ATTN: All Dell 9400/e1705/m1710/m90 owners!!!

*Update* The following problem appears to be solved by getting a 3 pronged grounded adapter fro Dell.



I recently had my laptop a Dell 9400 replaced because it was giving off between 19 and 65 volts AC off any screw on the bottom of the laptop. I now have 3 of these 9400's in my shop, My new replacement and 2 brand new fresh out of the box systems for clients.

All 3 of them have the exact same problem. I know it is not my electrical system, as this is a PC repair shop and we have everything tested and certified regularly. So it seems to me as if this may be a MAJOR problem with these laptops. Could anyone else who has a 9400 or e1705 please grab a multi meter and test theirs out for me? Set the MultiMeter to measure AC, then touch the red lead to a screw on the bottom of the laptop, The wireless card cover screws work well, and touch the black led to something metal that you can ground to.

So please 9400/e1705 owners, PLEASE Check the bottoms of your laptops. Please break out the multi meters and see if you are getting a charge. On my first laptop, this problem possibly lead to the death of my RAM and my Video Card.

Thank you,
Randy


*edit* An update, The_Scotsman has also found this same problem in a Inspiron 6400. So if you have one of these please check it as well.
I also believe you should test ANY 17 inch Dell notebook you have. As far as I know, they are all based off the same platform.

*edit* March 12th,

The concerns for personal safety have been addressed and is no longer a concern. The laptops do give off fairly high voltage, but 0 current. So there is no danger to personal safety. Dell has promised a response to the rest of the issues, we are just awaiting to hear form them.

Thank you for testing this. When you tested it, did you have the ground on something other than your laptop? Also if you could, leave the laptop running and plugged in for a couple hours, then test again. The charge seems to go up over time.

Also, is your power adapter a grounded or non grounded one? Does it have 2 or 3 prongs?

Thank you,
Randy

No problem, and please let us know your results with the multi meter.

Thank you

Well that is good. Very very odd but good. One of the 3 I have here with the same problem, it will show Nada one minute and 20 volts the next. We have sent one of them off to an electrical engineer. Hoefully he will have some news for my by the end of the week.

I do not want to keep sending these rigs back to Dell if the same problem is just going to keep coming back up.

I wonder if this may be a problem with a specific run of parts. It just strikes me odd that I have 3 9400's each with differant specs and each of them less than a month old, yet they all have this voltage problem.

To answer a few questions,

What am I using to ground? On my initial tests I had used an empty computer case that was on my bench. Once I saw at that time 35 volts AC (32-36 bouncing) I felt it best to use my grounding bar on the desk as a solid ground. Same results. On two of the laptops, the charge from the screws is not full-time. One moment I can test them and only see the usual .022 or there abouts volts. Another time I might see 19.05 volts AC and yet another time I will see 35-41 volts AC, yet another time still I may see 60 volts AC. On one of the laptops it is an almost steady 22.07 volts AC. This is currently the best functioning laptop.

I have further run tests of my own by checking other laptops I have around the shop. Plugged into the same station and using the same grounds and testing methods. (I like to be thurough) None of these other laptops, two other Dells, a Sony and a Compaq show any voltages off the bottoms. (Other than the usual .02 volts you will get by touching it with your hands. I have also tried plugging the laptops into a differant circuit and checking for voltage leaks. The problem continues, as I knew it would since mine does this at home as well.

I do not know why I am seeing this and others are not. Unless the problem is more random on some laptops. I would not expect that every 9400 has this problem, but with me getting 3 in a week like this??? Two were right out of box brand new.

Something must be up.
Randy

the_scotsman, Thank you very much for helping me to confirm it is deffinately not just me!!! I have now had 2 other people, including you find this same problem. My first one was not REAL trouble to get replaced. Well it was no trouble to get them to AGREE to replace it, but then they lost my order for a week. Dell seemed genuinely concerned about the problem, but acted as if they had never heard of anything like this before. They asked if I was sure, and how I got my results. So I explained my testing to them and they agreed I was correct.

For the earlier poster who suggested it might be the tester, no. This is a fluke with brand new batteries. It is 100% on the money. Like the scotsman and I both have said, when you are testing this you must have the black lead on a ground other than the laptop. And Earth ground. You can use a PC that is plugged in if you do not have a proper grounding bar. The PC would not have to be on, but so long as it is plugged in with a 3 prong plug, it is grounded.

Keep checking them!! ESPECIALLY is you are having the NMI Parity errors that seem to be so common on these laptops.

Also could someone please test the XPS laptops the M1710's? They are the same chassis, and will likely have the same problem.

Randy

You need to use a ground NOT attached to your laptop. Use an Earth ground, use a PC case that is plugged in, use something other than your laptop. You will not see ANY results if you test and use something attached to the laptop for ground.

I just spoke with Dell, They are going to start an investigation and will likely be checking these threads as well. The lady said she would keep me in the loop, so we shall see.