What is this buzzing feeling i get when i touch my laptop?

[Lid4]

Hello everyone,

I have a HP Pavillion 15 -eg0xxx laptop and when i plugged it into my TV through HDMI, i got this buzzing electrical feeling on my fingers when moving my hands on my laptop.

This buzzing feeling went away immediately when i unplugged it from my HDMI cable.

Does anyone knows why this happens? And is there anything important i should know?

Also Im not super laptop-savvy

I believe the body of my laptop is aluminum.

Thank you for reading this and for any advice given!

[A_Gayathri · Accepted solution]

Hi @Lid4,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand the buzzing feeling you're experiencing when touching your HP Pavilion 15-eg0xxx laptop while it's connected to your TV via HDMI is likely due to a grounding issue, often referred to as a "ground loop." 

Here's a breakdown of what's happening and what you should know:

Why This Happens

Ground Loop: This occurs when two devices (in this case, your laptop and TV) that are connected to each other have different ground potentials. This difference can cause a small electric current to flow through the body of the laptop, resulting in a buzzing or tingling sensation when you touch it. This is more common in devices with metal casings, like your aluminum laptop.

Electrical Interference: If your laptop and TV are plugged into different outlets or power strips, especially if those outlets are on different circuits, the ground loop is more likely to occur. The HDMI cable provides a path for electrical currents to pass between the devices, which can create the buzzing sensation.

Is This Dangerous?

• Not Usually: The buzzing feeling, while uncomfortable, is typically not dangerous because the current involved is usually very low. However, it indicates a grounding problem that should be addressed to prevent potential electrical hazards.

What You Should Do

Check Your Power Outlets: Ensure that both your laptop charger and TV are plugged into grounded outlets. If you're using an older building or extension cords, it might be worth checking that they are properly grounded.

Use the Same Power Source: Plug both your laptop charger and TV into the same power strip or outlet to minimize the potential for a ground loop.

Use a Three-Prong Adapter: If you're using a two-prong adapter for your laptop charger, switch to a three-prong adapter to ensure proper grounding.

HDMI Cable Quality: In some cases, using a higher-quality HDMI cable with better shielding can reduce the chance of electrical interference and buzzing.

Disconnect When Not in Use: If you don’t need the HDMI connection, unplug it to avoid the sensation.
 

Test with Another TV: If possible, connect your laptop to a different TV to see if the issue persists. This can help determine if the problem is with the TV's grounding.
 

Refer to this document: HP Pavilion 15-cc000 Laptop PC User manual

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. 

[Lid4]

Thank you so much Gaya!

I felt so relived when you sent such a detailed response 

I just have one more question. 

I use the HDMI connection for a small period of time everyday, maybe like  30 mins upto 1 hour and 30 mins and i think the electrical feeling was something i got only once, out of the 7 times i connected my PC to the TV on previous occasions that week.

My question is, could this potentially not be good for my laptop if I continue to use to same set up? Would it be safer for the health of my laptop if i were to not continue with the same PC to TV set up?

Im thinking of buying a new HDMI cable after you mentioned it.

Again thank you so much Gaya for you help! I really hope it wont be much for you to help me with this follow up question!

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @Lid4,

Thank you for your reply 
 

You're very welcome, and I'm glad the detailed response helped you feel relieved!
 

As for your current setup and the use of an HDMI connection from your laptop to the TV, here's what you should keep in mind:
 

The "electrical" feeling you experienced:
 

• This could indicate a grounding issue, either with your laptop, TV, or the HDMI cable itself. Sometimes, older or low-quality HDMI cables can cause minor electrical discharge due to poor shielding, though this is relatively rare. It's definitely a good idea to replace the cable, as you mentioned.

Potential impact on your laptop:
 

HDMI connections are typically safe for laptops, provided that the cable, TV, and laptop ports are functioning correctly. However, if there is a grounding issue or faulty wiring in any of the connected devices, it could theoretically cause electrical issues that may damage your laptop over time, even if the problem only happens intermittently.

Since you felt the electrical sensation only once, it might have been a one-off issue due to static discharge or cable quality. Replacing the HDMI cable should help reduce this risk. Go for a high-quality, well-shielded HDMI cable that meets current standards (e.g., HDMI 2.0 or 2.1).
 

Should you change your setup?:

• If replacing the HDMI cable fixes the issue and you don't experience any further electrical sensations or problems, you can likely continue using your setup without worry. However, if the issue persists even with a new cable, it might be wise to have both your laptop and TV checked to ensure there are no underlying issues with grounding or wiring.

Safety tips:

• If possible, connect both the laptop and TV to the same grounded power outlet (through a surge protector) to avoid potential electrical imbalances between the devices.
• Avoid touching the metal parts of the HDMI cable or ports when plugging or unplugging the cable.
   

Click here to HP PCs - Using two or more monitors with one computer (Windows 11, 10)

Click here  to HP PCs - Connecting to a wireless monitor or smart TV (Windows 11, 10)
 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.