2. amps-preamps
  3. 1073696856

static electricity

I have found that when I walk across the room and touch my preamp, sometimes a tiny spark travels from my finger( static electricity) Nothing unusual in static electricty, but it produces a crackle sound in my speakers. The preamp is Audio Experience Mark II (all tube). IF I touch my amp ( Velleman 4040 tube) or CD player ( AMC CD6D TUbe) I never hear any crackle. Is this dangerous to the speakers, tubes or solid state circuits?? Should this happen? Hopefully one of you fellows with some engineering experience can help. All of the equipment has heavy duty, 3 prong, detachable power cords, and are plugged into a surge protector.
davros19
lugnut
1,190 posts
 
Hey, when you install the humidifier make sure you have a dedicated circuit. Just kidding. Another consideration if you install a humidifier is the quality of the water. If you have extremely hard water you WILL have a humidifier malfunction. Installing a water softener is the fix. Then you can get the dedicated ciruit. ;)
mburns92's avatar
mburns92
37 posts
 
I always get shocked by my car door, but I haven't noticed the spectral tilt.
davros19 OP
1 posts
 
Thanks for all the info!
megasam's avatar
megasam
798 posts
 
Very useful thread, along with other similar "shocking" one here recently. I had a minor intermittent problem recently with CDP and it turns out static electricity seems to have been the culprit during winter months when changing CDs often. (fully carpeted room)

I have now developed the habit of touching shelf or audio rack frame before touching CDP and problem has dissappeared. Other good ideas mentioned above.

Other thread mentions touching "Bounce" fabric softner sheet but this of course is aesthetically uncool. I got some dark grey foam rubber shelf liner that looks like net pattern. Cut small 6" x 6" pad and sprayed with Static Guard spray and put this under CDP, touch this first before CDP.....seems to also work well.
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