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Surface Pro 3 Gives Electric Shocks While Charging When Placed on Lap; Anyone Else With This Problem?

Anonymous
2014-08-28T07:45:56+00:00

So, I just received my Surface Pro 3 today. Couldn't wait to unbox it and set it up. Plugged it in to charge, deployed the kickstand, clicked in the Type Cover, and placed it on my lap. So far so normal, right?

Nope.

Instantly, where the edge of the kickstand touched my lap, I felt what seemed like angry ant bites, one after another. Electric shocks, all concentrated at one point on my skin.

Now, I don't know about you, but I am given to understand that electric current is supposed to stay inside the confines of the equipment chassis on a normally-functioning piece of equipment. (You know, unless it's a Taser or the electric chair)

Alarmed, I quickly lifted my Surface off my lap, only to see a red patch of skin where the 'ant bites' were.

So, my Surface Pro 3 seems to hate being placed on laps, so much so that it gives electric shocks that are strong enough to redden the skin. It's not a 'tingle', it's a full-bodiedshock. So much for being a "laptop replacement".

Investigating the problem, I unplugged the Surface and placed it back on my lap. No electric shock.

Still resting it on my lap, I plugged it back in. The shocks returned.

Clearly, there has been a literal crossed wire somewhere in the assembly process. How did QA not catch this?

I've since been on the phone with Microsoft Support, and they say that they'll get back to me in a couple of days.

In the meantime, my Surface Pro 3 is now sitting back in its box, in all its original packaging, ready at a moment's notice to be shipped back to Microsoft, at Microsoft's expense.**

Because that's what you do with a defective productwith serious manufacturing flaws.

Anyone else share my experience? Feel free to contribute below.

Surface | Surface Laptop | Safety and security

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-02-21T20:37:13+00:00

    Same issue! Thought I was crazy at first and it was maybe a 'sharp point' I couldn't find when looking for it... eventually discovered it's an electric shock.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-07-29T00:57:09+00:00

    This is happening to me as well with my SP3 I7.

    I just spoke to Microsoft support last week and I can't say I was happy with the reply I got but saw I was getting nowhere, so didn't bother to push and go any further!

    First thing support did was to made sure of is that I was ok and not injured in anyway which is fair enough but after explaining to her the symptoms, I was put on hold for a couple of minutes or so and then I was told "Microsoft Stance on the issues is that they do not recommend direct skin contact with their SP3 and after extensive testing, it was found to be perfectly safe"???? Are you feeing serious?? No skin contact & safe??

    I may not die from it, but it is totally unacceptable!! As mentioned to support, my family we have iPhones, iPad, Mac Book Pros, Windows Phones, Toshiba tablets, MS Band, and many other gadgets and no other device provides an electric shock and as mentioned, I've had numerous laptops over the years and I've never, and I mean NEVER, had any devices electrocuting me in any way shape or form!

    Grounded or not, it just should not happen and I'm amazed that there hasn't been more fuss made about this issue!!

    The only time I've ever experience something like this when I was a kid and would lick a 9V battery and note I didn't do this on a regular basis, but common MS... After extensive research, we found it safe and I shouldn't have direct skin contact???

    I love my SP3 and it works extremely well but I must say that after having purchased it, a docking station, the keyboard, having spend around $2500, which is by no means cheap, I've had many unacceptable problems, not to mention answers!!

    1. Doesn't always charge with the docking station. Was suppose to get a replacement, and never got a follow up as promised.
    2. Doesn't always charge when using google chrome.
    3. Doesn't charge MS Band from docking station... I was told by MS support that the USB provided on the docking station hadn't build to charge the MS Band??? It was build to charge mobiles and hard drive, well access regarding the latter. Really??? Guess what's it also has problem charging my windows phone... Talking about BS!!
    4. Resolution issue on dual screen
    5. and now this...Electric shocks??

    No company or device is perfect, and I can accept this, and all will come with their fair share of problems but electrocution, no matter how small the shock is just not acceptable!!

    Sorry for the rant, but I just can't believe MS is getting away with this and letting their customers down and I while to support them in the effort to catch up, I don't know how much longer will I put up with it to be honest!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-09-04T22:47:23+00:00

    I have the same problem, after waiting a long time for the i7 model to be released I decided to take the plunge.

    I started setting it up and while I was installing software I happened to put my hands on the back stand where I was getting that charged feeling, did some tests and you can clearly feel it when the unit is on charge. I took it back the next day and initially the fault was not evident straight away but I was fairly confident as I tested it in a number of sockets so I left it for testing with the store technicians. Later I found it seemed to start more when the battery is around 70% charged.  

    After leaving it with the store they did "kind of" mange to replicate the problem and were happy to replace the unit. They did not say too much about the actual fault and when I questioned what caused it and what if the replacement did the same they said it seems to have been a one off but after reading similar posts such as this I am not so sure....!

    Last night I set-up the new unit and to my disappointment it is doing the same thing. I have forked out a lot of money on this product and accessories I just want my moneys worth. 

    So looks like I have just purchased an expensive problem and its up to me now to either take it back for a refund as I am not confident this is a one off issue or live with it and take the gamble....!

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-09-01T16:16:04+00:00

    That's good to hear. Good luck with your service request.

    When I flipped the cord, the shocks were still there, but quite a bit less severe.

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-08-31T08:28:11+00:00

    Just to confirm, does your power supply connect to the outlet through a cable that converts the 3-pin mains plug (I'm assuming, of course, that the power supply uses the 3-pin Australian plug) to a two-pin "figure-of-eight" connector (see image)? Just trying to see if Microsoft standardises the power supply design across regions.

    (image from Neowin.net)

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