Buzzing Sound

[OllieJames]

Hey Guys,

I'm supplying some lighting and a sound system for my aunties garden party in August. I wanted to use my laptop, as this has many songs on, and it would enable me to make playlists for different genres.

I plugged my laptop into my Mackie Mixer, and there was this horrible buzzing sound whilst the laptop was plugged into 'the wall', however when i unplugged it from the wall, the buzzing went.

Am i right in saying this is called something like a ground loop? And this can be fixed by buying something?

Thanks

Ollie

[DJWilson]

May it be the lead from your laptop to your mixer?

[Jiggles]

Do a search as this has been done to a death! You need a ground loop isolator from Maplins or other sources.

[djdarren]

yip its a ground loop problem...

bet its using a 3 pin plug at the psu that looks like a clover leaf.... no idea why as the unit is double insulated meaning it does not require an earth connection but there is one there and will be connected to the negative rail on the other side creating a hummmm

an easy way to fix this issue is to cut the 3pin mains plug off and fit a new one without connecting the earth wire.... as i said its perfectly fine to do so as the psu will be double insulated and therefore not req, it will even pass a pat test as the unit does not require a earth bond

[OllieJames]

Thanks for your replies!

I'l check out maplins for one of the isolaters.

Thanks

Ollie

[Excalibur]

Maplins,

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=ground%20loop&source=15&SD=Y

Ebay, you pays your money............................................. ..
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GROUND-LOOP-ISOLATOR-G-PLATED-CONNECT-REMOVE-AUDIO-HUM_W0QQitemZ310068451980QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item3 10068451980&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

[HaiFai]

yip its a ground loop problem...

bet its using a 3 pin plug at the psu that looks like a clover leaf.... no idea why as the unit is double insulated meaning it does not require an earth connection but there is one there and will be connected to the negative rail on the other side creating a hummmm

an easy way to fix this issue is to cut the 3pin mains plug off and fit a new one without connecting the earth wire.... as i said its perfectly fine to do so as the psu will be double insulated and therefore not req, it will even pass a pat test as the unit does not require a earth bond

Just on a caution side NEVER cut out the earth connection-It's there for a reason!!!!!

[good vibrations]

I had the same problem with my laptop and Mackie Mixer the ground loop isolator from Maplins did the trick

[JAMdisco]

I plugged my laptop into my Mackie Mixer, and there was this horrible buzzing sound

you checked it for Bees? :p