Zap! I'm an idiot.

Morninglord

So I was moving my computer, and plugged in the power cord to the power supply unit. The unit has a dedicated power off switch and this was off. (its got a little led light built into the switch so I know for sure it was off) I picked up the business end of the cable (the bit that goes into the power socket) and received an electric shock as my finger fell across the contact points. Felt like a more insistent and intense version of static electricity shock. I automatically dropped the thing of course, and the skin on the part where my finger received the shock is a little numb, but I can type, I have no real pain (very slight ache) and other than some mental shock I feel ok. I'm guessing it was static buildup in the psu? Should I be worried about this? Anyone know if this can deliver a harmful shock? I don't know anything about electrical shocks and am a little worried, can they have after effects? It didn't outright HURT, it just felt extremely weird. More like when you hit the two points on a battery with your tongue.
Has this happened to anyone else? I didn't even know they could do that.
The feeling to the skin is coming back already.

TehSpectre

I have had this happen to me with different thing on many occasions. You would know if it caused damage to you.

Welcome to the shock club. Pick up one of those shocking games from a Spencer Gifts, you'll get the same effect.

Smasher

I've never heard of delayed harm coming from a minor electric shock. If you're fine now I wouldn't worry about it other than being a bit more careful in the future.

Morninglord

I still feel fine, so I guess I'll quit worrying. I didn't find any information about delayed effects either, that was what I was worried about.

Midshipman

Sounds like the the capacitors in your PSU discharged out through the power cord. I would be more worried about the integrity of your PSU than about any injury that you might have received. If your heart is still beating (only a concern if the current crosses your chest), and you aren't burnt at the contact points, then you are fine.

I've managed to zap myself from fiddling with a PSU and from forgetting to turn off a lamp before changing the bulb. Nothing to worry about.

DrFrylock

Yep. The Mac Performa 578s used to do this all the time, I think because they were all-in-one units and the big caps in the monitor held on to a lot of charge. If you had one plugged in, unplugged it, and accidentally touched the power receptacle pins you'd get a healthy zap. No long-term ill effects though.

subedii

Doing HV (High Voltage) testing of equipment at work, my manager was telling me about a time he touched the ends of the cables we used for the testing without discharging them first (the cables can store a fair amount of charge because of their natural capacitance). In his words it feels like 'having your knuckles ripped apart'. Still, he never mentioned any ill effects from it other than the obvious intense pain, so I doubt there's anything to really worry about. Plus it taught me to be wary of touching the ends of any electrical cabling or wires.

Thanatos

There can be after-effects from being electrocuted, but the statistical probability of them occurring gets lower the less power you put through yourself.

A shock that minor, you should be fine. I've had worse than that, several times (yes, I am that stupid), one of them through my chest (thank god for surge protectors), and haven't had any problems at all.