MacBook Pro Electricity Shock?

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Level 1

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MacBook Pro Electricity Shock?

My son's 9-month old MacBook Pro (Retina, 2015) seems to get him quite a bit of electricity shock.

It seems to me that the unit has some kind of electricity leak, as it isn't a static (which, I suppose, gives you a quick zap).

This seems to pass through my son's body some electricity on a continuous basis.

Wonder if anyone has similar experience or could provide any help?

Here are some more points:

1. I spoke to Apple's technical specialists a few times, all they said were 'it is within the standard limit'.

2. Brought into service center, they run some diagnosis and said everything is ok.

The MacBook Pro runs under the following conditions while this happened:

= Plug into the wall socket with 3 pins

= Tried with 2 different set of bricks and cords (with the extended cable from the bricks)

= It happens only when the unit is plugged in, but it doesn't happen all the time that is plugged in

Apple's specialist seemed to point towards a faulty ground or not proper ground.

Though, my question is that 'Does the MacBook Pro suppose to give out so much electricity to its user?' - regardless of proper ground or not.

Here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcQODoVU6e8

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch,Early 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Feb 5, 2016 6:13 AM

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Answer 1

Duane

Level 10

124,267 points

Feb 5, 2016 7:48 AM in response to BlckOly

Does it only happen when he is using it on that plastic table cover?

Have you tried plugging it into different outlets? Does it only happen with some outlets? Have you verified that the 3rd prong is properly grounded in your outlet(s)?

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Answer 2

BlckOly Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 5, 2016 6:39 PM in response to Duane

Hi Duane

This is my son's computer, he uses it daily at school.

I only tried it one day and experienced the shock myself only that very table and same plug outlet (but did try with different cable).

However, according to my son, it happens to on different tables and different plugs too, as my son said he experienced the shock at school too. And yes, he uses the long cable with 3rd prong.

So I cannot pinpoint down for sure if it is proper ground issue?

And the fact that it doesn't happen all the time and every time.

Nonetheless, the question is that if the amount of electricity leak should be so high that it lighted up the bulb?

As the laptop will likely be used in many places, some of which may not have proper ground, especially when we have to use plug adapter (like going to Europe with 2-pin plug).

Thanks.

Cheers

BlckOly

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Answer 3

JasonNvm

Level 1

108 points

Feb 5, 2016 7:39 PM in response to BlckOly

i think i exactly know whatcha talking about, i was having the same thing, and it even goes to my iPhone if my iPhone is connected to my Mac, and it is completely solved after i start using the extension wire with 3pin plug, and it will always comes back when i need to use the tiny 2pin plastic plug come with the adapter. and of course you need to make sure that the 3rd prong on your current electricity system is properly grounded.

But if that still happening even that your using the 3pin plug and the 3rd one is grounded alright, then you might need to check your adapter just incase

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Answer 4

BlckOly Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 5, 2016 8:24 PM in response to JasonNvm

hi JasonNvm

Many thanks for sharing.

Wonder, in your case, how much electricity shock do you get?

Not sure if you see the video, in my case, it is enough to light up a small bulb in the tester screw driver.

And when it comes, it causes enough pain that I have to pull my hand off the laptop (not just tinkering ticklish feeling).

Thanks.

Cheers

BlckOly

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Answer 5

JasonNvm

Level 1

108 points

Feb 5, 2016 11:38 PM in response to BlckOly

i can't really watch the video since youtube is blocked here (yup you know what i mean 'here') and my VPN just expired hours ago, but according your description thats being a bit weird.

in my case and also the cases around my, all of us only having the ticklish feeling when putting hands on the laptop, and thats minor and causes no 'pain', and it won't 'comes', it will be always there. only if when only a extreme tiny part of skin having physical contact with the laptop, like less than 2mm², that is the only way that it might cause pain.

and the light on tester screw driver might easy to light up, but i don't have one of those so i have no way to test on mine laptop, but in your case its already seems unusual since you even need to put hand off from that, i personally recommend you to consider that might be a adapter failure cuz your computer passed the Apple Hardware Diag, you might try using your laptop but with other's adapter to see if that still persist or gone. its 220V here but i don't think this is really matters since all modern Mac supports 100-240V, plz be careful cuz if it is really adapter issue, its might be not fun.

Jason Nvm

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