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MacBook Pro Electric Shock Problem
- Thread starter scorpio8977
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Look on the inside of the shorter plug adapter, and on the inside of the extension.
The difference is the metal. The extension grounds you, the shorter plug doesn't.
The difference is the metal. The extension grounds you, the shorter plug doesn't.
Yea I get the tingling too from my early 2008 MBP. Mostly it doesn't bother me but then I get shocked about once a week which is kinda annoying.
Having said that, I seemed to get shocks from things that other people don't so I might just be one of "those people", like my friend says. 🙄
Having said that, I seemed to get shocks from things that other people don't so I might just be one of "those people", like my friend says. 🙄
I've been getting the same tingling sensation from my 2008 MBP. Here's what I've figured out...
When the MBP is plugged in using the ungrounded 2-prong plug, or if I'm just running on the battery, the MBP is has a "floating ground". In other words, earth ground=0 volts, but when not attached to earth ground, the MBP chassis is floating at a higher voltage compared to earth ground.
Electricity will always seek the path of least resistance to earth ground (or the closest thing to it). If you are using your grounded plug, then that ground line (the outside two gold pins on the magsafe connector are ground) will be the easiest path for the electricity to travel. The pins on my magsafe connector to the ground pin on the plug has around 1 ohm of resistance. The average human body has around 500 ohms of resistance. If you are using the ungrounded 2-prong plug, then you become the path of least resistance, hence the tingling sensation.
SOLUTIONS
1. Apple redesigns the MBP and eliminates this by "double insulating" it. Hmm... am I dreaming?
2. Use the grounded plug (keep in mind that this may not work if your outlet is not really grounded--that happens a lot.) An electrician should be able to help you with that one.
If you can't get connected to a good ground...
3. Wear rubber soled shoes when using your MBP (easiest solution.)
4. Keep your feet off of the floor. (You have to be sitting on something non-conductive to ground)
5. Keep a part of your body in contact with the MBP at all times... a grounding wrist strap connected to the MBP would work here, but that would be incredibly annoying. Additionally, you would still have that micro current going through you; but at least you won't notice it as much.🙂
With all that said, has anyone experienced this phenomenon with the brand new MB and MBP?
When the MBP is plugged in using the ungrounded 2-prong plug, or if I'm just running on the battery, the MBP is has a "floating ground". In other words, earth ground=0 volts, but when not attached to earth ground, the MBP chassis is floating at a higher voltage compared to earth ground.
Electricity will always seek the path of least resistance to earth ground (or the closest thing to it). If you are using your grounded plug, then that ground line (the outside two gold pins on the magsafe connector are ground) will be the easiest path for the electricity to travel. The pins on my magsafe connector to the ground pin on the plug has around 1 ohm of resistance. The average human body has around 500 ohms of resistance. If you are using the ungrounded 2-prong plug, then you become the path of least resistance, hence the tingling sensation.
SOLUTIONS
1. Apple redesigns the MBP and eliminates this by "double insulating" it. Hmm... am I dreaming?
2. Use the grounded plug (keep in mind that this may not work if your outlet is not really grounded--that happens a lot.) An electrician should be able to help you with that one.
If you can't get connected to a good ground...
3. Wear rubber soled shoes when using your MBP (easiest solution.)
4. Keep your feet off of the floor. (You have to be sitting on something non-conductive to ground)
5. Keep a part of your body in contact with the MBP at all times... a grounding wrist strap connected to the MBP would work here, but that would be incredibly annoying. Additionally, you would still have that micro current going through you; but at least you won't notice it as much.🙂
With all that said, has anyone experienced this phenomenon with the brand new MB and MBP?
1. A simple modification with mounting hardware would help this. Nylon washers would do.
2. Apple shouldn't assume all electrical circuits are grounded. Older wiring wiring may not, depending on what the codes were at the time of construction. I've run into this, and rewired the circuits with a proper ground, even using a GFCI for the computer outlet. 😱
3 through 5:
People shouldn't have to do these to avoid shocks. 😉
I totally agree... then again, maybe that's just part of that Mac experience--FREE electrical shock with every MBP purchased! And we thought that nothing was free!😀
DAAAAAAAVE
macrumors regular
I have a Feb release MBP and am having this whole tingly problem thing. I only noticed it this morning. I roled over in bed and touched just above the keyboard and got that weird tingling. Mine seems to be only above the keyboard and down the left speaker grill. Guessing my magsafe is earthing into the case? Because of the location i reckon thats what it is. Lol even if it can't be fixed i won't go back to pc. ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
DAAAAAAAVE
macrumors regular
DAAAAAAAVE
macrumors regular
Ok so now my problem is getting worse. I can feel a tingling sensation no matter where i touch on the case. If i use it on my lap there is a constant tingling through my legs. Should i contact apple? More importantly is this bad for me?
Hi,
bought a mbp 15'' in march 2008, same problems. So, I bought a plastic skin and installed only the bottom part, so the most of my body isn't in contact with the mbp when i have it on my legs etc. Now it is better, i don't fry anymore.
very annoying however, i hope the new mbp and mb haven't this issue.
great laptop, otherwise
DAAAAAAAVE
macrumors regular
Ahhh good idea, I might look into that. Have you told apple about it? If so did they say anything?
MatLane
macrumors 6502a
Okay... I am most definetly not the only shocked MacBook Pro user around.
I had a slightly more serious experience. Not only did I get a mighty shock, but got an electric arc when I connected external speakers. The arc actually cut a whole through the bottom case and ruined my iLap.
Seriously this can't happen with a product as prestigious and expensive as a MacBook Pro. Apart from that there are laws for consumer protection. I contacted Apple about this and am waiting for a response. Seems like I get a tidy bit of legal work to do.
Very sad!
I had a slightly more serious experience. Not only did I get a mighty shock, but got an electric arc when I connected external speakers. The arc actually cut a whole through the bottom case and ruined my iLap.
Seriously this can't happen with a product as prestigious and expensive as a MacBook Pro. Apart from that there are laws for consumer protection. I contacted Apple about this and am waiting for a response. Seems like I get a tidy bit of legal work to do.
Very sad!
yep, i'm getting zapped too. got a previous rev mbp for the matte screen etc great machine but this electric shocking business is taking the piss. It was alright for the first few weeks but recently its been getting worse and now my wrists where they rest on the edge of the mbp are getting zapped. this is only when plugged in I should clarify. second to this I've been finding my battery life to be incredibly poor, just browsing/internet, no itunes running, screen down in brightness, I'm not even running potentially power hungry progs like photoshop etc, battery life is just dropping like a stone. tried it without airport on and its marginally better...could it all be related somehow?
On a pc you could find and deactivate unnecessary processes such as business network file sharing stuff and protocols clearly never used by a home user, is there a way of finding and turning off similar processes on a mac?
On a pc you could find and deactivate unnecessary processes such as business network file sharing stuff and protocols clearly never used by a home user, is there a way of finding and turning off similar processes on a mac?
I just have to say to you all to make yourself heard with Apple!
Today I got a quite positive response. I don't what's happening now, but I feel that Apple is very conscious about the problem and they seem to be anxious to make things up. I might get my requested replacement and will keep you posted about the case.
For now I can say, after all that has gone wrong with my MBP there finally is some bright light 😱
so long!
Today I got a quite positive response. I don't what's happening now, but I feel that Apple is very conscious about the problem and they seem to be anxious to make things up. I might get my requested replacement and will keep you posted about the case.
For now I can say, after all that has gone wrong with my MBP there finally is some bright light 😱
so long!
DAAAAAAAVE
macrumors regular
Good stuff. I will get onto them next week when im on holidays and don't need my comp for a while. Please keep us updated with what happens
For information: i get this electric problem with my brand new unibody 15" MBP.
Feels like a slight tingle / vibration when you lightly run a hand across any part of the case.
It happens when whenever its plugged in, on or off. But not running off battery power.
So i would guess at a megga-safe issue...
Feels like a slight tingle / vibration when you lightly run a hand across any part of the case.
It happens when whenever its plugged in, on or off. But not running off battery power.
So i would guess at a megga-safe issue...
Does this cause damage to components?
Ok, I've got this new found problem with my unibody macbook. I'm just visiting some family at the moment living in their house, and have noticed that this problem only exists here. A house problem?
Well, I want to know if anyone has knowledge or experience on whether this causes component damage to the MB or MBP?
No one in the previous posts have mentioned this.
Thanks.
Ok, I've got this new found problem with my unibody macbook. I'm just visiting some family at the moment living in their house, and have noticed that this problem only exists here. A house problem?
Well, I want to know if anyone has knowledge or experience on whether this causes component damage to the MB or MBP?
No one in the previous posts have mentioned this.
Thanks.
kastenbrust
macrumors 68030
Its a problem with something called the double insulation on the Macbook's casing, most electrical appliances around the home have it by law, toasters, kettles etc. Apple should replace the laptop for you immediately if you are getting electricuted by it, no questions asked because its actually illegal, and rather annoying. The problem is basically that the transformer that transforms AC power out the wall into DC power for your computer components is somewhere touching the metal outer of the case which it shouldnt be, and your getting electricuted and the safety isnt shorting, thats why you can hear a vibration too.
Alright, that makes sense. So does this DC Conversion from AC cause potential damage to electrical components?
Thanks.
kastenbrust
macrumors 68030
well no because the ac/dc converter in the power supply unit is still working, its not sending ac to the computer boards, which would break the computer straight away and it woudnt turn on, so the computers fine, its just touching the case somewhere and shocking you! you need to use an earthed power supply cable, this could be the easiest solution, here in the UK all power plugs are earthed (3 prong) so problem solved, but i think in the US sometimes you can get 2 prong power supplies? This is problem 1.
Number 2) send it to apple for inspection, i would take it to your genius bar and if they try denying anything then electricute them too, no seriously dont but they cant exactly deny the problem, and if they dont know what to do ask them to send it to apple to have the power supply unit replaced on the mainboard, they may replace the whole logic board but thats ok you wont loose any data 🙂
Number 2) send it to apple for inspection, i would take it to your genius bar and if they try denying anything then electricute them too, no seriously dont but they cant exactly deny the problem, and if they dont know what to do ask them to send it to apple to have the power supply unit replaced on the mainboard, they may replace the whole logic board but thats ok you wont loose any data 🙂
well no because the ac/dc converter in the power supply unit is still working, its not sending ac to the computer boards, which would break the computer straight away and it woudnt turn on, so the computers fine, its just touching the case somewhere and shocking you! you need to use an earthed power supply cable, this could be the easiest solution, here in the UK all power plugs are earthed (3 prong) so problem solved, but i think in the US sometimes you can get 2 prong power supplies? This is problem 1.
Number 2) send it to apple for inspection, i would take it to your genius bar and if they try denying anything then electricute them too, no seriously dont but they cant exactly deny the problem, and if they dont know what to do ask them to send it to apple to have the power supply unit replaced on the mainboard, they may replace the whole logic board but thats ok you wont loose any data 🙂
Plugged computer via surge protector with a light that says earthed, but still got problem. Asked an electrical engineer and he says its due to conversion between AC to DC power and somehow this conversion is causing shock, which you've just explained. Ah well, just as long as it doesn't hurt notebook😀