OUCH!!!! - Page 2

mrokern · #21 07-15-2008, 06:26 AM

Gaaa! First off, some good intentions around here, but potentially lethal advice. NEVER DISCONNECT THE AC GROUND ON AMPS OR ON PA GEAR!!!! NO EXCEPTIONS! EVER! That's how people die.

Yeah, I know "everyone does it." It's still wrong, it can still kill you.

Step 1: Get an electrician to check the wiring up there!

Step 2: Get the entire band plugged into the same grounding path as the PA, or at least the same grounding path as the console that your mic connects to. If the church has the electrician come out for step 1, that would be a good time to take care of step 2 if some circuits need to be moved around. In a perfect world, all of the PA should be plugged into the same grounding path...but being in the same path as the nearest console will at least keep you from becoming a living light bulb.

If your gear is plugged into the same ground path as the nearest (in the signal path) console, then there won't be any difference in the ground potential between your gear and your mic...which means you get to live to play another gig.

-Mark

EADG mx · #22 07-15-2008, 02:19 PM

Anything in the bible about piercings?

Seriously though not a laughing matter, +1 on getting the place inspected by a qualified electrician. I have been shocked by a mic before, never had a piercing in my life - if that helps.

fourstringdrums · #23 07-15-2008, 02:28 PM

This happened to my guitarist at rehearsal a few weeks back (no lip ring). I forget exactly but I think he said it was one of his extension cords.

Psychotic_Hell · #24 07-16-2008, 02:39 AM

GG for you!

I can remember i did that when i was practicing in my room to some music (metallica i think), and before i put my Ipod down, i felt a massive shock through my fingers!
I didn't even have my Ipod's power plugged in so it must of come off my strings! but my bass was (and is) Passive!?!?

I am much more cautious when i play now

mrokern · #25 07-16-2008, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psychotic_Hell

GG for you!

I can remember i did that when i was practicing in my room to some music (metallica i think), and before i put my Ipod down, i felt a massive shock through my fingers!
I didn't even have my Ipod's power plugged in so it must of come off my strings! but my bass was (and is) Passive!?!?

I am much more cautious when i play now

Active / passive, no difference. If there's a path to ground through your strings, and a path to ground through something else at different potential, and you happen to be touching both when there's electricity present...bzzzpppt.

-Mark

aborgman · #26 07-16-2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Hi.

If You're all still alive, no joke there BTW, I'd suggest that an electrician should check all the outlets. If the problem isn't there in the church wiring and even if it was, Your amp should be inspected also, if there's any doubt that the grounding is faulty.

Bingo.

This is usually caused by your amp being on one circuit and the PA being on another - and one of the two circuits has the hot and neutral reversed. It's unlikely it's a third wire safety ground problem, but that is also a minor possibility.

The church absolutely needs to get that fixed before it kills someone.

--
Aaron (Senior Electrical Engineer)

aborgman · #27 07-16-2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyP

NEVER lift the ground of an amp or a piece of PA gear.

Never lift a "safety ground" on the AC power.

Go ahead and lift a signal ground all you want.

Dan1099 · #28 07-16-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aborgman

Bingo.

This is usually caused by your amp being on one circuit and the PA being on another - and one of the two circuits has the hot and neutral reversed. It's unlikely it's a third wire safety ground problem, but that is also a minor possibility.

The church absolutely needs to get that fixed before it kills someone.

--
Aaron (Senior Electrical Engineer)

+1. This can make you die. Which Sucks.

(Junior Electrical Engineer

)