How Can I Eliminate Humming Sound?

[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

[ddouglass]

Gwen, are you getting the hum when it is just the laptop (internal speakers) or are you getting it when you have the laptop plugged into your sound system (mixer, amp etc)?
And the Radio Shack item is called a Ground Loop Isolator. I finally found it on there website. Those will help when plugged into your sound system.
Another thing that can help is to make sure all your system items including the laptop are plugged into the same circuit.

[captnkarl]

I had the same problem and the answer I got was "get a 3prong to 2 prong thingy"...That worked great and have used it since. If you unplug your power supply to the laptop, that will eliminate it also (battery won't last for a whole show). I doubt that it is the club because I had it at every club and in my house and I know that everything is grounded right in the house because I wired it myself. Dell told me that unless lightning strikes the club I will be fine running the way I do now.

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by captnkarl

I had the same problem and the answer I got was "get a 3prong to 2 prong thingy"...That worked great and have used it since.

Karl,
I know using the 3 to 2 prong adapter lifts the ground and works but eliminating your ground completely puts your gear in danger. They are good for a quick fix or to locate a hum/buzz but the Ground Loop Isolator is the cheapest SAFE way to get rid of the hum that I know of.

Just trying to help.

Jim

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by captnkarl

I had the same problem and the answer I got was "get a 3prong to 2 prong thingy"...That worked great and have used it since. If you unplug your power supply to the laptop, that will eliminate it also (battery won't last for a whole show). I doubt that it is the club because I had it at every club and in my house and I know that everything is grounded right in the house because I wired it myself. Dell told me that unless lightning strikes the club I will be fine running the way I do now.

So do you shut down the show if there is lightning in the area? Did Dell also tell you that your warranty will not cover that damage?
Just because it does it at every club does not mena that it still isn't their ground setup. Lowes, Home Depot, etc. all sell a simple small 3 prong tester that will tell you if their outlets are correctly wired.
Another thing that can cause this is if all of your equipment is not on the same circuit in the building. Such as using powered speakers spred out across the room. If the circuits are not all grounded to the same buss bar in the panel there is a potential for a difference in the two separate grounds which will read as a voltage across them.
When you go to strictly battery on the laptop you now are using straight DC voltage with no AC voltage present. AC voltage in this country uses a 60HZ (cycles per minute) sine wave signal to carry the voltage to whatever item is plugged in. The sine wave signal is what causes the hum.

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by captnkarl

I had the same problem and the answer I got was "get a 3prong to 2 prong thingy"...That worked great and have used it since. If you unplug your power supply to the laptop, that will eliminate it also (battery won't last for a whole show). I doubt that it is the club because I had it at every club and in my house and I know that everything is grounded right in the house because I wired it myself. Dell told me that unless lightning strikes the club I will be fine running the way I do now.

Yes they work, but is also dangerous, I could care less about the equipment, but to the human that is operating it. Something spikes & there is no ground prong /wire to default to, it could shoot back through your system & straight to the person holding the mic - they are now the ground. And if it doesn't kill them, they are going to suing the person who removed that ground prong while they are recovering.
Just something to think about, doesn't happen often, but yes it can & does happen, do you really want to risk it?
There are plenty of SAFE ways to remove a ground, sure they cost a bit more, but will keep the ground completely intact while completely eliminating the hum!

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by Lonman

I could care less about the equipment, but to the human that is operating it.

I was thinking this but it didn't come out in my post, moving too fast again. Thanks for the back up Lonnie. The "Fear Of Frying" is something we should allways keep in mind.

Jim

[marklwood]

I would like to add to Lonmans explanation. In my experience, the weakest link in a bar situation is all the neon transformers. They are not like most usual electrical equipment in other situations. The transformers in these normally carry 100,000 volts or more and are prone to premature failure. They can fail gracefully or quite spectacularly taking all that is electrically connected (including anyone acting as a ground) with them. While there is not much amperage, it can, and has caused death. This is typical voltage of a taser. While not normally fatal, read the news. How many deaths by taser have we read about lately.

[Eric Whitehouse]

My singers are getting used to performing under these conditions, since I purchased my 5' long cattle prodder.

No seriously the ground loop isolator is the safest cheapest option I know of.
Don't risk removing the earth