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User profile for user: rascher62
rascher62 Author
User level: Level 1
11 points

Electric Current Felt While Charging

Hi, I just bought my Macbook Pro from the online store about two weeks ago. Whenever my Mac is charging and I'm using it, I have to stay away from touching either side of the body (parallel to where the battery indicator light is) because I will literally feel *shocks of electricity*.

My housemate who has a Macbook Pro as well does not have this problem so the issue is not with the power sockets in the house.

Isn't this pretty dangerous and NOT supposed to happen? What could be the problem?

Macbook Pro 15", Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on May 14, 2010 10:38 AM

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User profile for user: jonong
jonong
User level: Level 1
0 points

Posted on Jun 17, 2010 11:14 PM

i think this problem affects all models, but only more evident/obvious to some ppl. I think all macbooks come with
a. magsafe adapater (the white brick with 2 pins)
b. 3 pins converter which connects directing to magsafe
c. a power cord (long wire) with 3 pins socket head

After a few days of researching, i think there are only 3 things we can do:

1. Return/exchange, depending on the policy of the store you purchased from. However, i went back to the store which i bought my 13" mbp to try on other models. Only the 17" mbp is free from the current/wave/tingly feel while charging.

2. Charge only using item "c" connected to your brick. Apparently this will provide more grounding, compared with using "a" or "a+b". many tried and it worked.

3. Apple Care asked me to try doing the following:
i. make sure your mbp and any power supply connected is off
ii. hold down "shift" + "option" + "control" + power button simultaneously for 2 secconds and release
iii. turn on power to try again
Item 3 is to reset the circuitry if you have connected ur iphone to the mbp. This may help those who feels the shock while charging the phone through mbp. It will not help those who feel current/wave on the mbp body.

And i mentioned in the beginning, this current/wave should affect all macbooks. Try charging macbook on your friend’s laps, you should be able to feel the wave through his/her body too.

Hope this post can help.
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User profile for user: jonong
jonong
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jun 17, 2010 11:14 PM in response to NKS123

i think this problem affects all models, but only more evident/obvious to some ppl. I think all macbooks come with
a. magsafe adapater (the white brick with 2 pins)
b. 3 pins converter which connects directing to magsafe
c. a power cord (long wire) with 3 pins socket head

After a few days of researching, i think there are only 3 things we can do:

1. Return/exchange, depending on the policy of the store you purchased from. However, i went back to the store which i bought my 13" mbp to try on other models. Only the 17" mbp is free from the current/wave/tingly feel while charging.

2. Charge only using item "c" connected to your brick. Apparently this will provide more grounding, compared with using "a" or "a+b". many tried and it worked.

3. Apple Care asked me to try doing the following:
i. make sure your mbp and any power supply connected is off
ii. hold down "shift" + "option" + "control" + power button simultaneously for 2 secconds and release
iii. turn on power to try again
Item 3 is to reset the circuitry if you have connected ur iphone to the mbp. This may help those who feels the shock while charging the phone through mbp. It will not help those who feel current/wave on the mbp body.

And i mentioned in the beginning, this current/wave should affect all macbooks. Try charging macbook on your friend’s laps, you should be able to feel the wave through his/her body too.

Hope this post can help.
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User profile for user: 91Lexis
91Lexis
User level: Level 1
8 points

Sep 11, 2010 1:09 PM in response to jonong

Sorry for the bump, but I'd thought I rather perform a search instead of opening a new topic.

At the moment, I'm sitting on the couch with my MBP unibody on my lap, and I feel my hands being electrically charged, it tingles and feels not good! I'm not connected to the power socket. I live in The Netherlands, so I use some other chargers than most of you guys do.

This problem occurs frequently, and it doesn't feel so good, so I'm curious about your opinion on this...

Thanks.
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User profile for user: iVmichael
iVmichael
User level: Level 6
13,740 points

May 14, 2010 11:00 PM in response to rascher62

I don't mean the three pin adapter onto the MagSafe I mean a power cord with 3-pin plug on the end ?

If that is giving you earth shorts then I'd strongly suggest you double check the earth connection in your home wiring as it shouldn't happen. It is of course possible your MagSafe is faulty and not earthing correctly, or the lead to the MacBook Pro has a bad connection, so if you can borrow somebody else's kit and try it out that would be a good idea.

User uploaded file
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User profile for user: NKS123
NKS123
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jun 7, 2010 2:44 AM in response to rascher62

Hi, I have the same problem. It is not a power cable grounding issue or anything like that. I feel the same electricity even without the power cable being connected. In order to feel the electricity (either with the power cable on or not) the BATTERY HAS TO BE FULLY CHARGED! The problem comes from the battery, or the battery slot. I beleive that there is alwayds electricity flowing on the body, but the more charged the battery is the more evident it is. Any solution to that?
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User profile for user: NKS123
NKS123
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jun 8, 2010 2:14 AM in response to rascher62

After the last comment I investigated the problem a little more. Whenever I connect something that has an external power source, for example another screen or the ethernet cable, I get current on the surface. For example, if I connect the ethernet cable, with nothing else connected to the laptop, not even the power supply, I get current on the surface. If I remove the modem (to where the other end of the ethernet is connected) from power there is no more current. The same for the external screen, once connected there is current, if it is connected to the laptop but not to the power socket in the wall, there is no power. Is there some grounding problem at the connectors on the laptop? Perhaps they touch the surface ... any ideas?

I know taking it to the service is a solution, but I would like to avoid it, since it is a lot of trouble
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User profile for user: eww
eww
User level: Level 9
53,028 points

Sep 11, 2010 1:34 PM in response to 91Lexis

91lexis: Your computer is not properly grounded (earthed). This may be the fault of your power adapter, or of the AC power outlet in the wall to which it is connected, or it may be a wiring fault that affects the whole building in which you are working. I don't know anything about household wiring in the Netherlands, so you'll probably have to consult an Apple Store and/or a qualified electrician to resolve your problem.
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User profile for user: Murat Lahur
Murat Lahur
User level: Level 3
690 points

Sep 12, 2010 4:24 PM in response to 91Lexis

for both of the posters that are on about the same issue
there is just no way you get the tingling feeling without your machine being connected I am sorry.
the battery inside the machine generates very low DC voltages and you just can not feel that with your hands.Your laptop might not be connected to the AC line but you might still be connected to LAN or an external display or something like that which might still transfer electricity to your machine and find earth connection over your body .But without any cables getting in your machine it is just not possible .the machine it self does not create any current you can feel .
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Electric Current Felt While Charging

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