iPad gives tingly light vibration electrocution when plugged into mains

A little off topic, but I thought worth mentioning.

David, don't be lulled into thinking what you have read there is a defacto standard. It could kill you.

The point is this, think of your body as a resistor, regardless of how many amps are available, (and the term is amperage I believe), it needs a certain voltage, (also known as Electro Motive Force), to be able to push a current into your body. Current, voltage and resistance are all related as per V=IR, so I=V/R.

A large twelve volt car battery will be able to supply a maximum, (short circuit), current of about 4000 amps yet the voltage at the terminals will never exceed its nominal value by very much. Even on charge it'll be below 14.4VDC. Now your bodys' resistance, (dry fingers), is about 1.5K and therefore the reason that 4000A battery won't kill you is because its resistance means the 14.4V it has available at its terminals is only enough force to squeeze 14.4/1500=0.0096A into your body. If you connect 10 batteries in a long line you will have 120volts available but the current available will be the same, but in this case the current flowing into a part of your body will be 0.08A.

Believe me, virtually every current source you come across will be more than capable of supplying enough current, (0.05A I think), to kill you! Usually and mercifully a protective device will have acted quickly enough to prevent this in the event of a fault.

Madmole:

"...

However Apple have put size and form over function and omited a lot of the electrics that normal transformers have, thats why most 5V 1amp transformers are 3 times the size of the apple one"

No, it's not a transformer, it's a switched mode power supply. At least google it.

Also

Mary A:

The iPad's PSU does not contain a transformer, it is based on a switche mode power supply. Therefore, there is no primary and secondary coils to short out. Again, do your googling!

Also, take a look here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched-mode_power_supply#SMPS_and_linear_power_su pply_comparison, look for the "Risk of electric shck" row in the table. For the SMPS column, it reads:

and the notes column:

Due to regulations concerning EMI/RFI radiation, many SMPS contain EMI/RFI filtering at the input stage before the bridge rectifier consisting of capacitors and inductors. Two capacitors are connected in series with the Live and Neutral rails with the Earth connection in between the two capacitors. This forms a capacitive divider that energises the common rail at half mains voltage. Its high impedance current source can provide a tingling or a 'bite' to the operator or can be exploited to light an Earth Fault LED. However, this current may cause nuisance tripping on the most sensitive residual-current devices.

This is the most sensible post on the matter I've seen - thank you! So David you are essentially saying this is by design. Apple need to tell people this as it is definitely a cause for concern when it first occurred.

I've had confirmation from apple europe that this is indeed normal behaviour:

"The response from our engineering dept states that the behaviout of the ipad while connected to the charger would be expected. There is measurable AC voltage across the external metal parts when an iPad charges. The measured voltage is within the SELV (Separated Extra-Low Voltage) limit, which means that the iPad is safe to touch. Additionally, the touch current is within the safety limit according to UL/IEC 60950 (Safety of Information Technology Equipment).

In the United Kingdom, Ireland, and other countries using similar AC power plugs and sockets, all AC plugs have three prongs; however, only the AC plug with cord is grounded. The shorter "duckhead" plug is not grounded"

Hope this clears it up for everyone. This is direct from apple support themselves so the source is trusted.

I noticed eveyone commenting on this thread ther iPad was plugged in well I'm feeling this constantly whether it's plugged in or not . This has happen on two iPad 2 two days apart purchased at the same location . My original iPad 2 at launch in march never experience anything like being described but the other two recents iPad 2 doing this electronic shock etc when charging or not all the tme can't not hold it at all

It's something different? You're casing cannot be energised at around midpoint of supply voltage if the supply isn't there.

Maybe there is a fault and you are feeling some kind of backfeed through the power supply section. Unlikely tho.

I'm in Singapore and I have just experience the same thing. It was in a quite a dry room, running of the mains charger. It only happened when I moved my fingers up and down the metal frame of the IPad2. Have never felt this before - seems new. Think having paid for Apple Care (btw don't purchase Apple Care for iPhones in Singapore - it doesn't actually bring any value and Singtel just either replaces or doesn't - there is no repairing) I will take it to Apple store and see what they have to say.

Same issue here.

The static/vibration/current feel is along the left side of my Ipad 2 when plugged using the power supply I was provided at purchase. It only happens when the device is horizontal. Like if I'm lying it on the arm of my sofa.

Going to take it into my local apple store. I'm sure its safe and working as intended but I just need that assurance seeing as the Ipad didn't come with a warning about that to start with.

I am from the UK, using an IPAD 2

I've only had my iPad 2 for a few weeks but noticed anytime I charge it I get this electric current running through the case so I bought a plastic protector case which obviously stopped me feeling the charge when I touched it. I thought this was the end of it....until I was using the iPad whilst it was charging and as my finger got close to where the charger goes into the iPad, Igot a small electric shock and saw a bright blue flash! Will be taking it back to apple as soon as I have the time!

This is not a UK problem it is the adapter in general I don't know if the vibration is as strong here because of the 110 sockets we use compared to your 220 but ours is definitely grounded properly and does the same thing but I have noticed that a lot of bare metal appliances do the same thing such as my refrigerator but it is not even an issue if you hold the iPad correctly

All Apple devices have that feeling. This is because the main body of the device is Aluminium. The charging port is connected to the main body and results in an overflow power into the battery. Since the battery is only allowed a certain amount of power at any one point of time to preserve battery life, the remaining power leaks into the Chassis. All other computers have the same problem, only that the other computers are made of plastic, but however the Apple Devices are much more durable than other computers. This is completely normal, and is no cause for alarm; and therefore you do not need to keep buying power cords for your Apple Devices

I see a lot of people talking like it won't kill you ect... Who's to say what these voltages can do to anyone's CNS over any period of time. Sometimes things can make you feel as if you wish you were dead.

At the moment I'm battling with Asymmetrical hearing loss accompanied with loss of balance. If I recall correctly the last time this happened. I had used my ipad 2 consistently for the better part of the day without my Otterbox. I wasn't using headphones. Am I sure this is what caused it! Nope Not saying it did.

Just throwing this out there to see if I'm the only one or maybe there is someone else out there that does understand and is able to test the possibility. It would seem to me that our sense of touch would be harder to trigger a signal from than the intricate switches of our central nervous system. I'm no Biologist.