Hum problems solved

[wilkev]

I just used a three prong adaptor to bypass the ground and that took away all of the hum

[bryant]

exactly where did you connect the three prong adapter,
between the wall and strip outlet, computer and strip, computer and wall.
Please tell us how everything is wired and exactly where the adapter is placed (between what two sources)?

Thank you.

[wilkev]

For my laptop (Acer 5610) I plugged it into the outlet and Just now I plugged it into a strip and it worked good either way. Just to test it, I took the adaptor off and plugged it into the strip and I got the high pitched whine back. mine actually is more of a whine than a low hum. Hope it works for you.

[mindonstrike]

Originally Posted by wilkev

For my laptop (Acer 5610) I plugged it into the outlet and Just now I plugged it into a strip and it worked good either way. Just to test it, I took the adaptor off and plugged it into the strip and I got the high pitched whine back. mine actually is more of a whine than a low hum. Hope it works for you.

If you are going to use an adaptor to defeat the ground for your laptop power supply I would set it up so that only the laptop is ungrounded. Since the laptop case is all plastic there probably not much danger there, however if your mixer and/or other metal encased equipment that might be plugged into the strip develops a ground fault without a way to shunt that power to ground and trip the breaker, you may become the new path to ground

Sam

[wilkev]

Yeah I use a strip when I do a show and the laptop is the only thing that gets the 3 prong adaptor. I just bought the laptop and the hoster program so I was just setting it up in the house on the kitchen bar top when I first noticed the whinning sound. But otherwise it will be the only thing not grounded. (provided the venue has grounded outlets) Thanks for your help!

[bryant]

Originally Posted by wilkev

For my laptop (Acer 5610) I plugged it into the outlet and Just now I plugged it into a strip and it worked good either way. Just to test it, I took the adaptor off and plugged it into the strip and I got the high pitched whine back. mine actually is more of a whine than a low hum. Hope it works for you.

So are you saying the adapter is between the strip and the laptop, while the strip goes directly to the wall outlet with no adapter. i want to duplicate this. This is why I'm being so precise here?

[goonie227]

You are playing with your life here guys buy a hum eliminator and don't mess withungrounding your system.

[wilkev]

yes that is right the only thing that is ungrounded it the laptop power supply. I am not to worried about getting shocked from an ungrounded plastic power supply.

[TheMusicGeek]

Long before I was introduced to MTU and the wonders of Hoster I was using a laptop for DJ / Background music. It is very common to get a hum or buzz from a ground loop. There is a simple device marked under several names that is basically a dual 1 to 1 isolation transformer with RCA leads. Car stereo stores sell it as an inline line level noise filter. Computer stores sell it as a line level isolation transformer for people that want to hook their stereo into the computer. Bottom line is that they couple the signal inductively with no direct connection. This breaks any ground loop and noise gone.

[gduns - with the Lord]

REFER TO THIS POST. http://forum.mtu.com/showthread.php?p=36852#post36852

[BustedByMyWife]

Ive been using a 3 prong adapter to eliminate hum for years. Never took a bolt of lightning (but i dont play in the rain or standing in water either * could be an issue if playing a gig in sri lanka). With my dell inspiron 6000's power supply, there is no hum and no need for an adapter, but u never know who wired the next building so I keep one or two on hand.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by BustedByMyWife

Ive been using a 3 prong adapter to eliminate hum for years. Never took a bolt of lightning (but i dont play in the rain or standing in water either * could be an issue if playing a gig in sri lanka). With my dell inspiron 6000's power supply, there is no hum and no need for an adapter, but u never know who wired the next building so I keep one or two on hand.

I hope you use surge protectors on your equipment for those unlikely lightning strikes.

[BustedByMyWife]

lightning strikes come in thru the ground so a surge protector is good for little more than multiple convenient outlets. there are better methods (expensive) which has to do with the wiring of the building. the best bet is insurance.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by BustedByMyWife

Ive been using a 3 prong adapter to eliminate hum for years. Never took a bolt of lightning (but i dont play in the rain or standing in water either * could be an issue if playing a gig in sri lanka). With my dell inspiron 6000's power supply, there is no hum and no need for an adapter, but u never know who wired the next building so I keep one or two on hand.

What if you are paying inside, it starts to rain, then it starts to thunder, and you are at a wedding, and someone is singing to the bride and groom's first dance as man and wife? Do you stop the show, or lose 20 grand. hate to say it, I'd stop the show, tell 'em to get married tomorrow. (Poor groom's got to wait one more night, too )

Now do you really wanna do that?

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by BustedByMyWife

lightning strikes come in thru the ground so a surge protector is good for little more than multiple convenient outlets. there are better methods (expensive) which has to do with the wiring of the building. the best bet is insurance.

Now that is a new one on me. I can't say I have ever seen lightning come in through the ground but I have seen it strike the wiring from the pole and surge protectors do help in that they will shunt large excessive voltage to the return/ground. If you are using a 3 prong adapter then the best point to use it is directly on the equipment line, not on the plug side of the Surge protector.