T&L Publications

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?

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

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


Signed: Janitor Tzap

The 'pop' happens with any wired input or when tuner is selected, or both ?

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.

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.

What is the amplifier plugged into?

Heres a Sola Electric 63-13-150 Micro Computer Regulator 120V AC.

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


Signed: Janitor Tzap

I have a 6Kw Line tamer here that needs a home.. Was used in a school computer lab..

thanks all, but I already fixed it. varactor in powerstrip worked.
thanks again.

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,