Sparks when plugging into wall

Hi Chris,
I'd say it is a residual charge left in the transformer of your power adapter. The actual amount of electricity (Amps) would be nearly undetectable by a multimeter as it would ground the charge as soon as it was connected. There is no danger of explosions or such. If it really bothers you that much just touch the prongs on your tongue before you plug it in. That'll stop the sparks 😀 And you'll only do that once!

Both my Apple AC Power Adapters do exactly what you describe will no ill effects noted. I travel to Europe frequently on business and plugging those power adapters into 220V outlets in the dark is quite impressive the first time if you don't know the "bricks" are going to spark.

My experience with the adapter didn't go as well as the rest of you... A few weeks ago those harmless sparks fired my PowerBook. There was a ground in the adapter that would often prevent charging but that day it did more. there was a larger than normal spark and then a humming coming from the connection to the computer. when i tried to turn it on nothing happened even with 30% battery.

Anyway, when I got it back from repair they had replaced the motherboard, sound card and battery. Suprisingly Apple didn't replace my adapter, I had to call and remind them why they did all the work in the first place. The new adapter doesn't spark (yet).

Moral of the story; never connect the power cord to your computer before pluging it into the socket. My 2 cents.

I just wants to add that mine also sparks and makes a crack noise when I plug it in.

I had an electrian inspect my house. He said the outlet was grounded and fine.

I will no longer plug the cord to my computer first though. I had wonderd if that was a bad thing, but had never read anything on it.

I also have a spark about half of the time if I where to plug my adapter into another outlet than the office. I usually have my adapter plugged in all the time, and just remove the plug from the laptop until I am ready to charge it. So in light of what the earlier user said, go with having the adapter plugged into the outlet first, then plug it into your laptop. Some might never have a problem, but do you really want to be the one who does. Probably not.

Chris,
It's normal and, as another poster suggested, you should plug the adapter in the wall before you connect the adpater to the PowerBook. The power adapter is a "switching" power supply, which uses ferromagnetic resonance to transform gihg AC voltage in low DC voltage. Under load, the power adapter will draw a very large initial current, to induce a magnetic field in a small transformer, and that causes sparking at the AC socket.

Hardy,
"I don't know exactly what you are trying to say, but the term "ferromagnetic resonance" is wrong."
You don't know what I'm saying, but I'm wrong? I suggest that you read a book regarding the design of "switching power supplies".

I said the term "ferromagnetic resonance" was wrong. Maybe some one used it incorrectly in book but that does not make it correct.
To see something about applications of ferromagnetic resonance go to this url:
http://www.emclab.umr.edu/studfac/Marina/HFR.pdf

No... Never had that take place.

Does it happen no matter where you plug it in? Different outlets different buildings ?

My Power Mac Quicksilver always sparks when plugging into a live circuit. I now connect the machine to a strip that's turned off first.

Go Cards!

Regards,

I've been using Mac's since the late 80's and they all do it (maybe not all the time). I don't know why technically, but I'm sure there's a reason for it.

Yeah, I agree with your 2 cents. I always plug the adapter in before I plug it into my computer.

I don't know exactly what you are trying to say, but the term "ferromagnetic resonance" is wrong.