Power Conditioner = more hum? SOLVED

[DvE]

Hey,

I just bought a Furman PL8 Series II power conditioner and tested it today.

As a result I got a lot more hum than plugging directly into the power socket - even on the clean channel!

Any tips? Whats your experience with power conditioners?

 

[i.ak]

Im pretty sure that you have created a ground loop. Usually those are not that difficult to cure, but can be really annoying if you have very complex setup.

Please list your setup and how they are connected.

 

[uwgestein]

Hi,

i use a Furman PRO-DMC-E and a Furman M-10X E and don´t habe any hum. I´m with i.ak that you have created a ground loop.

 

[hunter]

I assume your power in the house is not grounded properly. Thats when Furmans start acting dodgy, they and your amp need proper grounding to be safe so better have it checked.

 

[DvE]

Ok, the setup is located in our band practicing room, so no chance to change anything at the power in the house.

My Signal Chain:

Guitar -> Wha -> Decimator Pro Rack G input -> Herbert input
Herbert Loop -> Decimator Pro Rack G -> MXR 10 Band EQ -> Herbert
All units (Herbert, Decimator and MXR) get their power by the Furman.
The Wha gets its power by a pedal power 2 +, which is grounded seperately.

If I plug the Herbert power from the furman to the power socket, there is much less hum...

 

[BERNI]

the problem is the decimator....i had the same problem, with that configuration. the decimator rack doesnt work properly all times, it makes a ground loop, cause you are pluggin pedals with some 9v( pp2, like mine), and then goes to the decimator in a rack, i suppose plug to the furman...with earth, and then to loop of the amp ....
ask dave friedman on this forum, maybe he can help you, he makes rigs. but he is no very friend of noise gates...haha.
just for try...unplug the decimator from the loop, if the hum is over , thats the problem.
luck

 

[DvE]

Thanks Berni =)
Is dave friedman also his username?
I play at high gain settings and cant imagine without the decimator...

 

[i.ak]

the problem is the decimator....i had the same problem, with that configuration. the decimator rack doesnt work properly all times, it makes a ground loop, cause you are pluggin pedals with some 9v( pp2, like mine), and then goes to the decimator in a rack, i suppose plug to the furman...with earth, and then to loop of the amp ....
ask dave friedman on this forum, maybe he can help you, he makes rigs. but he is no very friend of noise gates...haha.
just for try...unplug the decimator from the loop, if the hum is over , thats the problem.
luck

I agree with Berni.

I have a Decimator as well (currently not included in my setup) and have noticed as well, that it can create ground loop / humm issues with other equipment. I had to solve my own issue by connecting the decimator return (amp's loop) a cable which had ground disconnecting at the other end (in the amp-end if I recall correctly). I think this is the case especially with ISP ProRack-G and SoundSculpture's SwitchCraft units.

First I would try taking the Decimator away from your setup.

If still no good, then I would try just taking the units one by one out from the rack (I assume you are using rack to pile your stuff) to investigate wether the loop is created by the physical connection between the chasises of units and/or rack rails.


Ilkka

 

[BERNI]

dave friedman has his own subforum like diezel inside rigtalk. its very gently and is a top in his job( linkink park, george lynch, slash....) he knows all tricks and tips...
anyway try to low the gain a little, i play in a metal band too, and my gain never goes more than noon...its enough, believe me.

 

[dass101]

Try to take the Furman out of the rack, as in it should not have any physical connection with the rack or any other unit. See if the hum disapears. If it does it means you have created a groud loop through the chassis of the unit, and it needs to be isolated with special rack screws, such as these: http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... sku=544710

 

[dass101]

Ha, and I just saw that Dave gave you the same advice on the other topic

 

[DvE]

Hey dass101, I am impressed =)

I will try to use the furman out of the rack on monday evening and post, how it worked out.

Thanks for your tipps

 

[DvE]

Thats it - you were right
I will buy some Adam Hall Humfrees and these will hopefully solve the problem.
Thank you very much for your help! This way I can use the decimator like before

 

[i.ak]

Thats it - you were right
I will buy some Adam Hall Humfrees and these will hopefully solve the problem.
Thank you very much for your help! This way I can use the decimator like before

Yes, AH HummFrees do work - The plastic parts just tend to break rather easily so buy some extra ones.

Please also pay attention that your units' "bodies" or "rear-ends" will not touch each other or you will be in problem again. <-- And this comment shall not be interpreted in any sexual way.

 

[DvE]

Thats it - you were right
I will buy some Adam Hall Humfrees and these will hopefully solve the problem.
Thank you very much for your help! This way I can use the decimator like before

Yes, AH HummFrees do work - The plastic parts just tend to break rather easily so buy some extra ones.

Please also pay attention that your units' "bodies" or "rear-ends" will not touch each other or you will be in problem again. <-- And this comment shall not be interpreted in any sexual way.

Ok, I will buy some extras. Would it make sense to put some tape aroud the units? Then it should be no problem when they touch each other.

 

[i.ak]

Ok, I will buy some extras. Would it make sense to put some tape aroud the units? Then it should be no problem when they touch each other.

I have used pieces of slim self-adhesive insulating rubber mat. Usually it is enough if you put some at the end of the unit.

 

[Peter Diezel]

So what should we do with the headline ?

 

[DvE]

So what should we do with the headline ?

Thanks for the hint