How Can I Eliminate Humming Sound?

[GwenButler]

I have a Ruggedized Laptop™ Computer With Video Hoster® Software and have finally identified my power adapter as the source for the humming sound that is, always present, more noticeable when music stops.
When I unplug my power adapter from my PC the noise stops immediately.

Any advice/suggestions greatly appreciated.

GB

[ddouglass]

Actually it is not the power adapter but the power source (Electrical Outlet). You problem is a floating ground. As a temporary fix get a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter. That eliminates the hum from the ground. This not the best way to fix this but it is a quick way to prevent it.
If this is at a club you are playing at see if they can get the plugs fixed in the stage area or Radio Shack sells a device to protect against this problem (someone else will have to tell you what it is called....I don't remember).

[Lonman]

Actually a REALLY safe way to eliminate the ground hum without actually eliminating it is the ebtech.com hum eliminator. No losing ground wire sources.

[billyo]

you can get a hum elliminator from radio shack for $15.00 dollars, or the one from ebtech for $60.00, i have both of them, a found that the one from radio schack is easier to work with, just plug your laptop cable to it and them plug the hum elliminator to the power source, and also ebtech sells a hum elliminator for your mixing board too, they have 1 or 2 channels..you can choose from.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by billyo

you can get a hum elliminator from radio shack for $15.00 dollars, or the one from ebtech for $60.00, i have both of them, a found that the one from radio schack is easier to work with, just plug your laptop cable to it and them plug the hum elliminator to the power source, and also ebtech sells a hum elliminator for your mixing board too, they have 1 or 2 channels..you can choose from.

Billy do you know what the item from Radio Shack is actually called? Searching for a hum eliminator doesn't come up with anything.

[GwenButler]

Your timely responses greatly appreciated!

GB

[billyo]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

Billy do you know what the item from Radio Shack is actually called? Searching for a hum eliminator doesn't come up with anything.

i think its actually called ground noise supressor

[muzicman144]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

Actually it is not the power adapter but the power source (Electrical Outlet). You problem is a floating ground. As a temporary fix get a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter. That eliminates the hum from the ground. This not the best way to fix this but it is a quick way to prevent it.
If this is at a club you are playing at see if they can get the plugs fixed in the stage area or Radio Shack sells a device to protect against this problem (someone else will have to tell you what it is called....I don't remember).

It is called a ground loop isolator, about $16.00 Radio Shack. Humtech does the same at about $50.00
muzicman

[GwenButler]

I am unable to post anything--please help! I am having the following problem:


I have a Ruggedized Laptop™ Computer With Video Hoster® Software, and just had my first paying gig. (Thanks again to everyone who helped out by answering my many pre-gig questions!) At the onset of the gig I had a MAJOR humming sound problem that seemed to be caused by my brand-new amplifier (Crown XLS 202 DJ XLS202Dw/200 watts in each channel at 8 ohms).

My Crown amp was working perfectly fine when it was at my home, however, after being transported less than 5 miles away a horrible humming sound kicked in. . After quite a bit of troubleshooting (component to component wires, speakers wires, laptop wires, etc.) I gave up. Luckily a spare amp was available. After replacing the Crown AMP with a (over 20 year old) Audionic of Oregon CC-2 APM (117 VAC 60 HZ 4 AMP Bridge Mono CHA 80 OHM MIN) the problem went away, however, the output sound was no where as good as when I was home. After the gig I went home to engage the Crown AMP and everything worked perfectly.

Just wondering if the establishment’s power source could have been the problem as the performance took place in a newly added building addition that had numerous Keno machines, flat screen TVs mounted on the walls and a juke box.

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

Gwen

[marklwood]

Originally Posted by GwenButler

Just wondering if the establishment’s power source could have been the problem as the performance took place in a newly added building addition that had numerous Keno machines, flat screen TVs mounted on the walls and a juke box.

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

Gwen

I can almost guarantee it.
There is a problem with the ground. The ground, just like water, takes the path of least resistance. If your amp is closer, it will act as the ground. The older amp just may be a little more tolerant of the problem. Geat a ground loop isolator. They are cheap enough at Radio Shack to be a no-brainer.

[GwenButler]

Thanks for all the advice/support!

GB