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Dan
 
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Default Power Circuit Noise?

Hi,

I just started to hear power circuit noise on my PC speaker system. If
I turn on my paper shredder, I can hear it on my PC speaker system. Do
I have a ground issue? How can I fix this?

Thanks,
Dan
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Dave Platt
 
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Hi,

I just started to hear power circuit noise on my PC speaker system. If
I turn on my paper shredder, I can hear it on my PC speaker system. Do
I have a ground issue? How can I fix this?


It might be an issue with the ground. It might also be a problem with
the hot or neutral connnections on your circuit.

No way to tell for sure at a distance.

I would suggest having a competent licensed technician check out your
wiring. If you've got a loose wire somewhere in the walls (at an
outlet or circuit breaker) or have a circuit breaker going bad, this
could create a very real shock or fire hazard.

If you're seeing odd signs, such as a light getting *brighter* when
your fridge starts up or you turn on another appliance (rather than
getting *dimmer*), or if any of your appliances have started running
slower than usual, I'd suggest calling the electric company. These
can be symptoms of an "open neutral", and the resulting low and high
voltages can damage things in the house. [We had this happen a couple
of months ago, when a squirrel chewed through the neutral wire right
near the power pole.]


--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!
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Barry Mann
 
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In , on 05/13/05
at 01:05 AM, Dan said:

I just started to hear power circuit noise on my PC speaker system.
If I turn on my paper shredder, I can hear it on my PC speaker
system. Do I have a ground issue? How can I fix this?


Dave and Steve's advice is reasonable.

Have you changed anything?

Sometimes the quality of computer speakers and shredder motors are
dreadfully low and such problems are expected.

Are there any other symptoms beyond the computer speakers? If you use
an antenna for your TV, how is the TV picture? Can you see any
interference when the shredder runs?

Tune an AM portable radio between stations at the upper end of the band
and run the shredder. Is the radio upset? If so, move the shredder to
another circuit and listen to the radio again. Same results? If so, the
shredder has a problem. If not, there is something odd about the
original circuit (and we can't give the shredder a clean bill of
health). If you purchased the lowest price possible surge protector
outlet strip, the technology could be taking it's revenge. Cheap (less
than about $20.00) outlet strips don't protect much.

In general, as you walk around listening to your radio, spots where the
noise seems concentrated are "interesting". The spot could be near the
primary source (bad motor, bad connection) of the noise or a weak spot
in the system that should be evaluated.

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Steve Urbach
 
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On Sat, 14 May 2005 01:33:38 GMT, Dan wrote:

When I get the AM radio. Should I plug it into AC power or run on battery?

Run it on battery.
Tune BETWEEN stations where the AGC circuit allows maximum RF gain.
Determine where the Ferrite loopstick is located in the radio,
(usually in the top and horizontal).
Hold the radio with your hands as far away from the loopstick as
possible.
The sides of the radio are the pickup direction. rotate/tilt the radio
twoard suspected noise sources and listen. Move about, when you rotate
for peak noise, does the edge point toward the the same item?
Remember, the pickup is off both edges, that is why circling is best
to locate the noise. Remember to tilt up for ovrhead sources like gas
discharge light fixtures, utility pole insulators (or dow if on a
upper storey).
I found bad utility pole insulators that were messing up my TV picture
that way (BTW they will normally make noise in foggy/moist weather).

Where do the speakers get their power?
Plug a set of headphones into the sound card, carefully test levels
before placing over your ears. What do you hear that way?
Plug the speakers into a Walkman type device (on battery, preffered),
What happens?

Tracking noise by remote G is difficult.
, _
, | \ MKA: Steve Urbach
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Barry Mann
 
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In , on 05/14/05
at 03:41 AM, Steve Urbach said:

I found bad utility pole insulators that were messing up my TV picture


How long did it take the power utility to own the problem? My father
had that problem. It took me months to convince him to walk the block
with his radio. After he identified the poles, the utility dragged its
heals for another few months until my dad organized a neighborhood
"call-in". Eventually, they brought around their special diagnostic
van, scanned the neighborhood, then replaced most of the insulators on
the block.

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13 (Barry Mann)
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