[ddots-l] Re: getting shocked by equipment in home studio, any suggestions?

  • From: "Nick Dotson" <nickdotson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:16:08 -0500

Alex Harvey's brother got killed by an improper earth ground live on stage in 
the 60's.  It really isn't something to play around with.  If you've got two 
pieces of equipment grounded at different potential and touch one with one hand 
and the other with the other hand, the path between goes through your heart.  
Not fun!

Nick


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: George Bell 
  To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 8:10 PM
  Subject: [ddots-l] Re: getting shocked by equipment in home studio, any 
suggestions?


  Hi Cameron,

  I don't know anything about electrical regulations in America (which is where 
I assume you are based), but here in the U.K. we have very strict rules, 
especially with rented property.

  Here, part of the leasing agreement between landlord and tenant includes a 
mandatory electrical safety certificate, which is renewable after a given 
period of time.

  Given the culture in America for suing anyone who as much as looks sideways 
at you with the wrong expression on his or her face, I'd be very inclined to 
request an electrical safety check.  It is clear that the owner of the property 
should be replacing these bad outlets, if only because they could be a fire 
risk.

  Sorry, but where mains electricity is concerned, nobody can afford to take 
chances.  It can be a killer, even at 110 Volts AC, and can additionally carry 
a charge of manslaughter on the grounds of negligence.

  And I make no apologies if I sound alarmist!

  Get it checked out by a qualified electrician!

  George.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of Cameron
  Sent: 19 September 2009 00:13
  To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Subject: [ddots-l] getting shocked by equipment in home studio, any 
suggestions?


  Hi all.  I have a problem, hopefully someone can give me some suggestions or 
shed some light on why this is happening.

   

  The apartment complex I'm living in now was built in the early sixties I 
believe.  The outlets are not very good, worn out, you can't plug anything into 
the top of any of them because it just falls out.  You can only plug things 
into the bottom plug.

   

  Anyways, when I was using my FW1884, I didn't notice any issues with anything 
except for noise because I am on a dirty circuit/loop being shared by all sorts 
of appliances and god knows what else.  

   

  My current setup is now my ADK rack mount machine, Motu896 MKIII firewire 
interface, and BCF2000 control surface, which is all plugged into a power 
conditioner.

   

  I started doing some tracking with my new gear for a new job this week and 
whenever I used a mic that required phantom power, as soon as the mic was 
plugged into the interface, I would get shocked if I touched anything metal 
that was plugged into the conditioner, including the mic itself computer, 
control surface, interface, etc, .  It's not enough to cause damage, but it is 
unplesent and is enough of a jolt to make you quickly stop touching whatever 
control you're touching.

   

  This happens even when the phantom power is switched off for every channel on 
the interface.  I found out this afternoon that it also happens with dynamic 
mics too.

   

  As soon as all mics are unplugged, everything is fine.

   

  My power conditioner doesn't appear to have a ground lift switch.  Is this 
the issue?  Is there anything I can do to remedy this?  I've got 5 months of 
writing and recording ahead and I really don't want to be freaking shocked 
every time I touch my gear!

   

  I'm going to make this issue known to the apartment manager on Monday but I 
really doubt they will understand what I'm talking about, or give a damn for 
that matter.

   

  Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

   

  Thanks,

   

  Cameron. 



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