Shock from amp plug

[10phil79]

I was moving my stereo amplifier and needed to unplug it. It was unplugged for a few seconds after which I picked the plug from the floor with the prongs pointing into the palm of my of hand. It gave me a shock-much more than a static shock, left my arm tingling for a few minutes.

How could this happen? Stored energy? It's a new amp so would like to think it wasn't faulty.

I won't leave it unplugged again-wouldn't want my little girl to do the same.

 

[st07]

Probably stored energy in the capacitors. When you next unplug the amplifier, turn it on so that it can used up any remaining stored energy.

 

[timtheenchanter]

agreed, quite common, try it on a PA amp, bigger caps, tends to hurt a little.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I won't leave it unplugged again-wouldn't want my little girl to do the same.

What's the probability of that?

How often do you unplug the amp to move it, and then just walk away and leave it, with the plug left lying on the floor?