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Possible Safety Issue w/MagSafe 2

N

NotAdvisable

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 16, 2011
220
90
Perth, Australia
Hey guys!

So don't ask me why, but last night while I was bored out of my mind I grabbed my MagSafe 2 cord and put it to my lips...

SHOCK!

... it electrocuted me! It wasn't too bad, but it did hurt.

I assume my lip connected the several pins together, making it think the connector was attached to a MacBook.

So my question arises, even though we're talking about 20 volts here it's running at 4.25 amps - which can kill someone. Isn't this a safety concern?

Thanks guys - hopefully you don't laugh too hard at me ;)
 
My mummy taught me not to go putting silly things in my mouth.

I do hope you can resist the urge to molest any other household electrical items as I am guessing toasters and blenders will retaliate with more than a little shock.

:confused:
 
NotAdvisable said:
Hey guys!

So don't ask me why, but last night while I was bored out of my mind I grabbed my MagSafe 2 cord and put it to my lips...

SHOCK!

... it electrocuted me! It wasn't too bad, but it did hurt.

I assume my lip connected the several pins together, making it think the connector was attached to a MacBook.

So my question arises, even though we're talking about 20 volts here it's running at 4.25 amps - which can kill someone. Isn't this a safety concern?

Thanks guys - hopefully you don't laugh too hard at me ;)
Click to expand...

Just a suggestion...when it's really cold outside, don't stick your tongue on a metal pole to see if it will freeze to the pole...IT WILL!

I only offer this since your spirit of experimentation seems to be a bit overdeveloped.;)
 
I have a battery charger for my car, and I've wondered the same thing. Will you test it for me please?
 
Macman45 said:
Pilot, IT Professional & Developer....REALLY?:eek:
Click to expand...

Yup, to your shock I'm actually a pilot that also works part-time in a IT department. Scary, aye?

costabunny said:
My mummy taught me not to go putting silly things in my mouth.
Click to expand...

My mum told me that too, but I didn't listen :(

Shrink said:
I only offer this since your spirit of experimentation seems to be a bit overdeveloped.;)
Click to expand...

I've got a track record too! When I was a kid, I owned a train set pumping out 12v DC - got shocked from that too. Ouch! :(

Comeagain? said:
Yeah... Licking your power cord is NotAdvisable.
Click to expand...

You deserve an internet for this.

Comeagain? said:
Oh , and you weren't Electrocuted. Electrocuted means death.
Click to expand...

"Shocked" then.

But seriously guys, I'm trying not to sound like an incompetent fool.
Using a volt meter it seems like the charger sends an initial current and then the computer controls how much current is required to either charge the battery or to keep the battery full.
I'm just saying, this small shock could prove fatal for those with pacemakers or heart conditions.

Make fun of me all you want, but I thought that Apple would have developed a safer charger than what they have.
 
NotAdvisable said:
But seriously guys, I'm trying not to sound like an incompetent fool.
Using a volt meter it seems like the charger sends an initial current and then the computer controls how much current is required to either charge the battery or to keep the battery full.
I'm just saying, this small shock could prove fatal for those with pacemakers or heart conditions.
Make fun of me all you want, but I thought that Apple would have developed a safer charger than what they have.
Click to expand...

20 volts and 4 amps of DC won't kill anyone. Try touching the connector with dry hands. No effect.
Licking it - is another matter. Saliva has electrolytes!

Pacemakers are located well under the skin, usually under the right clavicle bone. Tough little machines actually. Designed with clumsy people in mind.

To put it into your perspective. As for low DC currents, imagine your skin as the hull of the plane. Farraday's cage. Lightning strike might be unpleasant, even dangerous, but no way people inside would get electrocuted.
 
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Macman45 said:
Damian Pilot, IT Professional & Developer
█ Retina Macbook Pro (Mid 2012, 15", 2.6GHz i7, 8GB / 512GB)
█ iPad (Fourth Generation, 32GB, Black) & iPhone 4S (32GB, Black)....REALLY?:eek:
Click to expand...

Hey... us pilots need to know how our equipment operates as designed... and also in any situation that nature, human behavior, or fate my throw at us. Our lives depend on it.

From my POV... sticking a power charger in ones mouth may be a good learning experience... so we can know what to do in an emergency. However, I would not make that a regular "pre-flight" step before reading each email. ;)

/Jim
 
NotAdvisable said:
But seriously guys, I'm trying not to sound like an incompetent fool.
Using a volt meter it seems like the charger sends an initial current and then the computer controls how much current is required to either charge the battery or to keep the battery full.
I'm just saying, this small shock could prove fatal for those with pacemakers or heart conditions.

Make fun of me all you want, but I thought that Apple would have developed a safer charger than what they have.
Click to expand...

You're right that it could cause harm. But do you really think a package warning that says "Do Not Put MagSafe Connector In Your Mouth While Plugged In" makes sense. And how can you have a risk free charger? It has to carry current...what could conceivably be done to eliminate all risk?

I'm not being facetious...it's a serious question.:D
 
Shrink said:
And how can you have a risk free charger? It has to carry current...what could conceivably be done to eliminate all risk?
Click to expand...

Make the distance between hot pins larger then the average tongue/lips. :cool: practical ? Not sure.

But seriously: Apple is good in design of smart connectors. They could implement a chip first discussing with a connected MB and release the current after confirming its really a MB and not a tongue.
 
ChristianJapan said:
Make the distance between hot pins larger then the average tongue/lips.
Click to expand...

I believe that the effect on safety is influenced as much by path as it is current.

While very little current is needed to cause serious harm, from a practical point of view the effects will be localized with the contacts close to one another; I believe the extreme opposite and more serious problem (assuming any current even flows given low voltage and high resistance of dry skin per previous comments) would be to grab the hot with one hand and the neutral with the other such that current flows through vital organs!
 
I have an electronics book that talks about current and stuff and it has you touch your tongue as a serious experiment to a 9 volt battery. It made me think of that for some reason.

I remember doing the 9 volt thing as a child and if i recall correctly it wasnt so much a shock that i got but more of a bad taste then anything really. or maybe that bad taste was the shock who knows.
 
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I think the real safety issue is a standard outlet! Have you ever licked one of those? WOW! what a shock that will give you..

Ya I stuck the power cord in my mouth and got shocked.. real shocker.. anything else we need to know?
 
Acorn said:
I have an electronics book that talks about current and stuff and it has you touch your tongue as a serious experiment to a 9 volt battery. It made me think of that for some reason.

I remember doing the 9 volt thing as a child and if i recall correctly it wasnt so much a shock that i got but more of a bad taste then anything really. or maybe that bad taste was the shock who knows.

also there is a serious health risk to lamps. if you plug it in and put your finger in the light socket while its on you get a shock.
Click to expand...

All things considered, I'm not sure giving anybody any ideas to test out is a such a great idea! :p

:D ;)
 
zone23 said:
I think the real safety issue is a standard outlet! Have you ever licked one of those? WOW! what a shock that will give you..

Ya I stuck the power cord in my mouth and got shocked.. real shocker.. anything else we need to know?
Click to expand...

i think standard lamps and outlets are worse. you could basically die. when i was a kid we had this old stove with a power socket in it. i had this little nightlight i wanted to plug in. i was maybe 7. when i went to plug the nightlight in i was touching the prongs and got a nasty zap. it actually threw me backwards into a wall. it was nasty. I was lucky my heart didnt stop.
 
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