[ddots-l] Re: getting shocked by equipment in home studio, any suggestions?

  • From: "Bryan Smart" <bryansmart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:09:44 -0400

I talk to some people that try to get rid of the 60HZ hum in their
equipment by using ground lifts to defeat the 3rd prong on three prong
power connectors. If you do this, you can and probably will be shocked.
 
Bryan

________________________________

From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Nick Dotson
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 9:16 PM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: getting shocked by equipment in home studio, any
suggestions?


Alex Harvey's brother got killed by an improper earth ground live on
stage in the 60's.  It really isn't something to play around with.  If
you've got two pieces of equipment grounded at different potential and
touch one with one hand and the other with the other hand, the path
between goes through your heart.  Not fun!
 
Nick
 
 

        ----- Original Message ----- 
        From: George Bell <mailto:george@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>  
        To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
        Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 8:10 PM
        Subject: [ddots-l] Re: getting shocked by equipment in home
studio, any suggestions?

        Hi Cameron,
         
        I don't know anything about electrical regulations in America
(which is where I assume you are based), but here in the U.K. we have
very strict rules, especially with rented property.
         
        Here, part of the leasing agreement between landlord and tenant
includes a mandatory electrical safety certificate, which is renewable
after a given period of time.
         
        Given the culture in America for suing anyone who as much as
looks sideways at you with the wrong expression on his or her face, I'd
be very inclined to request an electrical safety check.  It is clear
that the owner of the property should be replacing these bad outlets, if
only because they could be a fire risk.
         
        Sorry, but where mains electricity is concerned, nobody can
afford to take chances.  It can be a killer, even at 110 Volts AC, and
can additionally carry a charge of manslaughter on the grounds of
negligence.
         
        And I make no apologies if I sound alarmist!
         
        Get it checked out by a qualified electrician!
         
        George.

________________________________

        From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Cameron
        Sent: 19 September 2009 00:13
        To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
        Subject: [ddots-l] getting shocked by equipment in home studio,
any suggestions?
        
        

        Hi all.  I have a problem, hopefully someone can give me some
suggestions or shed some light on why this is happening.

         

        The apartment complex I'm living in now was built in the early
sixties I believe.  The outlets are not very good, worn out, you can't
plug anything into the top of any of them because it just falls out.
You can only plug things into the bottom plug.

         

        Anyways, when I was using my FW1884, I didn't notice any issues
with anything except for noise because I am on a dirty circuit/loop
being shared by all sorts of appliances and god knows what else.  

         

        My current setup is now my ADK rack mount machine, Motu896 MKIII
firewire interface, and BCF2000 control surface, which is all plugged
into a power conditioner.

         

        I started doing some tracking with my new gear for a new job
this week and whenever I used a mic that required phantom power, as soon
as the mic was plugged into the interface, I would get shocked if I
touched anything metal that was plugged into the conditioner, including
the mic itself computer, control surface, interface, etc, .  It's not
enough to cause damage, but it is unplesent and is enough of a jolt to
make you quickly stop touching whatever control you're touching.

         

        This happens even when the phantom power is switched off for
every channel on the interface.  I found out this afternoon that it also
happens with dynamic mics too.

         

        As soon as all mics are unplugged, everything is fine.

         

        My power conditioner doesn't appear to have a ground lift
switch.  Is this the issue?  Is there anything I can do to remedy this?
I've got 5 months of writing and recording ahead and I really don't want
to be freaking shocked every time I touch my gear!

         

        I'm going to make this issue known to the apartment manager on
Monday but I really doubt they will understand what I'm talking about,
or give a damn for that matter.

         

        Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

         

        Thanks,

         

        Cameron. 



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