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NYR 56
join:2000-12-05
Smithtown, NY
clubs:
| Ground Loop? Whenever I connect my laptop to my TV, there is an electrical humming noise on the TV speakers. This is stopped as soon as I disconnect the power plug to my laptop. It sounds like a ground loop type problem but both devices are in the same outlet. That said, the TV isn't grounded and only the power brick on the laptop has 3 prongs, the laptop itself isn't really grounded. It's really annoying, does anyone have any solutions to stop this? Thanks. | |
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ArthurS
Watch Those Blinking Lights
Premium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON
| Re: Ground Loop? This is a result of the computer manufacturer using the cheapest possible design for your laptop power supply.
And yes, your laptop *is* grounded if there are 3 prongs on the AC plug! What makes you think it isn't grounded?
Describe how you're hooking up your laptop to the TV. | |
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NYR 56
join:2000-12-05
Smithtown, NY
clubs:
| Re: Ground Loop? The plug going into the laptop is only two wires (I believe) so how is that grounded? They make another power brick that doesn't even have the third prong but I stuck with the one that did.
It is connected to the TV using an s-video cable and a 1/8" headphone jack to RCA cable for the audio. I believe the problem is coming from the audio cable. | |
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ArthurS
Watch Those Blinking Lights
Premium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON
| Re: Ground Loop? said by NYR 56  :The plug going into the laptop is only two wires (I believe) so how is that grounded? Simple, the output of the AC adapter is DC current, with one connection going to the chassis ground in the laptop, the other being positive voltage. The other power brick with only 2 prongs uses the neutral for the "ground" connection. No free lunch in either regard, you'll still have the same problem that comes as a result of the computer manufacturer being "cheap".
said by NYR 56 :It is connected to the TV using an s-video cable and a 1/8" headphone jack to RCA cable for the audio. I believe the problem is coming from the audio cable. Unplug the audio cable while the S-Video cable is still hooked up to the TV. If the buzz goes away, then the problem lies with the audio cable. If it's just the audio cable connection that is producing the noise, then I suggest you try one of these devices or something similar:
»www.jensentransformers.com/ci2rr.html
If the TV still buzzes with the S-Video connection maintained, then you'll need one of these devices or similar as well:
»www.jensentransformers.com/datas···h1ss.pdf
Otherwise, get a better built computer that doesn't cause interference with your TV set. | |
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NYR 56
join:2000-12-05
Smithtown, NY
clubs:
| Re: Ground Loop? Good to know about the grounding, I totally forget it was switching over to DC (duh).
I guess I'll have to get one of those. The laptop was a fairly expensive business line Dell so you'd think it'd be of decent quality, kind of annoying it isn't. | |
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ArthurS
Watch Those Blinking Lights
Premium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON | Re: Ground Loop? Yeah, disappointing but not surprising from Dell. You could try a third party universal AC adapter with your laptop to see if the problem goes away, though I wouldn't have high hopes that Dell didn't "cheapen" their audio output section either. | |
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IllIlIlllIll
EliteData
Premium
join:2003-07-06
Lindenhurst, NY
4 edits | just get one of these, dont connnect the ground and use it on the laptop before whatever amount of current passing through both devices damages either device.
just dont stand barefoot on concrete (if youre in a basement) you will get a shock.
there is obviously some voltage passing through and im willing to bet its coming from a cable tv line that is poorly grounded and seeking its ground through the common connection all the way through the tv, through the computer, then through the computers power supply then to the grounding plug on the cord of the power supply.
the idea here is to create "isolation".
if there is voltage coming in, just isolate that voltage from seeking ground by eliminating its return path (ground on the laptop adapter).
edit spelling.
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ArthurS
Watch Those Blinking Lights
Premium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON
| Re: Ground Loop? said by IllIlIlllIll :just get one of these, dont connnect the ground and use it on the laptop before whatever amount of current passing through both devices damages either device. just dont stand barefoot on concrete (if youre in a basement) you will get a shock. Why are you recommending using an adapter against it's intended purpose? The only reason to use such an adapter is to establish a ground in a receptacle that doesn't have one! This kind of advise is dangerous, so dangerous that some jurisdictions have outright banned the sale of these adapters because of the abuse you mention above! Don't defeat the safety ground on any powered device! Do not pass go, do not collect $200!!!!! 
said by IllIlIlllIll :there is obviously some voltage passing through and im willing to bet its coming from a cable tv line that is poorly grounded and seeking its ground through the common connection all the way through the tv, through the computer, then through the computers power supply then to the grounding plug on the cord of the power supply. the idea here is to create "isolation". if there is voltage coming in, just isolate that voltage from seeking ground by eliminating its return path (ground on the laptop adapter). edit spelling. Sounds like a band-aid solution to fix a symptom at the expense of a person's safety!  | |
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IllIlIlllIll
EliteData
Premium
join:2003-07-06
Lindenhurst, NY
| Re: Ground Loop? while i concur with your statement....
in the meantime, while the persons tv and computer begin the slow process of damage from a small amount of current passing through them, who is going to acknowledge and fix the hazardous problem in a timely manner ?
the cable company ?
the electric company ?
you know they will both blame each other for the problem and it will drag on until either of the persons devices are severly damaged as a result, and then the person will look to blame one company or the other.
i think the best sugggestion would be to give the cable company a call, since that is more than likely where the problem lies.
but be prepared for a fight with them acknowledging the issue and having it corrected in a timely manner.
in the meantime, i see no harm in using the device i suggested as a means to prevent further damage to the electronic equipment until the issue is resolved.
should his electronic equipment/computer get severely damaged as a result of not using the device, i wish the person lots of luck attempting to get compensated from either the electric company or cable company, as we all know, filing a claim with either company, the paperwork, estimates, time it takes to be compensated, and the irrelevant fighting between the two trying to blame each other and not acknowledging the issue exists, makes the idea of using the device i suggested alot easier - for the time being.
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ArthurS
Watch Those Blinking Lights
Premium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON
| Re: Ground Loop? said by IllIlIlllIll :while i concur with your statement.... in the meantime, while the persons tv and computer begin the slow process of damage from a small amount of current passing through them, who is going to acknowledge and fix the hazardous problem in a timely manner ? the cable company ? the electric company ? you know they will both blame each other for the problem and it will drag on until either of the persons devices are severly damaged as a result, and then the person will look to blame one company or the other. i think the best sugggestion would be to give the cable company a call, since that is more than likely where the problem lies. but be prepared for a fight with them acknowledging the issue and having it corrected in a timely manner. in the meantime, i see no harm in using the device i suggested as a means to prevent further damage to the electronic equipment until the issue is resolved. should his electronic equipment/computer get severely damaged as a result of not using the device, i wish the person lots of luck attempting to get compensated from either the electric company or cable company, as we all know, filing a claim with either company, the paperwork, estimates, time it takes to be compensated, and the irrelevant fighting between the two trying to blame each other and not acknowledging the issue exists, makes the idea of using the device i suggested alot easier - for the time being. That's *assuming* that the problem lies with the cable company! Have we determined whether this is the problem? I'm doubting it since the OP hasn't mentioned any other problems with his home theatre. Unfortunately I have seen plenty of these problems caused by noisy laptop power supplies and poorly designed audio sections of laptops. I encounter it way too often, no cable feeds anywhere close to the systems in question. The safest and most effective way to eliminate this problem is through the use of an audio and/or video isolation transformer, or using better components that are not susceptible to such problems.
So are you suggesting the OP take a risk of conducting the ground loop current through their body by lifting the AC ground of the device in question? I can tell you that in the many years I have worked in professional audio, working with very complex systems where ground current can be easily conducted over wiring/devices hundreds of feet apart, I have yet to find a device damaged as a result of said ground current. Why? Because the AC ground eliminates that potential! Think about it! Too often people reach for this crazy ground lift adapter, I cringe when I see the hi-futility industry offer such crazy solutions to consumers that should know better!
Perhaps you should read this article before offering dangerous (and in some jurisdictions, illegal) advice:
»www.jensen-transformers.com/an/an004.pdf | |
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IllIlIlllIll
EliteData
Premium
join:2003-07-06
Lindenhurst, NY | Re: Ground Loop? ok master.
you win.
end of discussion.
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