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Feeling Vibration while charging

I got a new Mac BookPro M5 laptop, but while charging, I can feel little vibration on laptop surface when I move my hand on it, and it doesn't happen when power is removed, and when I dont move hand on the laptop or on mouse pad section, what is the issue.

4 replies

recommendations posted here have historically included:


• Having a licensed electrician ensure that the power wires at your outlets are wired correctly. That would be a very Prudent thing to do, as well as inspecting the charger and wiring for any damage.


• A simple work-around is to purchase the Apple Power Adapter AC 'Extension Cord' with local wall plug for your area. It serves to "clean up" the generated low voltage power by providing an Earth/Ground reference for the electronics of the power adapter. (This ground is not required to be carried into the device, because this is not a line-power level appliance.)


it works like this US example:




Earth/Ground is connected from the 'extension cord' by the chromed lug in the power adapter body.



abinash_p77 wrote:
I got a new Mac BookPro M5 laptop, but while charging, I can feel little vibration on laptop surface when I move my hand on it, and it doesn't happen when power is removed, and when I dont move hand on the laptop or on mouse pad section, what is the issue.


A vibration or a tingling sensation...?


I would always recommend the 3-prong extension cable ( apple used to include one with every new mac, but apparently they need to increase there profit margin.)


If you have an old one laying around they are universal.

Power Adapter Extension Cable - Apple for USA


ref: About the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit - Apple Support


You can try a different receptacle / a different part of your house or a different location ( coffee house) if the issue is isolated to one particular outlet you are used to using...



The vibration or tingling sensation is caused by leakage current (or capacitive coupling) due to an ungrounded power adapter, which is very common with Apple's standard two-pin wall adapters

Why This Happens

  • Unescaped Stray Current: A tiny, harmless amount of alternating current (AC) leaks from the charger components onto the aluminum chassis of the laptop. 
  • Electrovibration: Because the two-pin adapter lacks an earth ground wire, this micro-current has nowhere to discharge except through your skin when you slide your hand across the metal surface. 
  • Why Motion Matters: The pulsing electrical field creates a micro-change in friction between your skin and the aluminum. Your hand only registers this as a vibration or buzz when it is in motion against the casing. If you hold your hand still, you won't feel it. 
  • Safety: It is generally non-hazardous and low enough in amperage that it will not damage your body, though it can feel annoying. 



If an interested person with the necessary expertise wanted to obtain further information about a vibrating or tingling sensation, a digital multimeter could be used (the multimeter must NOT be connected to the mains). With the multimeter set to the highest AC voltage range, one test probe would merely touch the computer's metal enclosure and the other probe a grounded/earthed object (such as a kitchen sink). The multimeter could display a voltage anywhere from a few volts up to approximately 100 V AC (the highest values ​​can be expected in countries with a mains voltage of 220-240 V).


However, a digital multimeter has a high input impedance, so readings may be unrealistic unless an appropriate load is used. From a safety perspective, the resulting current is an important factor. An old article Does a "tingle" mean your appliance is dangerous by Jim Rowe in Electronics Australia, August 1988 had more about this. Newer standards/reports/articles may provide additional information.