Noise coming from power adapter

Question

Level 1

125 points

Noise coming from power adapter

Okay, I need to figure out what's going on, I've been using my laptop since last night, and didn't notice it before, but right now it seams like my power adapter is making noise. It's kind of like some static. I'm charging my macbook (and using it), so I'm obviously pushing the adapter to the limit. However I never heard any noises from my deceased iBooks adapter. the sound is barely audible when the adapter is a few feet away, but obvious when you put it near your ear.

Does anyone else hear noises like this from their adapter? I'm just kind of afraid something might be bad with it, and fear a capacitor exploding or something. I know the adapter also gets very warm, but that's no different than the ibooks did.

Phil

MacBook dual core 2.0GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on May 17, 2006 10:24 PM

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Answer 1

kothrush

Level 1

15 points

May 18, 2006 8:56 AM in response to philipgar

Look at my post here :

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2352777#2352777

Whining is only when power cord is plugged in and battery is not at charged to 100%.

Also, it goes away when photobooth is turn on.

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Answer 2

kothrush

Level 1

15 points

May 17, 2006 11:19 PM in response to philipgar

Yes, mine does that too. I think it is the same Whine issue Macbook pro had. I assumed apple would have sorted those issues out with macbook release, but I guess not. Calling applecare tomorrow.

20 iMac G5 2GHz, Macbook Mac OS X (10.4.1)

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Answer 3

philipgar Author

Level 1

125 points

May 18, 2006 9:55 AM in response to kothrush

This definately isn't the same whining as the macbook pros have, as this is coming from the power brick itself. I wasn't sure if it was normal for them to make the noise or not, but sounds like it isn't anything to worry about. The noise isn't very loud, so it's not a big deal, I had just never heard something like that from a power brick (although I don't often put my ear near them).

Phil

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Answer 4

jbouklas

Level 1

5 points

May 22, 2006 1:58 PM in response to philipgar

Mine is very loud and punctuated- if the room is quiet, it becomes rather irritating. If it weren't for that and the mooing, the MB would be perfect. Of course, in typical Apple fashion, they product is about 90% excellent (can't seem to manage that last 10%). (Other recent pains from Apple- MBP- excessive heat, whine. iPod- screen scratches very easily, HDs die in too many iPods within 2 years. Nano- again, screen issues. The desktops work pretty well, except for the PSU issues with the DP G4 towers, the "chirping" on later generation G5s, and the CRTs dying on eMacs.)

-Jim

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Answer 5

May 26, 2006 3:02 PM in response to jbouklas

Mine is arrived on 24 in Italy and the power adapter is noisy too. Very noisy. Is the power adpater. I'll call Apple as soon I come back home on 31. Today I'm in England. The noise appeared in Italy and in England is the same.

Jarno

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Answer 6

May 31, 2006 12:09 PM in response to philipgar

I have the noise too, and it is completely synchronous to the CPU whine.

As such, I noticed that using the application QuietMBP reduces the noise to a barely audible hiss.

It's not a fix but it is a good work-around until apple addresses the issue.

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Answer 7

Eenu

Level 1

95 points

May 31, 2006 12:16 PM in response to Yongwon Lee

and what do you think they will do?

Why are people so ignorant about their rights and the fact if it isn't right send the bloody thing back!

Apple may release a fix and according to an apple engineer that fix could be to replace the whole internal board! As with the ibook it could take upto 1 yr for apple to recognise the problem (if at all) and then they only extended the warrenty they didnt recall.

DO NOT EXPECT apple to fix this you could have this for the life of your unit!

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Answer 8

May 31, 2006 12:49 PM in response to Eenu

well

as far as i know it's not an issue that is fixed by getting a new one. so if i don't want to deal with it I'd just have to live without the macbook, right?

i have not heard of any report of a macbook not having cpu/powerbrick whine... and besides I know it's a software issue so it's not a physical replacement i need.

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Answer 9

Eenu

Level 1

95 points

May 31, 2006 12:53 PM in response to Yongwon Lee

oh so you know better than an apple engineer then?

He said he strongly believes it could be a hardware issue.

And yes there are whine free macbooks we recieved 50 units at work 75% of which DO NOT WHINE.

Anyway i'm preaching to the ignorant you keep your MB and when apple doesn't fix it or only extends the warrenty and doesn't recall i hope you enjoy your whine for the next 3-4 yrs

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Answer 10

Imola

Level 2

395 points

May 31, 2006 12:59 PM in response to philipgar

Quick question for you, does the noise go away after the battery has been fully charged?

I've heard the noise on my power brick twice now but I think it only does it when the battery is close to being fully drained.

-Imola

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Answer 11

May 18, 2006 1:35 AM in response to philipgar

My adapter makes that static noise too.

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Answer 12

May 18, 2006 5:22 AM in response to philipgar

It's completely normal for a switch-mode power supply to make some noise. If it's so quiet that you can't even hear it without holding your ear up to it, there isn't anything to worry about.

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Answer 13

Lucasban

Level 1

0 points

May 22, 2006 12:09 PM in response to philipgar

Mine is doing the same thing too. Also i tried what was said in the previous post and opening photobooth does help for me too. anyone have any suggestions?

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Answer 14

Do Kim

Level 2

220 points

May 31, 2006 12:15 PM in response to Yongwon Lee

Maybe you should try plugging it into a properly grounded surge protector. That solved the noise on my power brick, although it was never loud enough to notice anyways.

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Answer 15

May 31, 2006 1:02 PM in response to Eenu

haha calm down man. i don't have 50 macbooks to test here.

sorry i guess you're right :P

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