iPad Earthing Electrical Issue! - new IPad 13.

[Chudley]

received 256GB IPad 13inch couple of days ago. Australia. Magic Keyboard and pen.


There is an electrical earthing issue with these units. When plugged in - and standing - on a plastic floor - I can feel a mild constant electrical shock coming through the metal hand rest and along the top of the function keys.
When I sit and earth myself it goes away. When unplugged it goes away.
I have a meter long copper pole in my garden for earth (I’m a stereophile) so the issue is not my house. I tried multiple power adaptors and outlets. Problem persists.
Plugged in , standing outside - I can still feel it. run your dry finger across the metal - you will feel like the unit is vibrating. Unplug it - vibration goes away.

I would warn against buying these iPads. The previous rubber coated Magic Keyboard didn’t have the issue. But the aluminium is now acting as an electrical conductor. This issue could by applicable to 240v countries - or a particular countries power grid. But in Australia - this iPad will BE RETURNED. I’m going to have to buy an M1 or M2 because it’s intolerable .

It staggers me that nobody picked up on this. What muppets!!

 

[klasma]

It might be just your unit.

 

[Paul Cordingley]

Noticed this too. I’m not concerned. Reminds me of the old touch bedside lamps.

 

[tarsins]

It normal. I’ve always had this, on my MacBook Pros as well.

 

[ofarlig]

Normal and not dangerous, have happened with metal laptops in general since forever.

 

[okkibs]

There is an electrical earthing issue with these units.

...are you even using a threeprong charger that has a connection to ground?

 

[Puonti]

Yep, always been the case on my work MacBook Pros if I choose to charge them without the extension schuko cord (which is grounded; the default euro plug on local MBP power adapters is not).

Get a grounded charger for your iPad.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Unless I'm misunderstanding you then you're describing a phenomenon that's typical of all these aluminum devices when they're plugged into an outlet. Now that the keyboard is aluminum then it's also being felt through its palm rest.

 

[Chancha]

The type-C protocol has a few ground pins, but you need the power brick to also have a ground to get the type-C port to be connected to ground. I can see the current Apple 20W charger including your AUS version has no 3rd prong. And unlike previous or bigger Apple power bricks where you could swap out the plug with an extension cord that has ground.

If this bothers you, all you need is to find a replacement brick that is confirmed to be grounded by a 3rd prong out of it (this isn't common among smaller wattage bricks). For example, I am using Belkin's new 200W GaN 4 port charger and it is grounded, but just one smaller version from them the 140W already only has 2 prongs out.

 

[Chudley]

Thanks for tip on three pronged adaptor. That fixed it . I made a call to apple who seem like there could be some £€ coming my way to help pay for it . Will keep you updated .
Having your hand buzz while using the iPad is unacceptable in anybody’s book - I think the buzz previous was limited to shell case - not wrist rest

 

[Chancha]

The sensation was a common theme ever since MacBooks started using metal chassis (PowerBooks actually). If I am not wrong, the US regulation (or maybe it is the IEC even) dictates that stray current within 3.5mA before it is deemed leakage that needs to be dealt with. Now the iPad Pro inherits the metal palm rest from MacBooks, it now also falls into that category.

btw, one of the three contacts of the smart connector is actually the ground pin, if you feel like you could probably earth the thing by sandwiching something between the keyboard and the iPad, have it touching your table legs perhaps, lol.

 

[okkibs]

Having your hand buzz while using the iPad is unacceptable in anybody’s book

No I actually like it, it is not an unpleasant sensation. It feels more like the smooth surface is a rougher textured one. There is no safety risk and it's not an Apple specific thing either. Any type of device with such an aluminum surface has that if you don't use a 3 prong charger. My Powerbook from before Macbooks and iPads existed had it. My M1 iPad has it too so downgrading to that won't change a thing about the aluminum housing.

We get such a thread every year here.