Sometimes, after charging your phone or laptop, you may feel a tingling sensation. It feels as if a slight electric current has passed through the device. Many people ignore this, thinking it’s normal, but it’s actually not uncommon. This could cause a shock or damage your device.
This is actually caused by an earthing problem, and this seemingly mild current can damage delicate parts of your device. Therefore, it’s important to understand what can be done to fix this problem.
If you feel a slight electric shock or tingling sensation when you plug your phone or laptop into charging, it’s likely due to a lack of earthing and current leakage.
Modern chargers control power through special technology. They contain special filters to prevent any electrical damage. These filters allow a small amount of current to escape, which requires earthing in the three-pin plug to safely transmit it to the ground.
In such a situation, if the home’s earthing is not proper or the charger has only two pins, the leaking current cannot reach the ground and starts accumulating on the body of the laptop or phone. When you touch the device, your body becomes a conduit for transmitting this current to the ground, causing a tingling or mild electric shock in your hands if you are barefoot.
Technically, this current is very light, usually at the level of a few microamperes. This level of current is not dangerous to you.
Similarly, this small current will not immediately damage your device or its charger. However, if you are using a local charger or if your device’s charger is exposed to such current for a long time, there is a risk of a voltage spike.
While this tingling sensation may not immediately damage your device, constant exposure to current can cause your charger or other delicate components to burn. This is especially true if you’re using a low-quality charger.
To address this, first have your home’s wiring checked. If the grounding is not correct, have it repaired. This will resolve the underlying problem. Also, use a 3-pin or original charger. The first large pin of a three-pin charger immediately discharges the current to the ground.
Also, avoid touching or using a device that’s charging barefoot.
If the device is being charged using an extension cord, ensure it supports three-pin earthing. While earthing problems don’t cause shocks, as a precaution, install an RCCB in your home. It cuts off the supply in case of a current leak. This greatly reduces the risk of electric shock or burning.