. glad you mentioned it though

thanks

 

[Silly Sausage]

think it's a case of spilling beer onto the laptop and then phoning insurers.

Too late, sounds like he's got a repair man involved now.
I'd have had it straight back to the shop under warranty!
I can see the attraction of all this Wifi nonsense now.

 

[g1190]

yes, unfortunately the laptop was just out of its warranty. I haven't submitted it to sony yet though. I have just been dealing with them over the phone to see what my options are now.

 

[DPG]

i thought it wouldnt matter which order i plugged them in too. so does that perhaps mean the fault could lie in the tv, or in the cable i used? the sony repair guy said something about earthing, and the tv, but i cant remember what it was. glad you mentioned it though

thanks

The cable won't have been faulty, or at least it's very unlikely. Many TVs (and other hifi/video equipment for that matter) are not earthed, and have a voltage present on the shielding of the sockets. You may have had a tingle off aerial sockets on TV's, satellite receivers before which is caused by the same thing. Class I devices (ie. ones which have a mains earth connection in the plug) should not suffer from this. There is often advice about switching things off before connecting them to other devices - this is the reason for this. I'm surprised it damaged the laptop though, and I would be having strong words with Sony about this. Daz

 

[g1190]

Right I understand you now. Actually I used to get minor electric shocks from touching metal screwy parts connected to the virgin box the tv was connected to. when i updgraded my box, the technician got a shock too and said it shouldn't be happening. i guess the two things are linked. i guess the tv must be the cause.


thanks again

 

[DPG]

Right I understand you now. Actually I used to get minor electric shocks from touching metal screwy parts connected to the virgin box the tv was connected to. when i updgraded my box, the technician got a shock too and said it shouldn't be happening. i guess the two things are linked. i guess the tv must be the cause.


thanks again

Yep, most of the satellite tv boxes used to be the same - probably still are. You can sometimes actually see a small spark if you touch an earthed cable to the sockets. Daz

 

[g1190]

thanks for you help DPG. do you think its worth my while getting in an electrican to determine if the tv is faulty, or do i just accept that this sort of occurrence is an unfortunate but inevitable part of the ownership of electrical products

 

[Marvo]

I think it would be worth getting an experienced electrician to test the plug circuits and the external earth impedance. It wouldn't take long (maybe 30 mins to an hour) and it might save future damage to other electronic equipment.