GROUNDING - assistance on how NOT to shock yourself
I live in Wisconsin. In winter the static buildup comes out when I lift the turntable needle. Even though I know it's coming it remains SHOCKING. I'd hate to damage my cartridge.
Can I attach a wire to the Pre-amp ground and touch it to remove my static?
Do I need to wear rubber sole shoes? or have a rubber mat?
Help on this would be appreciated.
Well, you can add some humidity in a variety of ways, by putting a pan of water on a hot surface. Not your amps, of course, but if you have radiant heat or something like that. The mats DO work, just not sure what the discharge rate is. They are designed for technicians who are sitting at the mats while they work. Not really meant for quick zap fixes. :D |
OP: I just thought of something. Maybe a static discharge mat like these would work for you? They offer a high impedance path to ground, so it may take a few seconds to dissipate a static charge you build up. Not honestly sure how well they’d work in your situation, but certainly would prevent the pain. Another alternative is a metal key. The large surface area of the key means you don’t discharge from 1 point, making it less painful. |
I’d discourage you from using your gear as a ground path. You may have several pieces of gear that are already grounded, and when you walk across the rug you build up a charge. The problem is that the discharge can induce a pop or surge inside your components. If you want a painless solution I’d suggest adding humidity to your listening room. Otherwise, get yourself a grounding station by using a 3 prong plug and wire only the center ground pin. Of course, before doing even that I'd always suggest using a 3 prong outlet tester to ensure the outlet is wired correctly. :) |
