Sony VAIO Laptops gives electric shocks !!

Yes, SONY has given a shocker yet again, and this time it’s a rude one. Sony laptops/notebooks have become notorious for sending mild electric shocks to the user from the laptop’s metallic armrest.

After a bit of Googling (try searching for “sony vaio electric shock”) and experiencing a few mild shocks myself, here is what I found out:

1. The problem is not new – People have been complaining about this issue since 2006. But nothing has been done about it by Sony so far.

2. The shock can occur only if all three of the following conditions are met:

a. The laptop charger is connected and laptop is charging.
b. Some part of your body is touching the metallic armrest in front
c. Your body is grounded

The shock voltage could be anything from 1.5V to 3V but I am pretty sure the voltage was much higher in my case.

How to fix the problem (it’s easy, actually) :

1. Sony charger comes with a 2 pin adapter. Go get yourself a 3 pin plug – either buy it or demand it for free from the Sony Customer Care (India # 1800-11-11-88) or your nearest service center. You just might get lucky 😉 (If you have a 3 pin plug and you are still getting shocks, skip to step 2 or read the quickfix tip as your last resort)

2. Make sure the grounding pin in your extension board/multiplug actually works! (This was the culprit in my case)

That’s it, no more shocks.

Incase you are looking for a quickfix (say, if you are traveling right now), just put some plastic tape on the mettalic cover. But do remember that the adhesive might get a bit irritating once you get a 3 pin plug and take out the tape.

(Please remember to add a comment if I saved your day)

Related Posts

1. Sony Vaio VGN CR35G and CR36G Review

2. Dell XPS 1530 Vs. Sony CR35G/36G

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Comments

  1. Does Sony provide another 3-pin charger/adapter free of cost (after complaining) or we need to buy that??

  2. Does Sony provide another 3-pin charger/adapter free of cost (after complaining) or we need to buy that??

  3. Well, I did not try for it just because it was too much hassle to go all the way for buying a mere cable. Had I gone, I would have made sure they give it to me free of cost. Sony USA publicly acknowledges this problem and gives the spare cable for free. Did not investigate the scene in India till now.

    Just buy it from a nearby electronics showroom if you’re lazy like me too. It’s not too expensive. But make sure you get a good brand. You’ll certainly not wanna mess up your laptop for a cheap cable.

  4. Well, I did not try for it just because it was too much hassle to go all the way for buying a mere cable. Had I gone, I would have made sure they give it to me free of cost. Sony USA publicly acknowledges this problem and gives the spare cable for free. Did not investigate the scene in India till now.Just buy it from a nearby electronics showroom if you’re lazy like me too. It’s not too expensive. But make sure you get a good brand. You’ll certainly not wanna mess up your laptop for a cheap cable.

  5. well… Thats fine. But at the end the laptop should be compatible for 3-pin charger. The laptop should be grounded or connected to the earth point. Does the pin on the laptop side compatible for three pin sockets?

  6. well… Thats fine. But at the end the laptop should be compatible for 3-pin charger. The laptop should be grounded or connected to the earth point. Does the pin on the laptop side compatible for three pin sockets?

  7. Sorry for making such a stupid mistake of not mentioning that in the blog post itself!

    Ya, the laptop does support 3 pin charger and it does have an earthing point which is in touch with it’s metallic body.

  8. Sorry for making such a stupid mistake of not mentioning that in the blog post itself!Ya, the laptop does support 3 pin charger and it does have an earthing point which is in touch with it’s metallic body.

  9. Hi,

    Firstly, thank you for the info. I just picked up a sony vaio cr35g yesterday. Pretty neat stuff i should say. With yuor info i will directly demand the Sony Support for the three pin plug. I would not want to wait until the 3V hits me hard :).

    Thanks again mate!

    regards,

    Abhi

  10. Hi,Firstly, thank you for the info. I just picked up a sony vaio cr35g yesterday. Pretty neat stuff i should say. With yuor info i will directly demand the Sony Support for the three pin plug. I would not want to wait until the 3V hits me hard :).Thanks again mate!regards,Abhi

  13. Yes I have beeen experiencing shocks some times a bit severe. I got 2 pairs of 2 & 3 pin plugs along with the laptop itself. So I would better use a 3 pin from now. Thanks a lot for the post.

  14. Yes I have beeen experiencing shocks some times a bit severe. I got 2 pairs of 2 & 3 pin plugs along with the laptop itself. So I would better use a 3 pin from now. Thanks a lot for the post.

  15. Someone told me you wear a chappal and then work on the laptop to prevent these shocks…..I laughed so much thinking that i paid 55k for a laptop i cant use without my chappals on 😉

  16. Someone told me you wear a chappal and then work on the laptop to prevent these shocks…..I laughed so much thinking that i paid 55k for a laptop i cant use without my chappals on 😉

  17. Hi Gaurav..
    I’m planning to buy cr 353.
    but quite prone to these shock frm the metallic part as one of my frnd has it on his showroom. So most to the time wen i touch it, it gives me a minor shock.
    So is there any solution for this.
    Waiting for ur reply.
    Thanks in advance
    Nupur

  18. Hi Gaurav..I’m planning to buy cr 353.but quite prone to these shock frm the metallic part as one of my frnd has it on his showroom. So most to the time wen i touch it, it gives me a minor shock.So is there any solution for this.Waiting for ur reply.Thanks in advanceNupur

  19. hi guys i bought a sony vaio cr 36g recently and believe me those jerks dont even warn u about the shock problem until u experience this firsthand. Also when i asked for a 3 pin plug the fuckers say that the problem doesnt exist at all. So take caution while buying a vaio.

  20. hi guys i bought a sony vaio cr 36g recently and believe me those jerks dont even warn u about the shock problem until u experience this firsthand. Also when i asked for a 3 pin plug the fuckers say that the problem doesnt exist at all. So take caution while buying a vaio.

  21. yes it is true that it has aproblem with the 2 pin adapter by reading this blog i realise and went to the service station, the guy out there initially denied about the same then i have made him realise and feel the problem, then they reply that you need to buy a cable from the market, i agreed but i just made a one question that ok i dont mind buying the cable worth of 50 INR, but my concern is what if the adaptor has some problem after the cable i buy sony will obviously deny my warranty on the adaptor because of the duplicate or non sony cable, so it is better that i have it from you or other wise i want the same thing is written that sony will take the responsibility of my laptop what ever happen to it, burns, fails anything after changin the cable, the guy at the service center realise and put on the request for the cable they arrange to ship the cable from singapore and i have got the three pin cable, my problem is solved now, the only thing is i has to buy a pin convertor since it was not indian compatible 3 pins. but thats ok.

  22. yes it is true that it has aproblem with the 2 pin adapter by reading this blog i realise and went to the service station, the guy out there initially denied about the same then i have made him realise and feel the problem, then they reply that you need to buy a cable from the market, i agreed but i just made a one question that ok i dont mind buying the cable worth of 50 INR, but my concern is what if the adaptor has some problem after the cable i buy
    sony will obviously deny my warranty on the adaptor because of the duplicate or non sony cable, so it is better that i have it from you or other wise i want the same thing is written that sony will take the responsibility of my laptop what ever happen to it, burns, fails anything after changin the cable, the guy at the service center realise and put on the request for the cable they arrange to ship the cable from singapore and i have got the three pin cable, my problem is solved now, the only thing is i has to buy a pin convertor since it was not indian compatible 3 pins. but thats ok.

  23. hey didnt sony india give you a 3 pin cable…i bought vhn fz series laptop about a year ago and got 3 cables…one 2 pin and other two 3 pins…those were right inside the box…i ddint have to ask vendor or any1

  24. hey didnt sony india give you a 3 pin cable…i bought vhn fz series laptop about a year ago and got 3 cables…one 2 pin and other two 3 pins…those were right inside the box…i ddint have to ask vendor or any1

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