Hacker News Reader

Comment by keerthiko | Hacker News Reader

Another issue I have with the magsafe is that in any country with more than 110V outlets (~70% of the world), there's significant charge leakage into the macbook body if you don't connect with a 3-prong adapter.

I use a US macbook power adapter (Type-B) and a travel adapter. My Type-D (India) is only 2-prong, but my Type-G (Singapore) one is 3 prong. Anywhere I wind up using the Type-D, I get continuous minor shocks through my palms as I use my computer =/

This seems to be the case for every magsafe adapter and every macbook air (sample size = 3, different revs bought from different outlets 2012-2014).

Is this normal? I don't recall experiencing this on any other device I've used which is rated "110V - 240V" paired with a Type-B-to-D adapter

View on HN

I saw that once in a computer lab that had all-metal desks. There was on desk in particular that if you grabbed it and a nearby desk, you would get a strong although not painful continuous electrical shock. The sensation was very similar to those trick shock pens that you find in novelty stores.

I would say that that should not be normal. Anything that does that is defective. If it is a normal occurrence with Apple power adapters, I would say that those power adapters are categorically defective.

I get the same thing in the US, but much less noticeable. I get a tingling feeling in my hands / palm using the 2 prong adapter. Since it was unexpected, I searched a little bit and it seems to happen to everyone. (13-in MBA 2012)

>> I get a tingling feeling in my hands / palm

Is this when touching the chassis of the laptop?

I occasionally get that on both my Macbook Pro and my Surface Pro.

I've noticed this on a few different configurations. I don't notice it as much with my personal MacBook Pro, but my work MBP with the US 2-prong adapter as well as my work Mac Mini both tingle when I touch them or shock me through my keyboard pretty consistently. I just had my helpdesk replace the MagSafe brick for the MBP, so I'm interested to see Monday if the shocks go down. I sure hope so - I've become trained to fear the first touch to my keyboard.

I think that's why when you buy a replacement adaptor in India, they give one with UK plug (which has the three prong). However, even with such an adaptor, I experience earth issues (if put my plugged in headphones around my neck, they shock like eletriculing leashes).

Reply on news.ycombinator.com