Home » Questions » Computers [ Ask a new question ]

Why would I get an electric shock from a VGA cable connected to an LCD monitor?

Why would I get an electric shock from a VGA cable connected to an LCD monitor?

While arranging cables tonight to prepare to plant a new workstation, I got an electric shock from the VGA cable (that was hooked up to a seemingly good, yet older LCD monitor).

Asked by: Guest | Views: 356
Total answers/comments: 2
Guest [Entry]

"There's an electrical fault in the monitor. I hope it's under warranty.

It is NOT the signal for the picture, which is extremely low voltage and high frequency and cannot be felt. It's probably a short in the monitor which has put real voltage on a cable meant only to carry a signal. Unplug it, leave it unplugged, and either get it fixed or dispose of it.

Nothing to do with ""new technology"" here--the problem isn't in the technology, it's a wire making contact with the wrong part."
Guest [Entry]

The shock is due to electrical signals (from the monitor) flowing through your body. The signal is always present(when monitor is on), just that it needs the circuit to be completed. Normally when you connect it to a workstation, the circuit is completed by the workstation. But when you hold it, its you who complete the circuit & hence the shock :).