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Macbook Air electric shocks and tingles
- Thread starter xpisnotforme
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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.
This is really hard to explain but really, I don't think there is a dangerous problem here.
ouchies
correct, only with the MBAir. My old Macbook (plastic) was no prob. and I don't get shocked by random objects.
correct, only with the MBAir. My old Macbook (plastic) was no prob. and I don't get shocked by random objects.
Tingle Tests
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...
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...
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.
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.
no you just had do deal with slit wristsJK
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....
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.
There were more problems w. my MB's than just sharp edges but that is a whole other story.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
Its actually kind of pleasant to me.
For reference, I am usually plugged into my kitchen counter GFCI socket when I notice this.
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.
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. ??
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.
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.
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 .
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)
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.
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.
Aha!!!!!!
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!!!
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!!!