Electronics > Beginners
New 2017 Macbook Pro 15 Inch giving me static electric shock. Is it normal?
(1/11) > >>
nasserprofessional:
I recently bought a new Apple Macbook Pro 2017. When its plugged in charging I am getting an electro static shock from the aluminum body of the device. I have other aluminum apple laptops that dont give me static electric shock even if they are plugged into the same outlet etc.

I bought the laptop from Currys PC World here in the United Kingdom, England.
They insisted this is normal for Apple Macbook Pros and refused to give me a refund or replacement even though I am within the 21 days return period?

Is it normal to get an electro static shock from an Apple Macbook Pro 2017 15 inch?
I thought static electricity and elctrostatic discharge damages electronics/chips etc, thats why they have anti static packaging and anti static straps.

I would like to see what the electronics community has to say about this.

Sorry I hope I am not breaking any rules of the forum. I am extremley new to the forum but have watched Daves EEVBlog Youtube channel for a long time and would like your help.

wraper:
Does this happen when you are not touching anything else and is only a single shock and don't repeat if you touch again? Or is it a tingle feeling when you touch laptop and some other metal surface simultaneously?
nasserprofessional:
It only happens when the laptop is plugged in/charging.

If I touch the laptop I can feel it the whole time I am touching the laptop.
Does it get discharged when I touch it? No, If I touch it again I can instantly feel it again so its still there the whole time and isnt getting discharged or anything.

It happens even if I am not touching any other surfaces while touching the laptop.
It happens even if I touch another surface thats grounded for example the wooden desk, the wall etc.

I have another Macbook Pro with an aluminium body I have tested that on the same surface, the same power socket, even had them side by side plugged into the same socket and if I touch the new apple laptop I can feel it if I touch the other apple laptop I dont feel it.

At first I thought maybe its just me so I let my mum and sister touch it and they both felt it as well.

I took it back to the store and they plugged it in, at first they denied everything said they couldnt feel a thing, they said nothing wrong with it but I could still feel the static electric or whatever it is going through the aluminum case even when it was plugged in at their store. Eventually after I kept insisting I could feel static electric or something they admitted they could feel it as well but insisted it was normal and that they all had apple laptops at home that do this.

I went upto the models they had on display and they didnt seem to have any issues. Not really sure whats going on but I believe its not normal as my other one isnt doing it at all.

They basically refused to do anything so eventually I walked out the store disappointed and I am trying to still talk to them about it. Just trying to find out if its really faulty or not.
RGB255_0_0:
Almost certainly Class Y leakage. Yes it's normal but you seem sensitive or their new charger is more susceptible to it. We've had this discussion in another thread regarding the missing ground pin; I can't remember which thread.

Measure the AC voltage between chassis and Earth and you're maybe seeing 60V+.

And next time tell the Apple idiot your statutory rights.
grumpydoc:
It does not sound like a static shock, but rather you are feeling the small leakage current which flows through the EMI suppression capacitor in the charger.

However it is possible that the charger is faulty so it might be worth getting it tested by an electrician.

Or just try another charger.
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...

Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod