Weird vibration tingly feeling on my 15" MBPr

Wayne is right. I just returned a new 13 inch MBPro (touchbar - 2017) because of the tingly vibrations and another was sent out with exactly the same tingly problem (when connected to mains power, but not when using Battery only). This time the Apple Senior support suggested I try as an experiment to swap the cable type connector from my current Mag Safe charger with the 3 pin connector on my new MBPro USB-C. AND Not only did the new MBPro stop vibrating if connected to Mains electricity, BUT my old MBPro (2015) STARTED vibrating if connected to Mains electricity. See photo of the two charging adapters. I hope Apple will Nota Bene - stop sending out these stupid 3 pin adapters, they cause problems. Red arrow is the new (bad) adapter, and the Green arrow shows the one I swapped onto the USB-C charger. Apple are sending me one of these cables now but should include them with the MBP.

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I have had the same issues with a Mac Book Pro 2016, the solution seems to be you need an extension cable which is grounded, I used an older cable from a powerbook 2003.

As you can see from the picture below the older extension cable on the left has a metal strip, whereas the newer cable on the right does not, which inturn causes the MacBook to send a vibration around the whole of the device.

I hope this helps everyone out, I had this issue when I bought my MacBook 4 weeks ago, I spoke to apple and they told me to return the MacBook then I received my 2nd MacBook and I still had the same issue (this could have saved me a whole lot of time and hassle and Apple too I guess as they paid for me to return the item by courier) but it just seems that the newer plugs just need to be grounded as the older plugs were.

Hi,

Even i get the same tingly vibration and this is irrespective of whether power cord is connected. Also you might notice that the vibration goes away with both the hands touching the lappy. Wierd it its !!

Thanks,

Murlidhar.

Better photo

"tingly" makes me wonder if you are using a power adapter with the third (earth ground) connection. If not I suggest trying that.

remove the two prong plug and install the three prong power cord.

The only moving part in the machines are the fans so they may be causing the vibration.

Moving parts are:

fans, optical drive, hard drive if it is NOT and SSD

Using a retina. no optical drive or HDD. So, only fans. Flash storage in the retina's don't have any moving parts.

Any chance it is from the surface you have the notebook resting on? If not then I suggest a trip to an Apple store to replace fans

I know exactly what you're talking about but my 13" only seems to do this when the charger (non grounded) is plugged in. Never felt this with it on battery. Weird that the retina ones would do it then.

asept wrote:

I ended up brining the laptop back to the Apple store and they allowed me to return it. They seemed perplexed, saying they have never before seen this problem.

I bought a new one and so far no vibrating. 😀

Thank you all for your advice.

That's response #1 when presented with a problem and a response is needed from an Apple employee. It seems their #1 rule is deny knowledge of ever seeing this issue. #2 on the list is usually not to communicate the solution or working process of a solution in writing... always verbal (in person or on the phone). Must be a legal thing or something. 😕

Hello Asept and others. I have been complaining about the vibration issue for a number of years now. I had never had a vibration problem where I used to live but it started a year-ish into living in this apartment. In 2011 my harddrive blew out and I always thought it was from the vibration. Bought a new MacBook Pro, top of line and it still vibrates especially when the battery is 100%. I tend to charge the computer and use it unplugged.

I've had electricians to check the grounding, changed the power bar and got a new apple power cord. To no avail.

True, I'm still using a two prong that came with the computer. I live in a 240 country but bought this latest here. Apple here doesn't see a problem.

In fact, working at the problem when it is plugged in is giving me burning/tingling in my feet. That may be something else but it's worse when at the plugged in computer.

My landlord suggests getting a UPS. Any thoughts on that?

The vibration is on the back of the screen/ld as well as beside the track pad and keyboard.

Oh, also, if I want to back up I have to plug in my external, do back up and unplug. Can't keep it plugged in. And my new Thunderbolt screen also vibrates on top when plugged in.

Should I try another electrician? UPS?

I'm happy to hear that it's not just me.

Tzipora