it’s a design decision because some people like myself actually like the light throbbing
octo888 · 2h ago
> Apple support are utterly fucking useless and don't know about this.
That particular support person/bot may not have but the company absolutely does
Zanfa · 1h ago
This also happens with iPhones. And under the right circumstances you can feel the same tingling sensation on skin contact as well if the other person is holding a plugged in iPhone.
zabzonk · 3h ago
I get this sometimes, but not all of the time on my newish (6 month) Asus 14 laptop with a UK 3-pin to mains power supply. And I've had it with other laptops in the UK. It's mysterious, but don't think it is going to kill you.
MadnessASAP · 3h ago
It won't kill you right up until you plug it into an outlet with a unbalanced neutral.
Granted a couple things have to go wrong for that to happen but they do happen.
zabzonk · 3h ago
> unbalanced neutral
So, what's that? And how to know, in the UK, if I have it, or don't want it. Because I have had the same throbbing experience with several metal shell laptops plugged in to power in at least three houses in the UK.
MadnessASAP · 1h ago
I'm not familiar with the UK wiring standards. However an easy first step that I would imagine also applies there is losing the bonding jumper between neutral and ground at the main circuit breaker panel.
In Canada and USA with our split phase residential system a decent next step is to overload 1 phase causing the neutral to start drifting from 0V.
In the UK with single phase supply I imagine the next best thing would be to also break the neutral return to the pole which should generate at least 100V on the neutral (and also stop all appliances from working), fortunately for you (I think) the UK mandates GFCIs (RCDs) on all residential circuits which would also prevent that from actually killing you.
In summary, I'm going to guess that touching neutral in the UK is a healthier past time then it is in the US or CA. Still not healthy, but at least healthier.
colechristensen · 2h ago
There are a series of things that can be wrong both with the hardware you plug in and with the plug itself. Things can straight up be wired in the wrong order, grounding can be done incorrectly so there's more than one path to ground which among other things causes there to be a voltage difference between the neutral wire and the ground wire, corrosion or bad connections can cause similar issues.
The first cheap test you can do is buy one of these plug testers that diagnose some of the more direct problems you could be having for about £10, don't necessarily buy the one I linked, but do a little research and pick something that seems right.
If you're having those kinds of problems, it wouldn't hurt to contact a local electrician and quickly describe the issue and ask what it would cost to diagnose.
zabzonk · 1h ago
Well, it is not so much of a problem as just strange. I have had my brother, who knows a bit about power circuits, do some testing on my current house, and it seems OK. But sometimes, and only sometimes, metal shell things plugged into the UK mains via 3-pin UK plugs will do the throbbing stuff. And as I said, this happened in multiple houses, with multiple PSUs and laptops and other stuff.
I dunno.
lwansbrough · 3h ago
I don't notice this in North America but I did notice it in Europe. Using the 2 prong in both places.
EdwardDiego · 58m ago
Yeah, I've haven't had it in the USA with two prong, but then 110/120V(?) would be presumably harder to notice?
At home with 240V I use 3 prong so presumably I'm properly grounded as this would be an ongoing annoyance I'd definitely notice.
astrea · 2h ago
I’ve always felt it in North America. Especially if you slide your hand/finger. My iPad does it as well (if it’s on a charger).
rootsudo · 3h ago
Noticed it in Asia but
Not Japan. Always knew it was a grounding issue.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/wiki/why#wiki_tingli...
That particular support person/bot may not have but the company absolutely does
Granted a couple things have to go wrong for that to happen but they do happen.
So, what's that? And how to know, in the UK, if I have it, or don't want it. Because I have had the same throbbing experience with several metal shell laptops plugged in to power in at least three houses in the UK.
In Canada and USA with our split phase residential system a decent next step is to overload 1 phase causing the neutral to start drifting from 0V.
In the UK with single phase supply I imagine the next best thing would be to also break the neutral return to the pole which should generate at least 100V on the neutral (and also stop all appliances from working), fortunately for you (I think) the UK mandates GFCIs (RCDs) on all residential circuits which would also prevent that from actually killing you.
In summary, I'm going to guess that touching neutral in the UK is a healthier past time then it is in the US or CA. Still not healthy, but at least healthier.
The first cheap test you can do is buy one of these plug testers that diagnose some of the more direct problems you could be having for about £10, don't necessarily buy the one I linked, but do a little research and pick something that seems right.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/QUILLE-Socket-Display-Neutral-Testi...
If you're having those kinds of problems, it wouldn't hurt to contact a local electrician and quickly describe the issue and ask what it would cost to diagnose.
I dunno.
At home with 240V I use 3 prong so presumably I'm properly grounded as this would be an ongoing annoyance I'd definitely notice.