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User profile for user: Lopi
Lopi Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Electric Shock feeling on entire computer

When my MBP is plugged in I get an electric vibration (mild shock) feeling. Sometimes, when typing, I will get a painful shock from just above the disk drive. This mild electric vibration occours simultainously with the hissing sound other users are hearing. I know im not out of my mind because when other people are touching my computer I can touch them and feel the same feeling. I can actually create a chain of a few people to recieve this sensation. I have enabled photobooth (as read in other forums) which stops it , but this does not seem like a solution but more of a quick fix. Does anyone know if apple plans on doing anything about this other than replacing computers (ie. software update?) because I have too much work to wait around on a replacement.

Mac Book Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Apr 30, 2006 6:28 PM

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36 replies
User profile for user: William Kane
William Kane
User level: Level 1
60 points

Apr 30, 2006 6:38 PM in response to Lopi

I hate to rain on your parade, but this sounds like an electrostatic charge/discharge to me. If you can chain several people together and still create a charge we are talking about some serious voltage leak(s) here. I do an experiment like this with a van der graff generator with my students.

My mind sees no good way to fix this with software, it will likely require a hardware fix. If I recall correctly some people are using the 3 prong plug to fix this problem. Others have simply returned as defective.
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User profile for user: a brody
a brody
User level: Level 10
82,803 points

May 3, 2006 9:39 AM in response to Lopi

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
In addition, whenever it has been very dry you build up static charge. This is especially true walking across carpeted rooms. If the desk is anchored to the floor, touch the desk before touching the computer when you sit down to work at the computer. That will dissipate charge you may have built up.

I once had a very embarrasing moment, walking across a wet floor with carpet, and touched the keyboard of a computer. The computer started to smoke, and I heard snap crackle pop! It had to have a capacitor replaced which had popped.
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User profile for user: Lopi
Lopi Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 3, 2006 12:02 PM in response to Blacklily

So... I have tried the 3 pronged cord. It is not static electricity this is obviously being generated in my computer.I have also tried many other things such as using a power strip for only the computer. Apple has not responded to me yet and I have found no other forums on this. If anyone knows of any could you please leave a link for me.
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User profile for user: Rishi
Rishi
User level: Level 1
5 points

May 20, 2006 2:47 AM in response to mahepecha

Hello Friends,

I purchased a MacBook Pro 15.4" 1.83 last Tuesday, the day they released MacBooks and I am having similar problems.

I get mild electric shocks from my MBP when it is being charged. There were heat/whine issues as well but they got resolved after I ran the lastest firmware updates.

This shocks remain the only irritation.When I run the computer while charge I can feel some 'humming' vibration near the mouse where I place my palms. When I place a finger I get mild shocks but when I move it in circular direction then I can feel a vibration.

I tried the three pronged switch without any result.I tried my iBook using same power supply with surge protector and did not have any problems with it.
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User profile for user: mdhaem
mdhaem
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 30, 2006 8:56 PM in response to Lopi

I receive a mild electrical shock from the lower case of my Mac Book Pro while plugged in using the two prong plug. However, when I use the three prong plug the problem goes away. When I switch back to the two prong plug the problem is still gone. Could this be a the result of a static charge buildup with prolonged two prong plug use?
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User profile for user: Niel
Niel
User level: Level 10
726,515 points

May 31, 2006 7:02 PM in response to mdhaem

Your problem is that charge is building up inside the computer. When the two-prong plug is connected, the charge doesn't have anywhere to go, so it remains on the machine. The third prong on a three-prong plug is designed to transfer excess charge from the computer's case to the ground; it also works with other machines, such as a washing machine. When you touch the case after a charge has built up, it will flow through you to the ground; if the charge is small enough, you won't notice it. Large enough charges can injure someone who touches the machine's case; if someone is wet, the effect will be much larger for the same amount of charge.

(12703)
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User profile for user: Jackthequick
Jackthequick
User level: Level 3
641 points

Jun 2, 2006 1:26 PM in response to Lopi

Hi,

the weak electric voltage that is noticeable on the surface of the MacBook Pro occurs because of the voltage frequency of the power supply. This dysfunction also happened with PowerBook models.
The low tension is nothing to be concerned about as long as it doesn't become stronger as you described.
The vibration stops when the supply is unplugged and the laptop is powered by its battery.
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Electric Shock feeling on entire computer

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