MacBook / Phone shocking me.

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michaelmurfy

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#252864 14-Jul-2019 18:28

I've got a little bit of a strange one I am yet to determine the cause of.

My MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air (and also phone) all shock me and have what can only be described as a "grippy / buzzy feel" when placed on charge at my partners place - anywhere else is totally fine. Power supplies are earthed, and if I use the non-earthed attachment things get much worse (I can't use my laptop when it is on charge).

Any ideas with what causes this? It has always been somewhat a mystery to me.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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gajan

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#2276456 14-Jul-2019 18:32

Using the 3 pin power cord or the 2 pin ‘duckhead’ on the charger? Using the former (3 pin) resolves this. Nice consequence of all metal/conductive casing, when it’s not properly earthed.

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cyril7

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#2276457 14-Jul-2019 18:33

Does your partner understand your life insurance details?

Cyril

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#2276458 14-Jul-2019 18:38

sounds like a bad neutral connection somewhere in the house or the point of connection to the house or a missing MEN link, It would be a good idea to get it checked out by a clued up electrician as this could be one of those more unusual faults.

RunningMan

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#2276460 14-Jul-2019 18:45

I've noticed exactly the same thing with a Macbook air.

michaelmurfy

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#2276465 14-Jul-2019 19:02

gajan: Using the 3 pin power cord or the 2 pin ‘duckhead’ on the charger? Using the former (3 pin) resolves this. Nice consequence of all metal/conductive casing, when it’s not properly earthed.

Using the 3 pin MacBook Pro charger. If I swap it to the 2pin "duckhead" things get much, much worse.

gregmcc:

sounds like a bad neutral connection somewhere in the house or the point of connection to the house or a missing MEN link, It would be a good idea to get it checked out by a clued up electrician as this could be one of those more unusual faults.

This is what I suspected. Sadly, it is a rental property and the landlord doesn't give a damn on the house. She is moving out shortly anyway.

empacher48

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#2276469 14-Jul-2019 19:13

I’ve had the same with both an iPhone and MacBook Pro.

Changing the charging cable on the MacBook Pro fixed it, I dissected the old cable and noticed the insulation to the MagSafe plug had worn away or split.

For the iPhone changing the power adapter solved that.

Edited: must read better. If it’s happening only in one place, then it’s the house. My problem happened no matter where I plugged them in, home, work or hotels.

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#2276551 14-Jul-2019 21:56

Sounds similar to our kitchen sink. Touching it whilst turning on the waste disposal gives a buzz/tingle. Something to do with earthing.

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MadEngineer

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#2276560 14-Jul-2019 22:26

You could be an ass and have a sparky check on the last day you’re there if there’s a serious fault, then if there is have them disconnect and sticker the house.

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kornflake

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#2278757 18-Jul-2019 10:22

When a tenant is killed (extreme case I know), the landlord may find themselves in a bit of bother.