Ground loop issues....

[judas_beast]

Just setting up my kit in my new flat, plugged it all in and shock-horror there's a ****ing horrible humming coming from my monitors! It only happens when my laptop is plugged into the mains.

Bits of the set-up that concern it;

Dell core i3 laptop
Krk Rokit active monitors
Numark Dj/i-o sound card (soon to be upgraded)

What can I do? Really pissing me off this!

[curly]

Hey Judas

im not an expert, but are all the devices plugged into the same ring main, you could try and plug everything into the same 4way adaptor and see if that helps

[judas_beast]

yeah when everythings plugged into the same 4-way it still happens. Really annoying!

[morbid]

Try switching your wireless card off for a start - disable it - most laptops have a switch

Could be cheap usb cables between your soundcard and laptop

Could be your hard drive not grounded - I have the same issue with my shitty novation Nio soundcard and digital buzz that seems to be related to the HD motor

Try one of these

ART DTI Dual Transformer / Isolator | DV247 (http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/art-dti-dual-transformer-isolator--61016)

Or behringer do a cheaper one

Behringer MICROHD HD400 Ultra-Compact 2-Channel Hum Destroyer | DV247 (http://www.dv247.com/studio-equipment/behringer-microhd-hd400-ultra-compact-2-channel-hum-destroyer--32576)

No guarantees but I know a few people who have them and they work for them

[judas_beast]

cheers man - thing is ive never had issues with this soundcard before on my previous laptop with my last set of monitors - so it think its the laptop - as it only happens when the power cable in the laptop is on.

hopefully wireless off with sort it

[DannyBlack]

Have you tried with the laptop out of the equation? Allow it to run on the battery and everything else plugged in. It might be your gang socket too. they're really flimsy inside and the soldering job is never the best. I had similar issues so I bought a new one and it worked perfectly.

[morbid]

as Danny says, If you get no noise with your laptop unplugged and on battery then its your laptop adapter / charger for sure,

You can try using one of the ground loop devices on the outs of your soundcard to clean it up or live dangerously and take the ground wire out of the 13 amp plug on the end of your adapter - usually molded plugs though so need to rewire.

Lifting the ground is a shit solution though and I wouldnt recommend it

Dell sell Euro power leads (no internal ground) which you could use with an adaptor which might work

[judas_beast]

whoops, double post

yeah, its the laptop adapter thats the problem - and its a molded plug. i dont really wanna bugger about with it, so what are my options? would the euro lead work on Uk voltage?

[DannyBlack]

whoops, double post

yeah, its the laptop adapter thats the problem - and its a molded plug. i dont really wanna bugger about with it, so what are my options? would the euro lead work on Uk voltage?

You can get generic laptop cables off of ebay- I'd go with that. My missus had the same not so long ago, so we got her the generic one. Problem solved.

[teknorich]

Would something like this help?

Ground Loop Isolator : InCar Speakers : Maplin (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=33172)

(found on: http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85215 )

[Izz]

Would something like this help?

Ground Loop Isolator : InCar Speakers : Maplin (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=33172)

(found on: DC Hum Ground Loop - Going Insane! - NI User Forums (http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85215) )

I had the same prob as Judas, got one of those and it sorted it.

[ChubbyGibbon]

Have the same problem, will try one of these solutions. Thanks.

[qUE]

Sounds like something else in your place is current dumping and the earth ring is pants. This causes the power to resonate. I'd get an electrician to take a look at the circuit before something goes wrong because of it. Your landlord should have one on call, assuming you rent of course ;)

[Mattias_Fridell]

Hum is a common problem when it comes to laptops, theres a very easy solution though: Go buy a better power cable. Way better then to mess with isolators and stuff. I did this myself for my gig laptop and it saved me headache. Basically all laptops comes with shit cables, cheap ass manufacturers!