Anyone good at electronics? (MBP issue)

Barks

Barks

Barks

Soldato
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20 Jul 2008
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I bought a GaN 120W charger and have it plugged into my MacBook Pro. System information is showing 60W for the AC charger wattage.

If I close the lid and run my finger across the casing, it starts to very gently vibrate. At least I thought it was vibrating and then I realised it feels more like a very faint electric shock/tingle.

Is this normal or is something wrong with my laptop? It might be an easier answer if I tell you one of the two USB-C ports is dead and it won't charge if I connect the power cable to it. Maybe something inside isn't wired up properly.

Cheers
 
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Likely an imperfect grounding in the charging port.

Technically a fault and Apple would replace the unit if it were under warranty, but it's not harmful.
 
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HACO said:
Likely an imperfect grounding in the charging port.

Technically a fault and Apple would replace the unit if it were under warranty, but it's not harmful.
Click to expand...

Thanks HACO. Sadly not under warranty but I'm going to replace it when the new M2 one comes out. It's irritating only having one functioning USB-C port.
 
Barks said:
Thanks HACO. Sadly not under warranty but I'm going to replace it when the new M2 one comes out. It's irritating only having one functioning USB-C port.
Click to expand...

I recommend booking a genius bar appointment and talking to Apple, there's a chance that they would still replace the unit for free even if it's not under warranty anymore.
 
Barks said:
I bought a GaN 120W charger and have it plugged into my MacBook Pro. System information is showing 60W for the AC charger wattage.

If I close the lid and run my finger across the casing, it starts to very gently vibrate. At least I thought it was vibrating and then I realised it feels more like a very faint electric shock/tingle.

Is this normal or is something wrong with my laptop? It might be an easier answer if I tell you one of the two USB-C ports is dead and it won't charge if I connect the power cable to it. Maybe something inside isn't wired up properly.

Cheers
Click to expand...
This is common and isn’t unusual. Apple PSUs used to come with a direct plug from the brick to the socket or a cable. The direct plug effectively connected via a figure eight power connection and therefore had no ground but the full cable had a ground.

The figure eight version always tingled slightly on every MB, MBA or MBP I’ve ever owned. The full version didn’t.

I would bet your power supply isn’t actually grounded.
 
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