Pedal Board Interference

Goober1206 · #1 04-02-2011, 02:28 AM

Hi there

So I made a custom pedal board. The board itself that is. And the basic issue is that when I turn on a certain space heater in the other room, buzzing n stuff comes through my amp. So I'm wondering if you guys think it could be the pedal boards internal wiring not being shielded/grounded enough, or if it could be the old space heater having issues.

Thanks for any help.

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #2 04-02-2011, 09:38 AM

Try plugging your amp or the heater into a different outlet. I'm sure that someone can explain the technical reasons behind it but it sounds like it's the space heater/wiring in your house that's making the noise.

TOOL460002 · #3 04-02-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHILDISHGAMBINO

Try plugging your amp or the heater into a different outlet.

+1

i dont know if you rent or own, but i have found that sometimes (especially if people do a half assed remodelling) you will have one room and an oven/electric stove on the same breaker. i have also come across ac sockets that were just a mess when opened, and the grounding was very dubious looking.

this could definitely be the, because ive had it happen. i would be in a room and the heater would kick on, dim the lights just for a second ,and then, even with a power conditioner, it sounded a little dirty. i moved my amp into another room. experiment. its a good excuse to have an amp in the living room. youre just testing, right?

hope your issues arent with old electric wiring or old breaker boxes (check to see what amperage breakers are linked to which rooms; they wont necessarily trip, and you could still have the same problem).

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #4 04-02-2011, 06:01 PM

My amp is in my living room. I can't have my coffee pot and Stereo on at the same time. It trips the breaker the fridge, kitchen counter plugs, and half of the living room is on. Yeah I live in a half assed remodel. Why can't people at least use 3/4s of their ass. I mean it's electricity for Pete's sakes, you'd think that would be a whole assed kind of job.

Happynoj · #5 04-02-2011, 06:09 PM

When I use our blender it sends the digital radio in our kitchen mental.

TOOL460002 · #6 04-02-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHILDISHGAMBINO

My amp is in my living room. I can't have my coffee pot and Stereo on at the same time. It trips the breaker the fridge, kitchen counter plugs, and half of the living room is on. Yeah I live in a half assed remodel. Why can't people at least use 3/4s of their ass. I mean it's electricity for Pete's sakes, you'd think that would be a whole assed kind of job.

3/4 ass indeed. thats a solid "C." you know, im not an electrician, but from what you describe, it sounds like your electronics/appliances are split up improperly. at least, that was my problem, and it sounds the exact same.

go out to your fuse box and see if things are labeled. if not, you should figure it out. maybe a higher amperage fuse is the answer. you know, they remodel, but they dont think to replace the fuse when they add more load to it.

the other idea is to just cut all the power, and unscrew the sockets that are suspect. they could be grounded to them selves (thin metal box tacked to dry wall often [and often broken), and sometimes theyre just floating in the wall space, so i think grounding can be an issue, especially if the house was built long enough ago to have originally been the two prong plugs with no ground. someone with no knowledge could easily replace all the sockets to have a ground and the place could work well enough for him, and now you have a problem.

i feel your pain. electrical problems are the worst. i hope you fix it.

Plays_For_Dog · #7 04-02-2011, 06:31 PM

The heater draws high amperage. The amount of power flowing through the wire to the heater creates induction on the surronding wires (feeding your amp). As a result, you get a hissing sound as bleed over interference through the ground circuit.

They do make devices that can filter the induction interference, but they tend to be elusive and expensive.

Cheapest and easiest option is to seperate your amp and heater on to different circuits (runs). As mentioned above, the easiest way for you to figure this out is through flipping breakers.

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #8 04-02-2011, 07:25 PM

I've actually had an electrician refuse to work on my place. I know a little about the electrical code and the fridge, and kitchen plugs are supposed to be on the their own independent breakers. Not to mention the neutral bus on the panel is actually supposed to contain neutral wires and not grounds. This place is a 110 years old and renovated by monkeys.

Goober1206 · #9 04-03-2011, 01:55 AM

Thanks for the help guys. My pedal board has been having many many issues. This is a minor one. I just wanted to know if it was the boards fault, or the houses wiring. Sounds like the houses wiring by what you all say and that makes sense.