I live in a rented terrace house which was built c.1890 but has been substantially updated.
we've lived here for six months and about a month ago my laptop started to feel strange. i have a macbook with a metal case. the case felt almost magnetic, or sticky. it was mild, but noticeable enough to be annoying. the effect only happens if i have one hand on the casing - if i put the other hand on it goes away. it only happens when the laptop is plugged into the wall, and it happens with more than one outlet. i'm pretty sure this is a new development as, like i said, i find it annoying to the point that i can't use my laptop while it's charging, and i can't imagine not having noticed it for the last 5 months.
i have also noticed the same problem with the edge of my ipod when it's in its dock and the dock is plugged in and the edge of the metal electric kettle when it's on.
so my question is - what's going on here? are these appliances ungrounded and therefore live? if so is it dangerous to use them? is it dangerous to be in the house?
we have documentation that the electrics were checked just before we moved in and no problems were found then - is it normal for grounding problems to appear suddenly like this? or would the electric checks not necessarily show up a grounding problem?
i want to gather as much information as i can before i contact the agent because they are terrible and do nothing unless you pester them. if this isn't really a big deal, i probably won't bother with all the calls and letters it would get to make them sit up and take notice.
thanks in advance for any help!
we've lived here for six months and about a month ago my laptop started to feel strange. i have a macbook with a metal case. the case felt almost magnetic, or sticky. it was mild, but noticeable enough to be annoying. the effect only happens if i have one hand on the casing - if i put the other hand on it goes away. it only happens when the laptop is plugged into the wall, and it happens with more than one outlet. i'm pretty sure this is a new development as, like i said, i find it annoying to the point that i can't use my laptop while it's charging, and i can't imagine not having noticed it for the last 5 months.
i have also noticed the same problem with the edge of my ipod when it's in its dock and the dock is plugged in and the edge of the metal electric kettle when it's on.
so my question is - what's going on here? are these appliances ungrounded and therefore live? if so is it dangerous to use them? is it dangerous to be in the house?
we have documentation that the electrics were checked just before we moved in and no problems were found then - is it normal for grounding problems to appear suddenly like this? or would the electric checks not necessarily show up a grounding problem?
i want to gather as much information as i can before i contact the agent because they are terrible and do nothing unless you pester them. if this isn't really a big deal, i probably won't bother with all the calls and letters it would get to make them sit up and take notice.
thanks in advance for any help!