Electric shocks from my set up.

lone · Post by **lone** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 12:22 pm

For a couple of weeks my turntables and mixer have been giving me little electric shocks.

I think it is static because the multimeter (when touching the case of mixer/amp/turntable and a ground) gives a lowish reading then returns to 1 or 0 - the same will happen if i wait a second and do it again. this is when the multimeter is on 200 a/c.

I get a reading off of the mixer when it is unattached from everything else in the setup . the same goes for the amp.

Nothing in my setup is grounded - all plugs seem to only have live and neutral.

I thought the problem was in the mixer, but it took it to a fixer man and he said it was fine, i dont really beleive him but it is his job so maybe i should. he told me to just 'check all the cables in the setup' but he couldnt really explain what to look for - this bloke had no time for me at all.

any ideas? any help or a point in the right direction as i dont have a clue about this stuff and the google trail ran dry.

thanks

wasteman · Post by **wasteman** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 1:09 pm

You said so yourself that nothing in your setup is grounded, so why don't you try grounding it?

lone · Post by **lone** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:00 pm

it might work but im not really sure how to do it. the power cord in the amp is only two cables (live and neutral) how do i put in an earth? probably a stupid question.
also if i just grounded the amp is that enough?

the thing is, it never used to shock me so something must have changed. if i ground it and get no shocks am i just masking a problem?

cheers for the help. much appreiciated

Sub Shifter · Post by **Sub Shifter** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:37 pm

you could try grounding the amp and if that stops the electric shocks tip some cold water on it to make sure you can still get shocked

4linehaiku · Post by **4linehaiku** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:55 pm

You best have this fixed by the time I get down to London, I don't want to be DJing with rubber gloves on.

Turntables should ground to the mixer, so you just need to ground that.
Now I'm no electrical engineer, as well you know, but I reckon any sort of conductive material running from the mixer to the ground will disapate the charge. That's all grounding is. I also think the case of the mixer shouldn't have current running through it, which probably means a loose wire or summat inside. This is just a guess though, could John not provide a greater level of insight?

Edit: Having actually read your post properly re: the whole amp and mixer both static when they are unattached I now think I have no idea what's going on and you should probably ignore me.
I've also remembered that I know someone doing a master's in it electrical engineering, so I'll ask him.

lone · Post by **lone** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 3:45 pm

yeah tell me about it. marigold mixing!

the turntables are grounded to the mixer already, got that one covered. i tried putting a ground wire from mixer to amp but it didnt do anything and then the geezer in the shop said that was a bad idea (wouldnt say why of course)
does anyone know how i should go about grounding the amp then?

also does anyone know of a trustworthy/helpful audio repair shop in london?

tom if you could ask your mate that would be wicked - john and charlie couldnt work it out.

AFL · Post by **AFL** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:21 pm

I have this in a book somewhere but no idea where the book is. If you google "grounding amps" you might come up with something tho.

Here's one that came up when I did it.

http://members.shaw.ca/house-of-jim/Htm ... ng_ra.html

Electric shocks from my set up.

Electric shocks from my set up.

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