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Noise Goblin

I moved into a 44 year home three years ago and it still had the original electrical box.  I had an electrician put the outlet I use for my audio system on a separate circuit.  Even still I was getting some noise through my speakers and when my wife was using the hair dryer in our bedroom upstairs I would get a buzz through my stereo amplifier.

Fast forward:  I just had a brand new electrical box installed with the latest grounding etc.  My audio system is on a separate circuit.  Low and behold this morning I started to hear the buzz through the stereo amplifier again.  I ran upstairs and my wife was using the hair dryer.  I am still getting a slight noise through my speakers. When I turn the volume up the noise gets louder.  

I don't understand how this is occurring.  Not sure what to do.  Are there any electricians or others who have had this same issue on this forum who might have an idea what is going on and how to correct this issue?
thankful

Showing 2 responses by oldhvymec

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oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
What are you running as far as gear?

Are you running a voltage maintainer, cleaner?

Are you running digital and analogue?

Are you running your modems and digital stuff on the same circuit, as your analogue stuff?

Does the noise vary, go up and down with the volume?

Does it change (yo yo) when you move cables?

These answers will help a lot?

You said "Hair dryer", maybe you need to look at that circuit also. The hair dryer, and where it's plugged in. Fix the outlet, and the dryer, do those things come with a ground on the plug? I think they do... FIX it...
Maybe the ground and common at the dryer plug have a contact issue, not good enough, or not at all? Back to the main see if the hair dryer circuit even has a ground..

Simple stuff, loose connections, because of the dryer being used on the same plug all the time.. Change the outlet to a HD 20 amp plug, a tighter plug for the appliance.

Happy hunting..

Regards


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oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
OP, do you have another hair dryer, or something with a motor, you can plug in where the hair is plugged in. That will eliminate a funky hair dryer (though it may work great.)

I mean how often is that hair dryer on? Could it be just a noisy hair dryer, AND high gain on your TT, like Erik said.

Then for good measure move all the STUFF with motors, SMPS, goofy Christmas lights, cell phone charger, all the STUFF, to one rail in the main and your stereo on the other. Unplug the house and start plugging back in.

I’ve done it, a cell phone charger, and leds took me a while to figure out, but both made some noise that drove me crazy... I unplugged the hole house. The LEDs in my security system box were the problem.

I upgraded the SMPS charger to the cell phone and the CP to 4k or something like that. An installer for the security company, gave me the tip. ZERO floor noise. The second noise was a cable box PS, it took a ground loop device to kill the noise. I tried a few different ones. Just noisy.

EVERY other noise I’ve had, routing, takes care of it.. No cables touch each other, and there is at least 1/2 inch between them..Cross at 90s and still no touching...

Get yourself a new hair dryer for Christmas? :-)

Regards
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