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Using macbook pro and firewire drives in foreign country
So I bought a MBP to take to India and I’ve brought my firewire drive with me. Problem, I only brough one outlet adapter. The computer at my hotel had this cool power strip. I had a regular Indian plug to plug into the wal. But the six outlets on the strip were multi-national hole patterns. Meaning, they will take US, european, etc. I bought one for about $7. But I notice that when the firewire drive is plugged in, there is some weird electrical current on the laptop. I can touch the place where your wrist goes, it it send a slight electrical shock through me!
I later noiced that the end of the firewire cable (after unplugging it from the computer) had this same charge. Everything seems to be working. And my data is backed up. But if I loose this drive, well, that’s not a good thing. And if I die, that’s not good either.
Voltage here is 230V. But both the MBP power adapter and the firewire drive power adapter, take between 100-240V. Any ideas? Should I be worried?
-Trevor Ward
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2 Replies
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This has been happening to me in France. I am still alive after 6 months of this and my drives are ,too;-) I think it is a grounding issue, because if I use the US 3-prong cord and a french 2-prong adapter, I can align the US and the French grounding wires and the current goes away.
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Mark,
I’ve tried pluggin in the mac power adapter upside down and that doesn’t work either. and it’s not just related to the external drive cause when it’s not plugged in, i still have this problem. My only success comes when I’m wearing shorts, or working in my undies. I put the laptop on my legs and my bare legs help to ground the current. I guess my legs don’t feel the shock as much as my wrists do. I’ve got to find a soluction. I’ll be here for two months and can’t work like this. I’m no wuss, but it is uncomfortable.
-tw
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