2. amps-preamps
  3. 1133926640

I'm SHOCKED literally .

I put a couple of new components in, and generally shuffled things around in my system last night - and after listening for a couple of hours today - got SERIOUSLY zapped (it was audible) as I touched the Volume knob on the preamp to turn it down. There was some kind of charge build up, and it took a while to drain it all down - I had to (gingerly) touch the knob a couple more times and then hold it until the charge was drained off. My finger still hurts!

This has never happened before - so it's not static from my rug or something. I'll be doing some careful testing tonight, but in the meantime - Any ideas what could cause this???

Possible explanatory variables:

---The "new" items were the preamp (tube) itself, the processor which connects through the Pre's Tape loop, and a Granite Audio power cord with toroidal noise filters at each end connecting the Pre to a surge protector (temporarily). The surge protector has been in use elsewhere with no trouble.

---The new processor is a two prong plug - Polarity?

Tonight I will try running a couple of hours with the processor unplugged and the Tape Monitor OFF to see if I have the same problem. Or if any other equipment has the charge buildup.

Any ideas? Is there a plausible explanation without there being an actual equipment problem?

opalchip

Showing 1 response by opalchip

opalchip OP
355 posts
 
Thanks for all the suggestions so far - I'm pretty sure it wasn't static, since this has never happened before and my room has been the same for 5 years. The processor has a simple two-prong plug and I reversed it's polarity in the outlet then tried to recreate the situation again and couldn't. So somehow, it may have been that.

I'm going to test the equipment chassis' to see if there is any slight current flow going on. But for now, I'll just have to be careful. Or I'll just ask my wife to change the volume - she's the one who always wants it lowered anyway!
More to discover