MacBook current leakage - vibration/tingling sensation

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richms

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#3480399 13-Apr-2026 12:40

It gets worse when you have a number of devices with 2 pin power supplies connected together like monitors and some speakers. They all have their own leakage currents which add up, eventually you get to enough to give you a decent whack or sparks when plugging in an earthed appliance. no idea how it doesn't trip out the RCDs.

Richard rich.ms

cddt

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#3480696 14-Apr-2026 06:18

boosacnoodle:

Normal, I'm told. Used to experience this with an Intel MacBook Pro, but never faced the issue with the Intel-era MacBook nor an M-series MacBook Air. It must be something specific to the MBP.

Not specific to Pro, my wife's is a MacBook Air. I don't have access to any other Mac devices to test against.

boosacnoodle

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#3480710 14-Apr-2026 08:27

Which model? I have the M2 and don’t face this issue.

hamish225

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#3480712 14-Apr-2026 08:35

We have this problem with all our apple devices, iphones, ipads, previous macbooks from 2016 ish too.

*Insert big spe*dtest result here*

Batman

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#3481970 18-Apr-2026 17:21

Aaron2222:

https://www.apple.com/nz/shop/product/mw2n3x/a/power-adapter-extension-cable

this constant electrocution is driving me nuts

So i found oem cables but I'm not sure about their quality. Have had terrible experience with just about any "oem" cables unless they were not made in certain countries.

i might just have to fork out apple tax.

Batman

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#3486789 2-May-2026 16:40

well i bought the cheapest clone 3 pin cable i could find, and no more tingling/vibration!

looking at all the clones it appears they all come from the same manufacturer as all the pics are the same so i got the cheapest one. less than the price of a happy meal.

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

caffynz

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#3486871 2-May-2026 20:20

Batman:

well i bought the cheapest clone 3 pin cable i could find, and no more tingling/vibration!

looking at all the clones it appears they all come from the same manufacturer as all the pics are the same so i got the cheapest one. less than the price of a happy meal.

Where did you get yours from, please?

Batman

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#3486909 3-May-2026 09:00

i think it was trademe for $7 or something. every cable on the internet uses the same stock picture and is the same thing. just make sure it has 3 pins.

i bought 4 to save on shipping, one for each location that i use the laptop! (since i have plenty of these power bricks)

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#3486980 3-May-2026 11:19

The simple answer is to use an Anti Static mat under your computer, wired to the EARTH PIN of a 3 pin plug. Cost for a 60cmx60cm mat is 32.60.

caffynz

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#3487770 5-May-2026 15:50

Batman:

i think it was trademe for $7 or something. every cable on the internet uses the same stock picture and is the same thing. just make sure it has 3 pins.

i bought 4 to save on shipping, one for each location that i use the laptop! (since i have plenty of these power bricks)

Thank you. I had noticed this on my Macbook and thought it was just me (as I sometimes attract static!) but my husband recently got a new Macbook and he said he was experiencing the same. This thread was timely - new learning for me!