Macbook Air electric shocks and tingles

[xpisnotforme]

Hi,

I just picked up a MBA to replace an aged white Macbook that I had since I am constantly carrying my laptop in a triangle of death between home, school, and work by foot in Boston and the MBA seriously fits the bill for my needs BUT....

I get a tingle when in contact with the computer and its not euphoria from having a new computer or because the air is so sexy or something. It seems mild but it is definitely irritatingly present and prickles seemingly at the points where hair touches skin especially up to my wrist. My hands then hurt after use in a creepy way. I tried showing a friend and he didn't notice it, but nor did I for at least an hour. This happens plugged in with the 3-prong/2-prong AND unplugged.

I read about similar things happening in the past to peoples' Macbook Pro's and I personally went through 3 Vaio Sz's that had this issue but at least 3 times stronger/more painful due to the aluminum alloy palmrest and grounding issues.

Have you had this experience?

I'm considering trying to exchange at the apple store, but if this is just the way they are all made I guess I need to consider another computer?

[queshy]

My macbook air hasn't shocked me (yet). Take it in. Good luck.

[CaptainCaveMann]

Man this is weird. It reminds me of one of those Ionic bracelets that cure back pain. Anyway, if I were you I would try and prove it's coming from the laptop, and not some alien implant, i heard about abductees getting implants in the back of their necks that could create the same problems. Good luck!

Ugh, I'm tired. : )

[Cybergypsy]

Mine went away the sencond day and never came back.

[Malcster]

Are you trying it on the supplied extension cord? this sometimes helps.

Interestingly, i had a Macbook Pro that was absolutely fine (no shocks ever) however when i sold it to a friend he had exactly the issues your having with it and it turned out it was a problem with his electricity supply to his home.

This also could be the issue as you had this problem on 3 previous laptops.. was it always when you were using these in the same location?

Certainly doesn't explain it happening on battery though.

[NC MacGuy]

I can understand tingling w. AC adapter but it's almost impossible w. battery only use. Doesn't make electron sense. Was anything wet?

[Johnpartridge]

interesting you should say this.

I was at the apple store recently looking at the MBA and i noticed the same thing. Everytime i touched the unit, specifically the part above the keyboard or on the sides i got a light tingling / shocking. Wasnt anything to make me jump just a light sensation, was very strange.

[xpisnotforme]

Are you trying it on the supplied extension cord? this sometimes helps.

Interestingly, i had a Macbook Pro that was absolutely fine (no shocks ever) however when i sold it to a friend he had exactly the issues your having with it and it turned out it was a problem with his electricity supply to his home.

This also could be the issue as you had this problem on 3 previous laptops.. was it always when you were using these in the same location?

Certainly doesn't explain it happening on battery though.

Actually it happened at 2 seperate residences and at the museum where I work, plugged AND unplugged. :confused:

[xpisnotforme]

interesting you should say this.

I was at the apple store recently looking at the MBA and i noticed the same thing. Everytime i touched the unit, specifically the part above the keyboard or on the sides i got a light tingling / shocking. Wasnt anything to make me jump just a light sensation, was very strange.

Yeah, it feels like the hairs on my hand are prickling like simultaneously with contacting the metal of the laptop. I guess I should try another machine, but if this is the way they all are and most people don't notice, it's sadly a dealbreaker for me...

Does anyone else notice this? I hope I just got a faulty unit, but I'm concerned since Sony and Dell both haven't absolved this issue on their 13.3" aluminum lappies.

Want to love it,

[pstauff]

I've had mine for nearly 3 weeks and I have not experienced this at all.

[Malcster]

Just did some quick 'tingle' tests for you on my MBA :)

Battery - Nothing
Mains Power on Extension Lead - Nothing
Mains Power with Brick into wall socket - Very slight tingling, barely noticeable.. actually, after 15 mins plugged in it seems to have gone away..

How you get it on Battery power only i have no idea!

Try a replacement, its worth it, probably the best computer i've owned.

[NC MacGuy]

Just did some quick 'tingle' tests for you on my MBA :)

Battery - Nothing
Mains Power on Extension Lead - Nothing
Mains Power with Brick into wall socket - Very slight tingling, barely noticeable.. actually, after 15 mins plugged in it seems to have gone away..

How you get it on Battery power only i have no idea!

Try a replacement, its worth it, probably the best computer i've owned.

This makes sense because the ext. has a grounding prong. The brick doesn't. I've felt a very light tingling too with same setups. It does seem to go away as it charges.

[bjdraw]

I never had a laptop that didn't do this. The thing that is different about the MBA is since it's all metal it does it anywhere instead of just on a screw. The current is so slight you only notice on your softest skin. You can test your skin by pressing a 9-volt batter against it, if you don't feel the 9-volt then you won't feel the macbook. On my arms it's only on the bottom of my wrists.

[Clix Pix]

I have not experienced that problem with my MBA at all; I plug it in with the brick and usually it's into a surge protector. It could be a faulty machine; I would take it into the Apple store and see what they say about it.

[Demon]

I know what you mean, i get the same shocks with my powerbook and iBook. I don't think Apple has fixed the problem, but perhaps the main problem is in the user. Who knows, but the shocks are certainly worse when i have the computer on my lap or stomach.

[saisrujan]

Is it only with the MBA that you get shocked?

When I am at a particular conference room in office, I get a pretty bad jolt whenever I touch something. But it's not just the laptop, its also the white-board, refrigerator, coffee machine, chair, another person, whatever.

Apparently, I get a jolt when touching the MBA on battery too, just because I get a jolt touching any metallic object in that conference room.

I deduced something is wrong with the electrical system there, and decided never to plug in my MBA in that conference room.

[NC MacGuy]

Is it only with the MBA that you get shocked?

When I am at a particular conference room in office, I get a pretty bad jolt whenever I touch something. But it's not just the laptop, its also the white-board, refrigerator, coffee machine, chair, another person, whatever.

Apparently, I get a jolt when touching the MBA on battery too, just because I get a jolt touching any metallic object in that conference room.

I deduced something is wrong with the electrical system there, and decided never to plug in my MBA in that conference room.

Sounds more like dry environment static electricity. Maybe a humidifier would help?

[Flyer0815]

Sounds more like dry environment static electricity. Maybe a humidifier would help?

I was about to say this. My MBA hasn't shock me, but my Apple Aluminum Keyboard in my office at work always gets me.. I am sure this is due to the lack of humidified air in my office... But it does get quite annoying!

[Cybergypsy]

Place you palm down lightly on the left side of your trackpad....anything?

[nxent]

i know the feeling you speak of. i notice this at the apple store. it's the same feeling you get when you touch a television antenna, or just slide you fingers across the metal. any electrical engineers around to explain this?

[mashny]

If it's not static, I'd say not to mess with it, and to get a replacement. Who's to say that one day it won't discharge an especially large shock and do some serious damage to you. In the back of my mind, whenever something like this happens--whether with a computer or otherwise--is the mantra, "Don't f@%k with electricity."

[NC MacGuy]

I really don't think it's dangerous. I've messed with electrons for years and without actually taking it apart and seeing what's where, it's hard to say where "tingling" is coming from. DC at that current isn't going to jump out and bite you hard.

Now I do remember once when I was a wee lad and tried hooking up a dryer and got a couple of wires crossed - grabbed dryer door and WOW, that was life changing :eek:......

[Cybergypsy]

Mine was one dayonly....LOL

[ZiggyPastorius]

Doesn't make electron sense.

For whatever reason, this really made me laugh...

[Virgil-TB2]

I really don't think it's dangerous. I've messed with electrons for years and without actually taking it apart and seeing what's where, it's hard to say where "tingling" is coming from. DC at that current isn't going to jump out and bite you hard.

Now I do remember once when I was a wee lad and tried hooking up a dryer and got a couple of wires crossed - grabbed dryer door and WOW, that was life changing :eek:......I'm surprised that no one has done the obvious and tested the plug-hole. it would be interesting to know if the people that are experiencing this are in areas with crappy or ungrounded electrical outlets. My experience is that something like 20% of all houses are actually wired incorrectly as most houses have some DIY wiring in them somewhere.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZXMH73W7L.jpg

If this is static electricity, then the environment should be changed however is necessary to stop it happening as it could certainly fry the motherboard in some situations.

If it is actually electricity from poor wiring in the wall, you are even more likely to destroy your computer with it.

Either this is an effect that is to some extent "in the mind" or it's a serious electrical problem that should neither be ignored nor tolerated. I would definitely check the electrical socket you are plugging into (for hot on the neural and for ground) and definitely take the MacBook Air back to the store if you can't find anything wrong with your house wiring. You'd be crazy not to do so as this is definitely not the experience you are supposed to be getting.

[Cybergypsy]

Ok but i have had this also in the MBP in another home.....hummmmmmm

[NC MacGuy]

It's not really a shock, it's more like a vibration. The wee mini switching power supplies in the computer may be giving off a freq. that is resonant w. the case. Who knows without disassembly??

This is really hard to explain but really, I don't think there is a dangerous problem here.

[xpisnotforme]

Is it only with the MBA that you get shocked?


I deduced something is wrong with the electrical system there, and decided never to plug in my MBA in that conference room.

correct, only with the MBAir. My old Macbook (plastic) was no prob. and I don't get shocked by random objects.

[xpisnotforme]

Just did some quick 'tingle' tests for you on my MBA :)

Battery - Nothing
Mains Power on Extension Lead - Nothing
Mains Power with Brick into wall socket - Very slight tingling, barely noticeable.. actually, after 15 mins plugged in it seems to have gone away..

How you get it on Battery power only i have no idea!

Try a replacement, its worth it, probably the best computer i've owned.

Haha. Thanks for the tests. This is promising, because I get a uniform tingle regardless of power supply, It's good to know that someone who has felt the tingle only gets it with the nongrounded brick. It's cool, my iMac is actually getting it's screen replaced this week so hopefully I can switch it then...

[NC MacGuy]

The tingles I've felt are exactly like the ones I feel w. my all metal touch control lamps. I can get into why those tingles are there because it'd be a three page explanation.

Hopefully your next Air won't have the "tingle." I still don't think it is a danger but if it is a bother, exchange it.

[Cybergypsy]

correct, only with the MBAir. My old Macbook (plastic) was no prob. and I don't get shocked by random objects.no you just had do deal with slit wrists:) JK

[NC MacGuy]

no you just had do deal with slit wrists:) JK

I won't get into more but it looks like cybergypsy agrees with my feelings concerning MB's.

[xpisnotforme]

I won't get into more but it looks like cybergypsy agrees with my feelings concerning MB's.

haha, do you mean the super sharp edges on the mb?

I am on the couch getting mildly zapped by this otherwise stellar machine....

[Spievy]

What you haven't heard... It is apple's new anti-theft device it replaces the security lock.

[NC MacGuy]

Zapped? Isn't that a bit harsh? You're just getting tingly I thought?

There were more problems w. my MB's than just sharp edges but that is a whole other story.

[xpisnotforme]

Zapped? Isn't that a bit harsh? You're just getting tingly I thought?
.

i dunno, I wish you could be the judge for yourself. prickles....tickles...zaps...seems pretty uncomfy. I just charged 3 prong and am operating not connected on the battery.

[NC MacGuy]

Sounds like you may be overly sensitive to electronic stimulus? Different people have different chemical makeups and some of us actually are more susceptible to electric fields - which by your post of past experiences it would seem you are.

How long have you had your computer? I know that I felt the tingly thingy for only the first three-four days I had mine. I can't reproduce it now even trying.
I even had other people feel it when mine was tingly and two others could, 4-6 couldn't.

Hopefully a new one will work for you. If not and you really like the Air, an invisible shield should solve your issue.

[Spievy]

Could there be a small chance that this shock could be from static electricity? I mean the case is metal, I am sure apple has the case grounded to the battery somehow, so the electronics wouldn't be fried when someone decides to wipe their shoes on the carpet then pick up tier MBA or MBP for that matter.

I have actually had this happen on my PB G4 17". It was purely static electricity.


This might sound crazy but try a different pair of shoes and go about your day, see if you still get SHOCKY

[happyslayer]

Mine does the vibration thing when plugged into m the ac adapter... I don't use the long extension cord - just the white brick with the plug attachment.

Its actually kind of pleasant to me.

For reference, I am usually plugged into my kitchen counter GFCI socket when I notice this.

[Cybergypsy]

My thoughts were static shock as after day one, it never came back and ever condition is the same also did the same on my MBP.

[byke]

I tried a MBA at the store today and got the tingle straight away .... I had a MBP i had to sell because the tingle was so intense that my wife would touch my neck while I was listening to music and she could feel the pulse.

[NC MacGuy]

I tried a MBA at the store today and got the tingle straight away .... I had a MBP i had to sell because the tingle was so intense that my wife would touch my neck while I was listening to music and she could feel the pulse.

The possibilities....:)

[NC MacGuy]

Could there be a small chance that this shock could be from static electricity? I mean the case is metal, I am sure apple has the case grounded to the battery somehow, so the electronics wouldn't be fried when someone decides to wipe their shoes on the carpet then pick up tier MBA or MBP for that matter.

I have actually had this happen on my PB G4 17". It was purely static electricity.


This might sound crazy but try a different pair of shoes and go about your day, see if you still get SHOCKY

Static electric shock is a high voltage, low current sudden discharge. What posters seem to be experiencing is a vibration that is continuous.

[thehuhman]

Static electric shock is a high voltage, low current sudden discharge. What posters seem to be experiencing is a vibration that is continuous.

I've had my MBA (which is the 1.6/80) in a variety of situations over the last few weeks, and I have never experienced a shock, tingle, static, or otherwise. But, a few years ago while doing some extensive data entry, in an unfamiliar office environment, I experienced what felt very much like a shock, in both hands. I was informed, by my work partner, that it was likely caused by the way I was positioning my wrists on the edge of the computer desk. I made some adjustments, and the "shock" sensation diminished and finally stopped. Maybe that's what's going on here. ??

[deadsunrise]

Mine was giving me the tingle sensation pretty hard 10 minutes ago as I was watching a movie, I unplugged to check if someone was reporting the same error here and now when I plug it again it doesn't do it anymore.

The battery is about 40% full so its being charged.

The sensation its only noticeable if you touch the laptop with one hand or one finger. If you touch with two hands or another person touches it, it stops. I'm not joking.

[Spievy]

Someone needs to through a Voltmeter on the case and see if voltage is leaking to the case. I do not have a Air so I can't test it. These shocks tingles or what ever are pretty perplexing . :confused:

[Spievy]

I have never messed with a MagSafe power adapter. But I wonder...

Could the connecter be misaligned somehow, therefore charge the system and energize the case. Got the idea from "deadsunrise" post above.

[xpisnotforme]

Someone needs to through a Voltmeter on the case and see if voltage is leaking to the case. I do not have a Air so I can't test it. These shocks tingles or what ever are pretty perplexing . :confused:

yeah, I'll look around my house for a volt meter tomorrow. I'm typing this from work doing research and it's rather ouchie. I need to try a new machine/solve this asap, maybe even retrofit to the macbrick(err...book)

[Johnpartridge]

just wanted to jump back into this post and add that.

I experienced this at the Apple store Birmingham, United Kingdom. I went back and asked a member of staff about it, he said he knows of no *known* fault, however we went and touched a few of the machines and both me and him could feel a light tingling like described. Its more of a light vibration with that static feeling you get in your hands. Very strange.

Something I did notice though, was that if you lift the unit off the display stand / desk. The sensation goes away.

So I am putting a little guess into the pot here and saying that its something to do with the grounding of the unit creating a static loop with the many electrical items in the presence of the Apple store in question, thus giving the tingling sensation to the touch of the aluminium casing.

[xpisnotforme]

I went to the Apple store and tried out their three floor models and all three had the creepy prickle/tingle. I pulled over an associate when he asked if he could help me and I just asked him to rest his hands on the keyboard and type. I asked if he felt anything and he was like, "No.......wait...it's like a tickly electric feeling on my palms when I type...he then pulled someone else over and they thought we were both crazy.

Conclusion:

The current Macbook Airs definitely leak/pass electricity into the user similar to old MBP's. Some people may not be sensitive enough to feel it, but some will be tortured by it.

I picked up the refreshed entry-level Macbook, as I can also use the firewire port for my favorite Logic interface for micing jams underneath a bridge by my house:) oh yeah and I don't get shocked!!!

[Cybergypsy]

I went to the Apple store and tried out their three floor models and all three had the creepy prickle/tingle. I pulled over an associate when he asked if he could help me and I just asked him to rest his hands on the keyboard and type. I asked if he felt anything and he was like, "No.......wait...it's like a tickly electric feeling on my palms when I type...he then pulled someone else over and they thought we were both crazy.

Conclusion:

The current Macbook Airs definitely leak/pass electricity into the user similar to old MBP's. Some people may not be sensitive enough to feel it, but some will be tortured by it.

I picked up the refreshed entry-level Macbook, as I can also use the firewire port for my favorite Logic interface for micing jams underneath a bridge by my house:) oh yeah and I don't get shocked!!!
my new 2.4MBP did the same thing

[pstauff]

I am not sure you can say definitely until you put a multimeter on it and takes some measurements.

[QUOTE=xpisnotforme;5056280
The current Macbook Airs definitely leak/pass electricity into the user similar to old MBP's. [/QUOTE]

[chewbacca390]

Dude, I'm sorry you get "shocked" by your computer.

[Capitanmerloc]

I have a similar feelin but only when plugged for a long time... then I can feel the power.... of electricity.. but is very light and I like it.. it feels like i'm dealing with a super tech device!!!

[dahcheet]

I must be thick skinned because I haven't felt anything on mine in the past 3 weeks.

[Sesshi]

It occurs with the way the Apple PSU is configured in relation to the AC supply in a certain situation. I forget the exact details, but it's similar to some Sony and some Dell supplies, which is why you get it on some Sony's with metal skin-contact points, Dell XPS's and all aluminium Apples.

Of course, this probably won't get a mention on the Apple-fawning tech news sites and will be dismissed as static. When Dell or Sony gets it, a furore occurs when the tech press hypes it up. There are some advantages to having an obsessed user baase I guess. Either way it's not a big deal.

I have the 'tingling' with the Air in some situations while I have one hand resting on the notebook. To avoid tingling, rest both hands on the Air - because it's unlikely you'll get a fix.

[MacBooksRock]

lol.. my old dell shocked me sometimes... and believe me, it wasn't because it was sexy.. :D

[nihilisticmonk]

My macbook pro has done this since day one. It's really annoying. I took it apart to replace a knackered keyboard (11 month old little boy :rolleyes: )
and since I've put it back together it appears to be ok.

not that I'd recommend you do this to your brand new air :D

It did it for around a year before I "fixed" it, never caused a problem, so don't worry about it too much, but if you're fussy (not meant as an insult...if I'd bought it brand new I'd want it to be right) then I'd probably get it exchanged.

[danemo]

Hi,

I just picked up a MBA to replace an aged white Macbook that I had since I am constantly carrying my laptop in a triangle of death between home, school, and work by foot in Boston and the MBA seriously fits the bill for my needs BUT....

I get a tingle when in contact with the computer and its not euphoria from having a new computer or because the air is so sexy or something. It seems mild but it is definitely irritatingly present and prickles seemingly at the points where hair touches skin especially up to my wrist. My hands then hurt after use in a creepy way. I tried showing a friend and he didn't notice it, but nor did I for at least an hour. This happens plugged in with the 3-prong/2-prong AND unplugged.

I read about similar things happening in the past to peoples' Macbook Pro's and I personally went through 3 Vaio Sz's that had this issue but at least 3 times stronger/more painful due to the aluminum alloy palmrest and grounding issues.

Have you had this experience?

I'm considering trying to exchange at the apple store, but if this is just the way they are all made I guess I need to consider another computer?

You went through 3 prior computers because of a strange sensation in your hands that no one else experienced....?

The problem, my friend, is in your hands.

Google carpal tunnel syndrome; see a neurologist; get surgery; enjoy your MBA.

[LizKat]

I must be thick skinned because I haven't felt anything on mine in the past 3 weeks.

yeh my Air hasn't shocked me yet. It fears me ever since I joked about turning it into a frisbee if I didn't like it. :)

I hope it's not an issue with the MagSafe adapter. I love that thing.

[Graham99]

I'm getting the same problem, bascially it feels the same as the problem I had with the old Macbook (white case), which was only livable because the case was plastic with only the screws carrying the shock, and my older G4 Aluminium, which I could not use with the charger plugged in.

I was hoping that Apple would have fixed this problem by now. My house is grounded adequately, I had it checked out by an electrician only last week.

I measured the Macbook voltage at 70V with a DMM. Will do the same with the MBA in the next day or so.

The only fix I have found in the past is simply not to use the laptop with the charger plugged in. Fine till you forget to charge it one day.

[BWhaler]

I get the tingles now and then too from my MBA.

[gotohamish]

yeh my Air hasn't shocked me yet. It fears me ever since I joked about turning it into a frisbee if I didn't like it. :)

I hope it's not an issue with the MagSafe adapter. I love that thing.

I doubt it. My Titanium PowerBook used to shock me now and again. It's still running strong but doesn't have the energy to shock anymore.

[sup4mn]

i read this entire post not really understanding what you were talking about until i thought about when i used to use my old powerbook [12'' g4 1.5ghz] (its a wireless printer server currently) and i would get those tingly feelings a few times a week and i thought they felt awesome. haha. :rolleyes:

[Latte]

Okay. First post in this forum. But trust me: I'm really happy to have found this thread. :)

I have been to two different Mac dealers here in Sweden where I live, and in both stores I have experienced a tingling sensation when touching, or rather when moving my hand across, the MacBook Air.

In the second store I visited, after first having had the salespeople telling me it was probably just me (huh?) and then that it was vibrations from the hard drive (okaay?), they tried it out themselves and finally admitted that it felt like an electricity leak.

Here's how to do it, our way:

1. With the power cord attached, stroke the computer lightly to the left of the touch pad, using the side of your (left) hand. When the hand is in motion, the tingling sensation can be felt quite clearly.
If instead stroking the computer just left of the keyboard, i.e right above the where the power cord connects, the tingling is even more obvious.

2. If, while stroking the computer, you touch the computer with your other hand, the tingling sensation ceases.
(Our theory was that the still hand grounds the computer more effectively than the moving one, which makes the electricity travel through the steady hand instead.)

3. If disconnecting the power cord, the tingling disappears.

As far as I can tell from this, the MBA is probably constantly leaking electricity, but for whatever the reason (I guess some electro-physics-savvy person can fill us in here?:)) the electricity will only be felt when the hand is in motion.
(Still, that kind of worries me. Isn't that how most people work, constantly moving the hand back and forth between keyboard and mouse pad...?)

The big question is of course whether this is a problem with all units, and that some users just haven't noticed it yet, or if it is a problem with some units only. And, if so, if they would replace a unit because of this problem.

Another question is if perhaps this could be a problem within the power adapter rather than the computer, and if replacing adapters would solve it.


As one who is considering switching from PC to Mac, this admittedly gets in the way.
Has anyone heard official thoughts on this? Can one make a poll in this forum to tell how many users can feel the tingling if following the description?

This really is an interesting one, IMO. :)

/Latte.

[Sesshi]

Many metal-skinned notebooks do this. Some Sony's do, the Dell XPS's do, and all Macs do. It depends on the configuration of your PSU and your electricity supply. It's just that the 'shocking' parts are easily reachable on both Apples and the XPS's.

The easiest way to not get the shock is to put both hands on the metal palmrest area.

[maestrokev]

I thought it was just me until I found this thread. Yep, my MBA gives me a slight electric shock and if I stroke my fingers on the case beside the touchpad I can feel it vibrate. Annoying as sometimes I'll lift the cover and put my hands on touchpad and my wrist will get an annoying electric prick.

Only happens with charger in wall, not on battery power.

[grimdonnn]

also with the aluminum case, but it was never strong enough to bother me and it was always on one side (my the battery). It happened if it was plugged in or not, but never consistently. I never could link it to low humidity, surface, battery charge, etc, so I figured it was just me. I guess not.

I've had a new MB Air for about 3 weeks now and haven't noticed anything similar.

[Latte]

Slight update: I just tried out my friend's MBA, which is the SSD version, and it does not have this problem.
I know that both the MBA:s I've tried in stores have been HDD versions.

Could it be that this only happens to HDD computers?

Just a thought.

/Latte.

[fishnchips]

I just got my SSD MBA home and same problem. I'll be taking it back tomorrow...

[swf]

I have this shock issue too. I get it when I touch my Apple keyboard and my MacBook Air. But, I have found the solution. This is a ground issue with the outlet in your wall, I have resolved this issue by properly grounding my wall outlets.

I just moved into a 1950s oil heated house, old everything. All the outlets are 2 prong and aren't grounded anywhere. I have to buy the 3 prong to 2 prong converter plugs, however, these are special because they come with an external ground leg. Well, I was too lazy to make any use of it...ha, until I shocked my leg lounging at my computer desk watching youtube and almost broke my 1080p hd tv :p. Feels like someone is poking you with a pin.

Since I have baseboard heating with lots of metal, I took speaker wire and wrapped it around the adapter plug ground port and jammed it into my metal baseboards... and to my surprise the ground light shows up on my battery backup, actually signifying that it's properly grounded, heh.

I also decided to have some fun with this, and started to shock myself on purpose, and the ground light shows up on my battery backup every time I get shocked.

Guess I've been the ground this whole time :D.

If you are wondering what I am using: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104010

[Ironic]

I had the same thing on a MBP however it was not the wiring, I think it was the MB..
My SSD has never had the problem at all

[SummerBoy]

I just got my macbook air..

When I put my hands on trackpad i feel something and it make light electric

noise. Same thing with keyboard..

:mad:

[The Toddfather]

I have been on the receiving end of an occasional static zap from time to time, but nothing that was painful.

[mcnicks]

I can understand tingling w. AC adapter but it's almost impossible w. battery only use. Doesn't make electron sense. Was anything wet?

Actually it could be the battery, if the battery was inadvertently charged with heavy electricity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJCxJWwkHdQ

[Ironic]

You're just shocking.

[coupdetat]

I used to get tingling from my 12" Powerbook too. It's only really noticeable for me when I'm in China on 220V. In the US, it's barely noticeable. Once, I was touching my girlfriend's stomach while she was using my computer and I was getting a little buzz from her skin!

Maybe it's just an issue with the ungrounded 2-plug brick and the aluminum case. With the 3-plug extension cord, there's nothing.

[chaostik]

I experienced this once on my MacBook Pro (summer '07 model). It also manifested itself as a mains hum heard by people I was talking to on Skype over a USB headset.

It turned out that once I used the extension cord and made sure that the brick part of the power supply was way away from any other electrical item it stopped immediately. As a result, I never ever use the brick straight into the wall any more ... if it is a socket near other adaptors it always results in the tingling: but add extension and move away and it stops instantly. It seems as though the electric field around the brick part of the adaptor is interfered with by other cabling/adaptors and it sets up some kind of hum.

HTH,

Louis

[Gingahippy]

Hi, I'm new to these forums and very desperate.

I'm using an old powerbook G4 and have had the electric shocks from the casing since i bought it second hand about 6 months ago. (Now I know why it was so cheap!)

Sometimes it's like a sharp pin prick on the wrist where the covering on the case has worn away but i get that velvet tingling badly on the rest of the case where the covering is good.

I've tried a lot of things but it has actually gotten worse.

I actually put in a new cable and socket, put in a new grounding rod (5m of copper pipe 3 ft deep in a very moist area of the ground outside the house) as well as keeping the old zinc one.

I even tried disconnecting every other circuit in the house and only running the socket the computer was plugged into.

Still got the shocks.

I have always used the 3 pronged extension cable and it happened on the one that came with the PB and the one from my old ibook.

It doesn't happen in my friends house 5 miles away in (I live in Croatia) but it does happen in my father's house and my mother's house in the UK.

I used to be able to cure it by hooking a wire to the metal frame under the keyboard and connecting it to the earth in a spare socket, but now that improves it but doesn't cure it!

After just a few minutes use my hands feel stiff and ache in the joints, I can even feel it now when my hands are 3 inches from the computer.

It didn't used to do it when running on battery alone but now it does, albeit better than on AC.

But using 3 pronged plugs doesn't make sense to me since only two wires run out of the brick anyway.

I cannot believe that it is just one of those things, i have seen a thread on another forum site from 2003 talking about the same thing and people are still getting it from the new Air Books.

Surely someone somewhere has worked this out by now . . . anyone . . . please????

[leodavinci0]

Hi, I'm new to these forums and very desperate.

I'm using an old powerbook G4 and have had the electric shocks from the casing since i bought it second hand about 6 months ago. (Now I know why it was so cheap!)

Sometimes it's like a sharp pin prick on the wrist where the covering on the case has worn away but i get that velvet tingling badly on the rest of the case where the covering is good.

I've tried a lot of things but it has actually gotten worse.

I actually put in a new cable and socket, put in a new grounding rod (5m of copper pipe 3 ft deep in a very moist area of the ground outside the house) as well as keeping the old zinc one.

I even tried disconnecting every other circuit in the house and only running the socket the computer was plugged into.

Still got the shocks.

I have always used the 3 pronged extension cable and it happened on the one that came with the PB and the one from my old ibook.

It doesn't happen in my friends house 5 miles away in (I live in Croatia) but it does happen in my father's house and my mother's house in the UK.

I used to be able to cure it by hooking a wire to the metal frame under the keyboard and connecting it to the earth in a spare socket, but now that improves it but doesn't cure it!

After just a few minutes use my hands feel stiff and ache in the joints, I can even feel it now when my hands are 3 inches from the computer.

It didn't used to do it when running on battery alone but now it does, albeit better than on AC.

But using 3 pronged plugs doesn't make sense to me since only two wires run out of the brick anyway.

I cannot believe that it is just one of those things, i have seen a thread on another forum site from 2003 talking about the same thing and people are still getting it from the new Air Books.

Surely someone somewhere has worked this out by now . . . anyone . . . please????

There are actually 3 leads coming out of the brick; the ground is in the hooking mechanism for the plug. As anther commenter noted, many houses are incorrectly wired, with open grounds, open commons (using ground as a common) and ground wired to common. This can be checked with the socket tester he posted a picture of. This is most likely what is happening at your father and mother's house.

Grounding is needed since it is possible, with the small amount of resistance in the connections for the common leads, for voltage to build up and not be 0 on the commons. That's why grounding is needed, since it will always hook you directly to earth and discharge with a low resistance pathway (nearly guaranteed 0 volts). This is why you will most likely get shocked while only using the 2 prong connector, rather than a 3 prong.

This by the way, shouldn't happen. Electronics with 2 prongs should be Class II devices with dual insulation to protect from this (according to the international standard IEC 60601-1:2005), although it is only absolutely required for medical devices.

The only way I see it possible with getting shocks from a mains unplugged device is that the fan inside is creating a static charge on the frame somehow (through brushing). This would be very odd though.

[leodavinci0]

Also, notice that the symbol for Class II appears on the brick (it is depicted as 2 squares, one inside the other, demonstrating dual insulation), but not the laptop.

[Turmoil]

I've never had tingling or shocks from my Air. If I were you I would seek a replacement.

[cerealj]

Wow, this seems like a problem- just reading this thread is making my hair stand on end. :p

[airsix]

Wear rubber soles

[Gingahippy]

I am sitting on a wooden chair with rubber soles on a tiled floor, if i put my bare foot to the floor i can feel the gentle tingle on my toes as well as my hand when i touch the laptop.

I have gone through loads of past forums and they have suggested almost everything except sitting on your granny. None of them worked for me.

What kills me is that some have actually had the problem clear up by changing from the two pronged to the three pronged plug.

I seem to have an extreme case.

And I have no idea where or how to get a socket tester in croatia, i have trouble even getting anyone to come to my house to fix anything, let alone explain in detail what this problem is. I'm not native and I can't speak the language, not for the want of trying!

[Sesshi]

I am sitting on a wooden chair with rubber soles on a tiled floor, if i put my bare foot to the floor i can feel the gentle tingle on my toes as well as my hand when i touch the laptop.

I have gone through loads of past forums and they have suggested almost everything except sitting on your granny. None of them worked for me.

What kills me is that some have actually had the problem clear up by changing from the two pronged to the three pronged plug.

I seem to have an extreme case.

And I have no idea where or how to get a socket tester in croatia, i have trouble even getting anyone to come to my house to fix anything, let alone explain in detail what this problem is. I'm not native and I can't speak the language, not for the want of trying!

Well - short of doing what you said in the last paragraph it is a problem that's not going to be solved. Perhaps an English-speaking friend can locate an electrician for you. You could still try the granny. Make sure you post pics ;)

[jackfrost123]

I can understand tingling w. AC adapter but it's almost impossible w. battery only use. Doesn't make electron sense. Was anything wet?

I am curious as to why this wouldn't make sense, battery has power too right?:confused:

[jackfrost123]

And I have no idea where or how to get a socket tester in croatia, i have trouble even getting anyone to come to my house to fix anything, let alone explain in detail what this problem is. I'm not native and I can't speak the language, not for the want of trying!

Ιf you want to bring a technician in and you can't speak they language he will probably tear the electrical outlets out of all the house down and then charge as much as the air! :D

[Heimerdinger]

I've just joined this forum, because I decided to see if anyone else was having the same problem as me with my macbook air, and it seems they are! I've had mine since June 2008, and from the beginning noticed that sometimes the part of the case where you rest your wrists (does it have a name?) is tingly, but never the track pad. It feels as if the surface has grown fine ridges instead of being smooth. It's more annoying than anything else, though I do wonder if there can be any long term damage (to me or the laptop!). It is intermittent, and so far I have not found any rhyme or reason - I travel a lot, and it has happened from UK to Canada to Spain to Hong Kong, with and without battery and whatever I'm wearing as far as I can think but having read this thread I will now start to monitor it, and report my findings in due course. I would like to try a replacement machine, but can't afford to be without the laptop for any time. I bought it direct from Apple UK, so presumably would have to exchange through them? If so, I'll wait till I'm back in the UK in a few months time.
Don't Apple have anything to say?

[Maxx Power]

I used to get a few zaps and shocks with tingling from my laptop when it was plugged in. The metallic surfaces was conducting some kind of electricity from the adapter to me. I figure there was a leak from somewhere to the ground and not the negative, so that anything connected to the ground can carry a voltage and if you touch it, you get a sensation of the current. If you weren't grounded, I'd say it was AC current and a leak in the adapter. I noticed that when I was sweatier like in the heat of the summer, the tingling would be more than bearable. In drier and colder temperatures, I don't notice the tingling anymore. The conductivity of my skin changes drastically with the salt content of my sweat, and I suppose if you could try this yourself. Lotion is a good insulator, but two problems, in sweatier times, you don't want that stuff anyway, and you don't want greasy substances on your computer...

Or, it could be ground loops, when we had a lot of computers wired up at home one time and there was some very strong ground loops setup, so much so that you'd get a very strong shock and tingling if your skin touched metallic parts of any chasis.

I reckon if you don't have a lot of electrical equipment you have a simple leakage. I never found the tingling too annoying (other than safety concerns, and a constant suspicion of defect), but it does tighten up your muscles and make you get tired and cramped faster working at the computer as a conductor...

[Eridior]

I am interested about the cause of this problem, as I suffer w/this on a late '08 Macbook (Aluminum)

[Heimerdinger]

Has anyone contacted Apple? Do they just replace your computer if it has this problem? Do they tell you try anything else first?

[Maxx Power]

Has anyone contacted Apple? Do they just replace your computer if it has this problem? Do they tell you try anything else first?

Lol, would be funny if you called support and they said "sir, please wait for a thunderstorm and take your computer and put it above your head while connected under the tallest tree you can find, if you still feel tinglings after this, please send the laptop back in good condition."

[leodavinci0]

As described above, since Apples laptops are not Class II devices, they have greater touch leakage currents than are allowed in medical devices, and this is why you feel the tingling especially when not using the 3 prong AC adaptor. This is not a defect, or illegal, but it is a result of Apple not insulating the inside of their devices enough. Another interesting tidbit: As a result of Apple's laptops not being Class II compliant, they do not adhere to the standard IEC 60601-1 for Medical Electrical Equipment, and as a result, it would be illegal to use an Apple laptop as or with Medical Electrical Equipment. This is because the FDA wouldn't clear or approve any medical device with a not compliant component, and adding a computer would require a new filing with the FDA.

[leodavinci0]

I am curious as to why this wouldn't make sense, battery has power too right?:confused:

Yes, the battery has power, but it delivers DC current, which at the voltage of the battery wouldn't cause shocks (unless you stuck it on your tongue, then the voltage would be high enough to pass current through the low resistance pathway you just created for it). Furthermore, mains power can charge objects, since a return path for current is not necessary. Batteries can't charge objects without a return path to their return terminal. The ground, or you connected to the ground, can not be a return path for a battery inside a computer. Note also that DC current can not flow through a transformer (i.e. the power brick).

It is worth noting also why alternating current (AC) passes into your body easier than direct current (DC). With AC, the changing current takes advantage of the capacitive nature of your skin (as opposed to the resistive or impedance of the skin), and passes right through. Capacitors pass alternating current like they are a copper wire (i.e. short). DC can not pass through capacitors, and needs to pass through the skins resistance. Since skin has a relatively high resistance, DC doesn't flow as easily unless the voltage is high enough to "push" it through.

[rcm3]

Add me to the list. Apple replaced my power adapter and battery (applecare ftw), but it hasn't helped.

[fwhh]

This topic has been discussed many times before. Have a look:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=561790
In this thread I posted why this happens.(Post #16)
With a multimeter, you can measure approx. half of the line voltage on your macbook metalbody to ground. (Electricians don't use those high-impedance multimeters, but that is another topic....)
I hope this will help you understand why a power apapter change didn't solve this "problem"....

[Twyntub]

You'll find that most consumers these days don't want to carry around a transformer the size and weight of a small suitcase - plus they want to be able to plug their tiny power supply into any outlet anywhere in the world (whatever the voltage / frequency) and it 'just work'.

As a result - you have a clever switch mode power supply doing all the work. The downside is that it's electrically noisy - so to also meet all of the EMC regulations worldwide, various techniques are used to keep the noise and manufacturing cost down.

As a result of all that, you end up with a small leakage from around half line voltage into the equipment - and if the equipment isn't earth (e.g. sat on a glass table) - YOU become the earth.

Grab your MacBook Air with both hands and you probably won't feel a thing - you'll earth the machine quite well and the voltage will be reduced towards zero. Lightly stroke an edge whilst standing barefoot on a stone floor and you'll probably get a half decent tingle.

You shouldn't feel it if you're on-battery - unless of course you've also plugged your MBA into a monitor or speakers - then you'll be getting the leakage from THAT. For example, my unibody MBP gives out a small tingle - but plug my 21" TFT into it and it'll blow me the other side of the room in bare feet!

You could always get a medical grade power supply - but one the size of the MBA's would probably set you back more than the MBA itself!!

[Tiscando]

I also get this electric feeling on my macbook air (MBA) I got for christmas, only if I have the charger plugged in, especially if I brush one finger across the left of the MBA. I also get this feeling if I brush on the metal part of the mag-'safe' power connector (the new design) even if it's unplugged.

So I tested the voltage and current between the power connector's magnet (while plugged in) and the earth wiring (via a tower PC's case, which I know is earthed) and it wasn't very much. On the current setting, the electric feeling goes away.

But, If I probe the same place using an oscilloscope, there is certainly some mains voltage leaking into the MBA's pseudo-ground (case), which is too much for the 30Vp oscilloscope. If I connect the magnet to earth via a 270k-ohm resistor, the waveform is only 29V, and is the one illustrated in the attachment with 10 volts/div vs 2 millisec/div.

Therefore, if I connect a wire from earth to the connector's magnet, the electric feeling stops.

I hope this information is useful.

TC