This might be because i am in a different country and i am using a converter to charge this computer, but around the outside of the computer (where the metal meets thegray part of the laptop), whenever i lay my arm across this comfortably i get a small shock, like a small pinch
My first PB (indeed, my first Mac) had to be returned after less than a week. The symptoms were as follows:
1. Buzzy feeling as described by others here.
2. Battery failed to charge.
3. Machine eventually failed to operate even with mains adapter plugged in and battery in/removed.
4. Severe arcing when plugging in external powered devices (eg monitors/printers, but not mice/palm sync cables) whilst the machine was powered from the mains.
5. Power adapter clicked after plugging in devices then stopped working. After a few minutes unplugged it would start to work again.
Do any of you experiencing the buzzy feeling ever use mains-powered devices? Apple claimed never to have heard of the problem before, but they replaced it immediately. The new machine has shown none of the symptoms. I put the fault down to earthing issues, possibly a short between the motherboard and the case.
You feel a shock because the square AC adapter by it self is not gounded. It's made of plastic and has only two prongs. Be carefull. I've measured 220 VAC between the chassis on iBooks & PowerBooks and ground. Use the grounded power cable between the square adapter and the AC outlet to ground the equipment and prevent a shock. If you're using the square power adapter by it self, plugging straight into the wall, you will have high voltage between the Books chassis and ground.
I've the same problem here (in italy) with my new powerbook, tomorrow i will call apple care.
First a problem with graphic (fixed in a patch, a patch for a couple of computer with my problem, only god know what they are doing) now that one... It's my first mac, I'm very disappointed
I live in the U.S. and had the same electrical shock problem while working in Greece. The outlets in Greece have two round prongs, with no third prong. The U.S. outlets accept two flat prongs, and a round third prong for grounding. The solution to the problem in Europe is to bring along your extension cable that attaches to the Apple power brick. The extension cable has the third prong for grounding.
However, the tricky part is obtaining the correct adapter for the wall outlet. In Greece (and in Germany and other Euro continent countries), the wall outlet is a circular recessed structure with two holes that accepts two round prongs. However, you would also see that the the sides of the structure have two metal strips which at first glance look like clips to hold your plug firmly in place. In fact this is the ground connection. In the US, when you buy an adapter for these Euro outlets, you should get something that accepts (female) the flat prongs AND the round ground prong of the US, and outputs (male) two round prongs for Europe AND the adapter must have two metal strips on the side to make contact with the Euro ground. Out of three adapters I had bought over the years, only ONE actually provided the Euro ground strips on the side.
By the way, a few people reported in these discussion groups that when they called Apple about the electrical shock problem, Apple responded that this was normal. In fact, I noticed that a stereo amplifier and a DVD player that I have in Greece (purchased in Greece too, not brought over from the U.S.) showed the same electrical shock symptoms when you ran your hand across the top of the case (not the front). However, these surfaces are not meant to have your palms resting on them all the time, and in my opinion the electrical shock problem is not acceptable for a portable computer.
While this may not be your specific problem, but it sounds like it might be, there is an easy way to at least verify if you are on the right track. Open Activity Monitor and take a look at kernel_task. Normally it should be around 1 to 4 %. If it is something higher like 6 or even 7 %, then that may be the cause of your PB power sleeping.
I was having this problem, described in the thread above. I followed the instructions posted above as well as the other Mac OS X Hints site. My kernel_task is now consistenly back down to 1 - 2 % and no more power sleeps. I hope this helps. David
PS Again, easy way to check, take a look at kernel_task in Activit Monitor.
I'm in Canada and have noticed the same type of small shocks. I however switched from pluging directly into the wall (which was causing sparks) into a surge protecting powerbar. Haven't had the issue sense.
I've got a Titanium G4 Gigabit Ethernet (800MHz) and I've been experiencing the same problem. I've been using a wristguard lately so I usually keep my hands above the case itself, so it hasn't happened lately. If I put my hands on the case while typing I still feel it. At first I thought maybe it was pinching hairs on my wrist or something as it only seems to happen on that nice soft flesh near my wrists. I don't have any carpets and have a vinyl couch, so I don't think it's static electricity... I am using the two-prong plug plugged into a grounded power strip. Is there a three pronged plug for the power brick? I've never seen those... I just read a survey over at MacInTouch on apple laptop reliability (
http://www.macintouch.com/reliability/laptops.html) and they mentioned a user having the same problem. Their suggestion was in line with what I thought the problem was... a leaky power system in the laptop sending current to the case... I don't know that I like the idea of that, even if it is a low current. Glad to know it's not only my machine though. This book's been in the shop a number of times. In fact, the memory, HD, and CD drive are about the only original parts, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear it was a problem with this machine... But, after replacing everything I still have this problem, so my guess is if others are having it too it's probably something wrong with the design and not a deadly electroshock trap waiting to happen. Or so I hope...
arclyte,
There are two types of power adapters that have shipped with the PowerBook: gorunded and ungrounded. If you remove the duckhead, you'll see that the retaining lug is either plastic or metal. If the lug is plastic, you'll need a new (grounded) power adapter to alleviate the condition. If the lug is metal, all you need is a 3-prong power cord to ground the power adapter. Both types of adapters were shipped with a two-pronged duckhead.
I'm having the same problem with my PB800. Right bottom corner, the plastic cover is chipped there so am assuming that's the problem. It is definately only a prob when the PB is plugged in. Only two prongs on the old plug in Australia I'm afraid so no easy grounding there.
Wiggle the cord a bit and no buzzing... for a while. This is strange as I've tried using 3 other cords and they have all done this at some stage on this PB. Pleased to hear I'm not going to end up a burnt crisp at my desk though 🙂
