5 ms·

Maybe this is why Apple still hasn’t properly grounded it’s MacBooks, that light buzz you get is a brain boost!

elevaet 4y ago
What's with that? I'm constantly getting minor shocks from my Macbook, often when the inside of my forearm or wrist touches a corner of the case. I thought it was a problem with my old one, but my new one does it too. There is also a constant light vibration when you run your fingers lightly along the body. It's quite Shocking that this is apparently "normal". None of this happens when it's running on battery.
- bspammer 4y ago
  I was honestly questioning whether there was something wrong with the wiring in my house that was causing this (after having multiple MacBooks with the same issue), because the alternative that a company of Apple’s size had such a basic issue seemed so unlikely.
  - callesgg 4y ago
    You or your neighbour probably have some cheap chinese device that puts out high frequency noice on the power line. Either you get rid of that device or you buy something like this: https://www.google.com/search?q=apple+grounded+extention+cable https://www.google.com/search?q=apple+grounded+extention+cab...
    - bilekas 4y ago
      Unless you're running some serious industrial level machinery, home devices have nothing to do with power line noise. It's cause by the air around the lines and the condition of the lines themselves.
      - callesgg 4y ago
        I think you are talking about another type of power line noise. I am pretty sure a bad switch mode power supply, can push out some nasty stuff.
  - rootusrootus 4y ago
    Given that many (most, I'd bet, by far) people don't experience this while you've experienced it on several devices, I wouldn't give up on checking out the wiring in your house.
- ovi256 4y ago
  Are you using your Macbook with an ungrounded (two prong) plug or in an ungrounded outlet ? That's the typical cause of this behaviour (or a badly-grounded outlet, which is rare, fortunately). The shocks you observe are caused by your body slightly grounding the conductive case. They are seen with any conductive case equipment used without grounding. Fortunately, they are not dangerous on doubly-insulated equipment like Macbooks.
  - thfuran 4y ago
    Don't Apple wall warts have only two prongs? It doesn't matter if the outlet is grounded if the device doesn't use the ground pin.
    - gregsadetsky 4y ago
      You can get an extension cord for Apple (computer) chargers which also carry a ground signal. Highly recommended. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK122LL/A/power-adapter-extension-cable https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK122LL/A/power-adapter-e...
      - throwaway4aday 4y ago
        Typical Apple, making you pay extra for something that should come standard.
        AlexandrB 4y ago
        It used to be standard. I don't know why they stopped including it. Well, actually I do know - $$$
    - astrange 4y ago
      There's a large ground under the removable power plug in iPad/Mac chargers. It can also, possibly intentionally, be used as a bottle opener.
  - elevaet 4y ago
- sandos 4y ago
  Got our kids windows laptops this christmas, and they behave exactly like this when plugged in with the included USB type-c chargers!
- CapsAdmin 4y ago
  > There is also a constant light vibration when you run your fingers lightly along the body. It's quite Shocking that this is apparently "normal". None of this happens when it's running on battery. I always assumed that was just because the surface has a strange microscopic pattern. I don't have one now, but I believe it only happens in one direction.
  - elevaet 4y ago
    The thing I'm talking about feels like a texture but it goes both ways and disappears when its unplugged.
- oakwhiz 4y ago
  It's due to non-isolated converters where an EMI filter is a part of the line side using X/Y capacitors to cross over. The device isn't solidly grounded but it's also not totally floating either. There's some leakage across it.
  - elevaet 4y ago
    Thank you. This seems like the only reasonable explanation I've come across after a ton of reading around.
callesgg 4y ago
That is not the MacBook itself, it is the power adapter not having a ground pin. The power adapter extension cord has a ground pin, you can use the extension cord if you want to ground the computer.
- themitigating 4y ago
  Because the transformer doesn't have a metal case and once the voltage is lowered at the transformer the danger of electrical shock is reduced (as in the effects of it) so there's no reason to ground the laptop chassis.
  - callesgg 4y ago
    That is probably why it is considered legal to sell the product, yes. The high frequency buzzing you feel in your hands as you place them on the computer when the incoming power is not a proper clean sinus wave is unpleasant. Stoping that buzzing would be a good reason to ground the adapter even if it not legally required.
    - PragmaticPulp 4y ago
      > The high frequency buzzing you feel in your hands as you place them on the computer when the incoming power is not a proper clean sinus wave is unpleasant. I’ve used countless MacBooks over the years across several countries and even on square wave UPS systems. I’ve never experienced anything like this. This is literally the first time I’m hearing about this phenomenon. The way people are talking about Apple products as having some sort of weird grounding defect in this thread is honestly kind of baffling, given that they obviously have built a product that complies with all international regulations around the world.
      - callesgg 4y ago
        They don’t have a grounding defect, they are simply not grounded. You have to purchase an extra cable with a grounding pin for your power adapter to ground a MacBook.
goodpoint 4y ago
*its
jnpnj 4y ago
Grounding issues on metal chassis is so strange. Creates a buzzing layer under you skin. Quite surprising the first time.
cultofmetatron 4y ago
omg I thought I was the only one. Had this problem persistently when I was at a guest house in the phillipines. I figured it couldn't be safe or good for my laptop but a guy's gotta get paid...
sph 4y ago
I have that issue when charging my iPad as well

What's with that? I'm constantly getting minor shocks from my Macbook, often when the inside of my forearm or wrist touches a corner of the case. I thought it was a problem with my old one, but my new one does it too. There is also a constant light vibration when you run your fingers lightly along the body. It's quite Shocking that this is apparently "normal". None of this happens when it's running on battery.

bspammer 4y ago
I was honestly questioning whether there was something wrong with the wiring in my house that was causing this (after having multiple MacBooks with the same issue), because the alternative that a company of Apple’s size had such a basic issue seemed so unlikely.
- callesgg 4y ago
  You or your neighbour probably have some cheap chinese device that puts out high frequency noice on the power line. Either you get rid of that device or you buy something like this: https://www.google.com/search?q=apple+grounded+extention+cable https://www.google.com/search?q=apple+grounded+extention+cab...
  - bilekas 4y ago
    Unless you're running some serious industrial level machinery, home devices have nothing to do with power line noise. It's cause by the air around the lines and the condition of the lines themselves.
    - callesgg 4y ago
      I think you are talking about another type of power line noise. I am pretty sure a bad switch mode power supply, can push out some nasty stuff.
- rootusrootus 4y ago
  Given that many (most, I'd bet, by far) people don't experience this while you've experienced it on several devices, I wouldn't give up on checking out the wiring in your house.
ovi256 4y ago
Are you using your Macbook with an ungrounded (two prong) plug or in an ungrounded outlet ? That's the typical cause of this behaviour (or a badly-grounded outlet, which is rare, fortunately). The shocks you observe are caused by your body slightly grounding the conductive case. They are seen with any conductive case equipment used without grounding. Fortunately, they are not dangerous on doubly-insulated equipment like Macbooks.
- thfuran 4y ago
  Don't Apple wall warts have only two prongs? It doesn't matter if the outlet is grounded if the device doesn't use the ground pin.
  - gregsadetsky 4y ago
    You can get an extension cord for Apple (computer) chargers which also carry a ground signal. Highly recommended. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK122LL/A/power-adapter-extension-cable https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK122LL/A/power-adapter-e...
    - throwaway4aday 4y ago
      Typical Apple, making you pay extra for something that should come standard.
      - AlexandrB 4y ago
        It used to be standard. I don't know why they stopped including it. Well, actually I do know - $$$
  - astrange 4y ago
    There's a large ground under the removable power plug in iPad/Mac chargers. It can also, possibly intentionally, be used as a bottle opener.
- elevaet 4y ago
sandos 4y ago
Got our kids windows laptops this christmas, and they behave exactly like this when plugged in with the included USB type-c chargers!
CapsAdmin 4y ago
> There is also a constant light vibration when you run your fingers lightly along the body. It's quite Shocking that this is apparently "normal". None of this happens when it's running on battery. I always assumed that was just because the surface has a strange microscopic pattern. I don't have one now, but I believe it only happens in one direction.
- elevaet 4y ago
  The thing I'm talking about feels like a texture but it goes both ways and disappears when its unplugged.
oakwhiz 4y ago
It's due to non-isolated converters where an EMI filter is a part of the line side using X/Y capacitors to cross over. The device isn't solidly grounded but it's also not totally floating either. There's some leakage across it.
- elevaet 4y ago
  Thank you. This seems like the only reasonable explanation I've come across after a ton of reading around.

callesgg 4y ago

That is not the MacBook itself, it is the power adapter not having a ground pin. The power adapter extension cord has a ground pin, you can use the extension cord if you want to ground the computer.

themitigating 4y ago
Because the transformer doesn't have a metal case and once the voltage is lowered at the transformer the danger of electrical shock is reduced (as in the effects of it) so there's no reason to ground the laptop chassis.
- callesgg 4y ago
  That is probably why it is considered legal to sell the product, yes. The high frequency buzzing you feel in your hands as you place them on the computer when the incoming power is not a proper clean sinus wave is unpleasant. Stoping that buzzing would be a good reason to ground the adapter even if it not legally required.
  - PragmaticPulp 4y ago
    > The high frequency buzzing you feel in your hands as you place them on the computer when the incoming power is not a proper clean sinus wave is unpleasant. I’ve used countless MacBooks over the years across several countries and even on square wave UPS systems. I’ve never experienced anything like this. This is literally the first time I’m hearing about this phenomenon. The way people are talking about Apple products as having some sort of weird grounding defect in this thread is honestly kind of baffling, given that they obviously have built a product that complies with all international regulations around the world.
    - callesgg 4y ago
      They don’t have a grounding defect, they are simply not grounded. You have to purchase an extra cable with a grounding pin for your power adapter to ground a MacBook.

goodpoint 4y ago

*its

jnpnj 4y ago

Grounding issues on metal chassis is so strange. Creates a buzzing layer under you skin. Quite surprising the first time.

cultofmetatron 4y ago

omg I thought I was the only one. Had this problem persistently when I was at a guest house in the phillipines. I figured it couldn't be safe or good for my laptop but a guy's gotta get paid...

sph 4y ago

I have that issue when charging my iPad as well