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Tingling sensation when touching MacBook cover while connected to power
- Thread starter uandme72
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A common problem with almost all aluminium based electronic devices. Nothing to worry about. Although, it's better to let it be while charging.
Really annoying, but harmless.
If you're worried about the electricity shocking you, there's no need to worry in any semi-modern home. (You could essentially lick 230V live wires without it being dangerous.)
As far as dealing with being annoyed by it there are a couple of things that you could try; with the most basic one being that you ground yourself every now and then.
That might sound silly at first, but this problem could be at least made worse by how an electric charge is built-up in you as you move around, or what chair you sit on, or any carpet underneath, and so on; so simply grounding yourself might alleviate the problem.
Depending on the electrical wiring around you you could just touch the ground there, or some big metal filing cabinet, or metal doorframe, or water faucet. Just think fundamental school physics, and have a look around you.
Has that changed. It used to come with both options. A power adapter extension cable with ground and a plug without. But my machines are getting quite old and from the time of magsafe.
The power adapter does not come with a grounded cable (used to come with one, but they were separated out as their own product several years ago at this point.)
If your outlet is properly grounded, and you live in NA, then you can purchase the grounded extension cable from Apple.
Power Adapter Extension Cable
Power Adapter Extension Cable makes it easy to add extra length to your Apple power adapter. Get fast, free shipping when you shop online.
store.apple.com
how does this (extension cable) work for the macbook adapter? the macbook pro m1 has this type of adapter - 61W USB-C Power Adapter - AppleThe power adapter does not come with a grounded cable (used to come with one, but they were separated out as their own product several years ago at this point.)
If your outlet is properly grounded, and you live in NA, then you can purchase the grounded extension cable from Apple.
Power Adapter Extension Cable
Power Adapter Extension Cable makes it easy to add extra length to your Apple power adapter. Get fast, free shipping when you shop online.store.apple.com
Yup.
It slots into where you can change the different power plugs, so that works no different than that.
In the power supply there is a small safety capacitor across the transformer from high to low side. This is used to keep electromagnetic interference down but does allow a tiny amount of leakage current (in the order of micro-amps) to leak through. An AC voltmeter would measure this around 70V which is why you feel it. Its harmless to you due to the low current level.
I have found I have this at times also, but ever since I stopped using the Apple charger supplied with my MBP16 and use a CalDigit TS3+ Dock instead, I no longer get the tingle. I just leave the Dock connected throughout the week, and then unplug on weekends and run off of battery to let it cycle.
The hub likely uses a 3-pin connector to the wall plug so provides a direct path to ground for the leakage current.
You slide your existing 2 pin head out, and put the 3 pin extension cable's head in. See below
BTW, the 3 pin extension cable was shipped with Macbook Pros (and perhaps other models) until 2016 or so. If you know someone that has one of these machines they may have one lying around. I think I have 2 or 3 in my spare parts box.
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thanks! also for the tip that perhaps an old macbook may have the same extension somewhere that can be reused!
They have not changed the extension cable for a long time, maybe over a decade
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For a long time I wondered how the third pin worked on the extension cable because there are only two pins on the adapter. Then I realized that the post you slide the connection over is the third pin. On iPhone/iPad adapters it's plastic, but on Macbook adapters the post is metal. Cool innovation.