iPad gives tingly light vibration electrocution when plugged into mains

Might be due to improper grounding - same effect can be noticed when charging aluminum MacBooks.

What kind of plug is connected to your charger? All 3 pins made of metal or is the pin in the middle made of plastic?

At least there SHOULD be 2 tiny metal contacts within the rail of the plug that slides onto this pin.

As this seems not to be the case you might try an Apple connector cord taken from a MacBook power supply.
They are available as replacement parts and offer properly grounding as they are equipped with those tiny contacts within that mentioned rail.

Thank you! I appreciate your help, I have removed the 3 pin 13 amp plug that comes with the PSU and instead am using the cord that came with my MackBook. It resolves the problem immediately.

I shall go to the Apple Store armed with this information and ask to be given a spare Mains lead for a MackBook. One good thing, the MacBook Connector has a much longer lead than supplied with the iPad.

Thanks once again Kay. MaryA 🙂

It's Sunday morning and after watching some catchup TV on BBC iPlayer my iPad needed a charge. I plugged it into the adapter & lead that came with my UK iPad and guess what?

yes, get get the same described tingle or vibration feeling. It only happens if you are not holding the charging iPad in both hands. If it is lay down, in my case on the arm of the sofa, and I run my fingers on the underside of the device, I get the tingling. If I then picket up whilst still charging and rub the back I get no such sensation.

If I place the iPad on my lap (whilst wearing jeans) I get the tingling but much less than when placed on the surface.

It is a little concerning, but practically doesn't affect normal usage, as I am either holding the device or just touching the glass when its laid down.

Has anybody had an official answer from Apple on whether this is a known issue?

Vibration? Electrocution? Oh my.

"is this a fault?"
No. If you use a 3-prong AC input cable connected to the power adapter, and plug it into a properly grounded AC outlet, the problem will disappear. The current leakage is annoying, but it is not a safety issue.

Hi Carl,

Thanks for your input. I can assure you and other readers that the main supply I am using is properly earthed and I am using the official apple adapter supplied with the device.

I am not concerned about this being a safety issue, more an annoyance.

To double check the problem I have used different main sockets in my own home and also those at a friends, with exactly the same results. So this in not a problem with the main being badly earthed. It is possible that the adapter is faulty.

I have plugged the iPad into a three prong mains adapter I have for my iPhone and the problem goes away, but then again this isn't the 10w adapter. I am lead to believe that the 10w adapter charges the iPad faster (taken from the iPad manual on iBooks).

Just tried the iPad charger with the iPhone lead and the situation remains the same, so the only two constants are the iPad and the 10w mains adapter (UK model).

This is a genuine issue, and not some dumb newbie being silly. 😉

For me the tingling was so unpleasant, I got to the point I didn't even want to pick the machine up at all. Bottom line is, the iPad in the UK is NOT earthed, with the adapter supplied. What concerns me, is if the transformer primary shorts onto the secondary, there will be mains across the case. Once I explained my concerns, to the Genius Bar, I was immediately given a Macbook charger, free of charge. No more problems.

MaryA in the UK

Hi Itsadoozy,

The Macbook is a 3 pin plug, where the third pin is earthed. In the iPad it's a dummy pin, connected to nothing.

The Macbook comes with a lead attached to an L shaped white box, yes? There is a small plug with a USB socket in it, that fits into the white box to make it a completely square shaped white box. Pull the small plug off the big white box and put the L shaped box down. In your hand now, you need only have the small plug with inbuilt USB socket, which has the 3 pin plug on the other end that goes into the socket on the wall. Ok? Then plug the iPad USB connector into that small plug socket. Now you are running your iPad on an earthed supply and there will be no tingling whatsoever.

Its easier to do than describe. LOL. Anyway, I hope it helps to explain things.

MaryA

Message was edited by: MaryA in the UK

Thanks MaryA,

Made total sense.

I have taken the mains lead from the Macbook power module, and plugged that into the iPad USB power module. It did exactly as you said and no longer can I feel the tingling.

I examined the three pin UK adapter of the iPad and sure enough the slot above the two pin figure of 8 connector has no Earth. Where as the adapter on the end of the Macbook lead does have an Earth.

Problem solved. Now I need to go ask Apple for a replacement as this is just not suitable. Clearly the device needs to be Earthed when plugged into the mains charger.

Thanks again, you shared your experience well, much appreciated.

David

Whilst the included adapter with the iPad here in the UK may not be earthed I'm pretty sure the optional power supply with the longer cable you can buy is earthed. I have that and as far as I can tell it is.

OK, I've been to see a Genius at Apple Store, and initially told this sensation is normal. He went on to say it was static discharging, which I had to correct him on. Static doesn't pass a current, as it is static, not moving. After a debate on what current was vs static electric, he agreed to change the charger, but said it was normal.

I did question why the effect wasn't present when using an Earthed cable, but there wasn't an answer. This is normal for all aluminium devices, and the Macbook does the same. Hey ho!

Just got home, tried the new charger, and low and behold the tingling has gone! Well there is a slight tingle but perfectly usable and not as unpleasant. And the adapter is still not earthed. Only difference is that this charger came from the boxed extension power supply, and the three pin adapter appears deeper than the iPad original. I wasn't given the mains lead from the boxed supply.


I'll put this down to a faulty 10w power cube, and not "normal".

When I went to the Apple Store, once I explained the potential seriousness of the problem, I was given a no quibble opportunity to have a full refund or a Macbook charger. IMHO you have been BS'd. The guy in the GB should be fired. If it isn't earthed it isn't safe. Go back, get an earthed power supply. Take an electronics expert with you if it helps you make your argument. What did it for me, was saying what happens if the primary shorts with the secondary winding in the transformer. It is full mains. I havea heart condition. I would be dead! The GB guy got it, a quiet "Oh s**t" as the penny dropped and that was it. He was falling over himself to be of assistance. Quality service from a really top guy, which was greatly appreciated. Good for MK GB.

MaryA

Hi MaryA,

I know he was talking BS as he didn't have a clue about how electric current works, or what static electricity is. I wasn't going to stand there creating even greater embarrassment so I let it ride. They happily changed the mains adapter, and the problem is now gone, so on that front I am happy.

I do think that Apple need to look at the Earthing issue. The original iPad adapter doesn't even have a fuse in it, whereas the replacement from the boxed one does (thus the extra thickness to the plug size).

Same here, I noticed it from day one. I don't know how much I should be concerned about it.

It is quite pronounced at times so to be honest I'd like to do something about it. I was actually planning to sell it for other reasons but I would not be to happy to sell it as it is. To me having a device that gives noticeable and frequent shocks is kind of not ok, however low they may be. It actually feels like the case is vibrating until you make full contact, it's just as I touch it when I feel it. I assume after that with a good contact the charge is going through me.

And it's not like static. You can lay it down and tap the side and it happens again and again. So there is no static build up over any time, it always feels the same, IMO this case is charged when plugged in.

I was thinking that it is an intentional design feature to stop young children touching this adult equipment 😉 Shock the blighters !!

Joking aside, you need to go take it to the Apple Store and get a replacement charger or whole unit depending on whether it clears or not.