Wall plug electrical pop noise from switch, motor, fridge, etc...

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solar3000
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Wall plug electrical pop noise from switch, motor, fridge, etc...

Post by solar3000 »

I live in a building. When someone's refrigerator compressor goes on or off, sometimes my audio amplifier pops.

How can you tell if it's in the 120VAC wires or is it RF in the air?
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Janitor Tzap
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Re: Wall plug electrical pop noise from switch, motor, fridge, etc...

Post by Janitor Tzap »

Hmmm................

Here is a good article on electric noise: http://ethanwiner.com/dimmers.html
It goes into the causes, and possible solutions.


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Externet
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Re: Wall plug electrical pop noise from switch, motor, fridge, etc...

Post by Externet »

The 'pop' happens with any wired input or when tuner is selected, or both ?
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dyarker
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Re: Wall plug electrical pop noise from switch, motor, fridge, etc...

Post by dyarker »

How can you tell if it's in the 120VAC wires or is it RF in the air?
The noise is unlikely to come on AC lines and get through the amplifier's power supply. So RF through the air. BUT, the AC lines are a transmit antenna. The audio connecting cables (if any) and circuits in the amplifier are the receive antenna.

The AC line of amplifier brings the noise inside the amplifier case. Making the RF distance (transmit to receive) very short. A RFI filter for the amplifier power cord may increase the distance enough to stop the noise.
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solar3000
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Re: Wall plug electrical pop noise from switch, motor, fridge, etc...

Post by solar3000 »

Interesting takes.

I tried a simple experiment.

I have a cheap paper shredder. Whenever I shred anything, an enormous pop is sent to all amplifiers. I noticed that when I used any cheap surge protector, the pop is very well reduced. Varactor?

Of course, I cannot go around knocking on people's doors and telling them to go buy surge protectors.
dyarker
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Re: Wall plug electrical pop noise from switch, motor, fridge, etc...

Post by dyarker »

What is the amplifier plugged into?
Dale Y
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Janitor Tzap
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Re: Wall plug electrical pop noise from switch, motor, fridge, etc...

Post by Janitor Tzap »

Heres a Sola Electric 63-13-150 Micro Computer Regulator 120V AC.
Image
I've set these up in offices where they would have problems with noisy 120V AC.
It's on E-bay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/363955858597?c ... 1&mkcid=28


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dacflyer
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Re: Wall plug electrical pop noise from switch, motor, fridge, etc...

Post by dacflyer »

I have a 6Kw Line tamer here that needs a home.. Was used in a school computer lab..
solar3000
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Re: Wall plug electrical pop noise from switch, motor, fridge, etc...

Post by solar3000 »

thanks all, but I already fixed it. varactor in powerstrip worked.
thanks again.
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Re: Wall plug electrical pop noise from switch, motor, fridge, etc...

Post by dyarker »

I think you mean varistor, AKA MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor).

A varactor is a diode whose capacitance is adjustable by applied DC. Used in radio receivers.

Cheers,
Dale Y
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