Laptop Noise

[wayne128]

Hi, Been on laptop for a couple of months doing disco at my local pub
the last couple of weeks i've noticed a noise going on all night at about 20 second intervals a digital sound in the background nobody has noticed yet but it is definately there it is as if you can hear the laptop or external hard drive processing, data
anyway if you understand what i'm going on about can you help me to fix the problem thanks, Wayne :bang:

[Paul James Promotions]

Hi Wayne,

Firstly welcome to the forum. Please feel free to introduce yourself in the 'Newbies' area :D

To answer your question, you will probrably cure the problem by using a Ground Loop Isolator. This filters out most unwanted noise.

Regards

Jamie

[wayne128]

Thanks Jamie i will introduce myself as soon as i can think what to put, been reading with interest all the threads i can find for the last month or so
ok back to my problem can you tell me what a ground loop isolator is and where i could find one thanks again

[leighinstoke]

Available from Maplins for about £20 each.

Leigh....

[axeman]

or using an extension lead with the earth removed at the plug. (i always keep one in my kit bag as this is a very common problem) i use it only for my laptop and nothing else !! and have written laptop use only with marker pen accross it...

[Jiggles]

or using an extension lead with the earth removed at the plug. (i always keep one in my kit bag as this is a very common problem) i use it only for my laptop and nothing else !! and have written laptop use only with marker pen accross it...


That wouldent pass PAT!!!!:) :)

[wayne128]

Thank you i've found one on Ebay it's on the way

[leighinstoke]

Also makes little difference as, even though there is an earth pin, most laptop power supplies are double insulated and often don't utilise the earth.

Leigh....

[axeman]

hi leigh, it makes a massive difference, i've been using it for over 2 years now, in some venues/pubs the lap top when amplified, buzzed in time with the lights, or even the fridge in one place, or when working with a band it would buzz with their lights too, and at higher volumes it was very noticeable, but with the earth isolated it immediataly stopped. In an ideal world the solution is to buy a ground loop isolater, but in an emergency (in the real world) this is one other way out of a sticky situation !!

[Paul James Promotions]

I wouldn't want to be disconnecting an earth from any electrical item or cable, regardless of whether it was double insulated or not.

[Danno13]

I'd also invest in a decent external soundcard rather than using the internal one.. this can often get rid of the hum and will sound better.

[Steve 'B']

I wouldn't want to be disconnecting an earth from any electrical item or cable, regardless of whether it was double insulated or not.

I would not want to diconnect much in the way of safety when my lights cost about £1000 each eh Jamie!!

[sleah]

I'd also invest in a decent external soundcard rather than using the internal one.. this can often get rid of the hum and will sound better.

It will only get rid of hum if the outputs are isolated, which is unlikely, but possible. You're right that it will sound better!
I bought a MAYA44 USB which is fairly top quality card for disco use and it sounds way better than the internal sound or el-cheapo type.
It did buzz like hell at first, but I had an older HP PSU without an earth which stopped the buzz completely.
Ground loop isolators are the only option otherwise.
Funny how lappys seem to suffer rather than desktops. Must be because a lappy has poor shielding and PSU regulation in comparison.

Simon

[CRAZY K]

That wouldent pass PAT!!!!:) :)

I would say you are wrong on that.

I have a lead for my Cortex which the dealer deliberately took out the earth on to cut out earth looping.

They said its still ok for PAT.

CRAZY K

[Jiggles]

They said its still OK for PAT.

CRAZY K


Not what my Local Electrician said to me!!!

when i said i was gonna do it to my laptop!

[DMX Will]

I would say you are wrong on that.

I have a lead for my Cortex which the dealer deliberately took out the earth on to cut out earth looping.

They said its still ok for PAT.

CRAZY K


Not what my Local Electrician said to me!!!

when i said i was gonna do it to my laptop!

It depends on the class of the item. If the item is a class 2 item, it doesn't get tested for earth bondage.

[Danno13]

Surely anything with metal casing must have the earth connected..

Not sure about laptops though, since the mains current only goes as far as the transformer.

[DMX Will]

Surely anything with metal casing must have the earth connected..

Not sure about laptops though, since the mains current only goes as far as the transformer.

Most laptops are plastic though. I'm not sure of the ins and outs of it all though. DC Operated (ie laptops) are still PAT tested though, so you would have thought they would be class 2.

As I said i dont really know 100% what im talking about.

[Danno13]

Sorry.. should have made it clear. My first comment was in relation to the cortex apparently passing PAT with no earth, as i'm pretty sure thats a metal unit.

[leighinstoke]

After all this.....please....take some advice - try a £20 Ground Loop Isolator from Maplin - you can always get a refund if it doesn't work....

Leigh....

[DMX Will]

After all this.....please....take some advice - try a £20 Ground Loop Isolator from Maplin - you can always get a refund if it doesn't work....

Leigh....

He's already said hes got one from ebay :)

[leighinstoke]

He's already said hes got one from ebay :)

Cool! :D

[axeman]

I didnt at any point say disconnecct the earth from any metal object or £1000lights, what i said was, a simple plastic extension type plug and socket available for £5 from almost anywhere in the world, with the earth isolated (cut) the easiest way to do this is open the plug end and loosen the screw from the earth wire, remove the earth wire and insulate it !! easy peasy lemon squeezy, keep said item in kit bag/flight case... - i know you are all trying to help but lets not complicate things anymore.

[sleah]

axemans suggestion is about best BUT only use for a single item in an emergency. Lift the earth from your entire sound system and you'll bloody know about it!!!!
In practice, lifting an earth from ONE item isn't necessarily as bad as it could be, providing all the other items are up to spec and all interconnections are good.
E.g. If the earth is lifted on a mixer, the cables from the amp will earth the mixer via the ground on the audio plugs. Not ideal, but enough so you don't feel the leakage through your fingers!
Of course as everyone has said, a very last minute emergency solution.

Curious how Denon CD players only have a 2 core mains cable??????
(well, older models, dunno about current ones)

Simon