HP Notebook PC Metal Surfaces and 3-Prong Grounded AC Adapters - Whitepaper

Introduction

This document provides general information about metal surfaces on specific 2008 models of

HP Business Notebook PC products and their interaction with HP Notebook PC 3-prong grounded

AC adapters and with third-party 2-prong or otherwise ungrounded AC adapters.

Metal surfaces

For appearance and durability, some HP Business Notebook PC products announced in calendar

year 2008, listed below, utilize an aluminum alloy material on some exterior surfaces:

 HP EliteBook Series Notebook PC

 HP 2133 Mini-Note PC

 HP 2533t Mobile Thin Client

 HP Docking Station and Advanced Docking Station

On the notebook PC models listed above, this aluminum alloy material is used on the display

enclosure that surrounds the display panel and on the area surrounding the keyboard. On the

docking stations listed above, this aluminum alloy material is used on the top and sides.

HP Notebook PC AC adapters

HP Omnibook brand notebook PC models were announced prior to 2002 and shipped with a

3-prong grounded AC adapter beginning in 2002. HP Compaq, HP Pavilion, Compaq Evo, and

Compaq Presario brand notebook PC models have shipped with a 3-prong grounded AC adapter

since 1995. HP plans to continue using 3-prong grounded AC adapters for all notebook PC models.

The benefits of using 3-prong grounded AC adapters include safety, reliability, and regulatory

compliance. HP Notebook PC AC adapters comply with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

standards that include but are not limited to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

specifications and international EN 55022 EMC specifications. Through the use of a 3-prong

grounded plug, HP Notebook PC AC adapters help reduce the potential for electric current

leakage, lower the risk of electric shock, and provide increased user protection from electrostatic

discharge (ESD).

Third-party ungrounded AC adapters

Under certain circumstances, the use of a third-party 2-prong or otherwise ungrounded AC adapter

with a 2008 HP Business Notebook PC product listed above can cause a user to feel a slight tingling

sensation when touching the aluminum alloy surfaces. This is not typically a safety concern, and in

most cases, it is not harmful to the user or to the product.

HP Notebook PC products and HP Notebook PC AC adapters meet or exceed current applicable

safety and regulatory requirements. Therefore, the tingling sensation should not be felt when a listed

product is used with a supported HP 3-prong grounded AC adapter. Possible exceptions could be

when the notebook PC and a supported HP 3-prong grounded AC adapter are used with an AC

outlet which itself has a poor ground or when the 3-prong grounded AC adapter is used where only

2-prong (ungrounded) AC adapters are supported.