upvote
Yes, the electrical shocks are very annoying! I don't know if it's related to an older/failing battery but I've certainly noticed this on an old Macbook Pro. Thanks for mentioning this - I guess at 24VDC it isn't a regulatory issue but it really does feel like a small insect sting or something and it's irritating.

My newer Air doesn't seem to have this problem. Also the screen is brighter, together with a mat finish it is better for using outside.

reply
It happens new too, and it's not the DC side of things. The AC -> DC component has some AC leakage, and the default of bad two-prong charging blocks basically guarantees you'll have issues.

I normally "fix" it by using a USB-C charging brick and cord from a better company (somehow they're all fine even ungrounded), but the factory default is bad.

reply
Why is floating ground still a thing? I've found it can actually sting quite a bit if you are grounded or touch something that is.
reply
I’m really flummoxed at why the MacBooks continue to be spicy. When using then laptop with a charger using the grounded cable on the socket side there used to be no spice. Now that adapters are mostly only used with two prong connectors the spicyness is ubiquitous.

I recall audio equipment also not being grounded because the industry prefers not being grounded over being accidentally grounded to two different grounds causing voltage transients. Maybe the same reason now also applies to MacBooks? Or does someone know another reason why the outer shell of a MacBook is still spicy.

reply
> Now that adapters are mostly only used with two prong connectors the spicyness is ubiquitous

One can still obtain the 3-prong pigtail instead of the little 2-prong inline plug, and that one grounds correctly.

Unfortunately they only seem to make a 3-prong inline version in about 3 countries.

reply
same. i thought it was me, but every mbp has been spicy and leaks current like crazy.
reply