Help Needed, I Will Be Shocked If Anyone Call Solve This

[Guest Conifer]

Please try and solve this one!

Went to a lady house yesterday, Setup her HT. No sound, check all inputs changed cables around blah blah, came down to the receiver.

Monday (tonight) replaced receiver

Sound right away! so the problem was fixed! , until 3 mins later.. static was coming from speakers.

1.) Checked all + & - inputs (all good there)

2.) Thought must be just these speakers in the dinning room BW 616 in ceiling, No, then static started coming through the HT system as well.

3.) Decided to put the sound through the outside speakers same thing!! (JBL speakers)

4.) I then thought maybe the cable is spiked in the wall or ceiling!

5.) But then I realised the speakers that only have a 2meter run of cable and not going the wall are also getting static!!!

6.) I thought it was the speaker cable, so when I got home tonight. I tried the cable (NO static)

7.) Swaped the power-boards over, same thing STATIC!!! and even when I decided to just plug it in to the power directly.

8.) Tried different speakers with the same cable "STATIC"

9.) Checked if any high powered tools or washing machine etc was going, (nothing was on at the time)

10.) Believe I have tried so many things!

11.) Even swap over the dvd player to make sure! "still static"

12.) Swap over all the interconnection, Still static coming through!!!!

HELP PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!!! I'm going crazy!

Another strange thing is, it will work for about 5mins and then..... bang.... static!

[Hydrology]

Seems like the amp is the problem again Im guessing. Borrow the amp and try it at home.

[wheresbaz]

Toet,

I have seen some incredible mistakes made with speaker wiring. If the receiver checks out ok as MarkH suggests. I will nearly guarantee that something stupid is going on with the speaker wiring. You will have to check each speaker run even if it means disconnecting and hooking them up one at a time. One speaker run might be connected or compromised by an accessorie that is only on intermittently. Be methodical have a plan and you will narrow it down.

Cheers Bill

[Guest Conifer]

Seems like the amp is the problem again Im guessing. Borrow the amp and try it at home.

Sorry MarkH, I meant to mention. I tried the amp before I went over with the same speaker cable.

And it worked fine...

Toet,

I have seen some incredible mistakes made with speaker wiring. If the receiver checks out ok as MarkH suggests. I will nearly guarantee that something stupid is going on with the speaker wiring. You will have to check each speaker run even if it means disconnecting and hooking them up one at a time. One speaker run might be connected or compromised by an accessorie that is only on intermittently. Be methodical have a plan and you will narrow it down.

Cheers Bill

Sorry Bill, I did re-connected them to the AMP and reconnected them at the speakers as well. One at a time.

[Hydrology]

Sorry MarkH, I meant to mention. I tried the amp before I went over with the same speaker cable.

And it worked fine...

Sorry Bill, I did re-connected them to the AMP and reconnected them at the speakers as well. One at a time.

Is it possible to try a different brand of amp altogether?

[Maton]

what amp is it?

[wheresbaz]

Sorry Bill, I did re-connected them to the AMP and reconnected them at the speakers as well. One at a time.

I would start just by having the two main speakers connected. Do you get static after 5min with just them connected. I take it these are speakers that you can see the wiring. If not I would run temp wiring so I can see them. Really have to be methodical. If you get static with these speakers than try the speakers with another amp. If they are allright with another amp only thing left is the amp in situ.

This will not be a 5min fix. Sometimes when you are fault finding it is easy to compromise your findings by not being methodical.

Cheers Bill

[OakenShield1]

Have you tried listening to it through the headphone socket? Does it have static?

Might be some sort of interference due to the location of the amp. You say you've tried it in another place. What about another place in the same house? Whats the wiring like of that house?

Very bizarre, it doesn't start with it, but as it heats it develops the fault? (Heat issue) Does it get worse as it's left on or does it stay the same?

If you turn it off and on does it do the same 5 minute and then static, or is it on straight away? If it's on straight away, could be a heat thing. Turn it off for a while and turn it on again (30 miuntes to an hour), what happens?

I'd still say it's another faulty amp. Bit unlucky though!!

[Guest Conifer]

It's a Harmon Kardon Amp

The speaker cable that's not running through the wall, those cables are connected to the fronts and the centre. They have static and it's only a 2m run.

I could try a different amp, I was thinking of trying a different power in the house???

The speakers are BW for 5.1 and BW ceiling for dinning and JBL for outside.

Speaker cable is QED and retails for $12.95

I feel like I'm going wacko,

It could be a heat issue? ---- wait a minute, no it's not a heat issue because the static started right away.

Came back five or so later to test it again, once I tested them again I got beautiful sound! and I thought cool it's working.

But no, before I left it came back....

Anything possible right now, so I'm open to suggestions..

And I thank you all for your replies so far, thank you.

The lady needs this done by Friday....time is ticking

I was thinking about taking a sparky over

[Maverick]

It's a Harmon Kardon Amp

The speaker cable that's not running through the wall, those cables are connected to the fronts and the centre. They have static and it's only a 2m run.

I could try a different amp, I was thinking of trying a different power in the house???

The speakers are BW for 5.1 and BW ceiling for dinning and JBL for outside.

Speaker cable is QED and retails for $12.95

I feel like I'm going wacko,

It could be a heat issue? ---- wait a minute, no it's not a heat issue because the static started right away.

Came back five or so later to test it again, once I tested them again I got beautiful sound! and I thought cool it's working.

But no, before I left it came back....

Anything possible right now, so I'm open to suggestions..

And I thank you all for your replies so far, thank you.

The lady needs this done by Friday....time is ticking

I was thinking about taking a sparky over

I would start by disconnecting input devices to the amp one at a time to see if it was of the devices that is doing it. Sounds as though something is acting as an antenna but without seeing the actual install it is hard to tell.

[Guest Conifer]

How old is the house? May be an earthing problem

I think the house is about 15years old or over ... 15 - 20yrs

I was thinking the same thing maybe.

Use a different power point or something???

The lady is paying me to get this going! So I must complete the task ahead of me.

If it's not the power, then I'm F&^Ked. My head is spinning to what it is!

I did use banana plugs....but surely that can't be an issue

[OakenShield1]

Get a bloody long extension cord, plug it into a neighbours house (If they'll let you!!)

Would solve the power issue either way...

[wheresbaz]

Toet,

Probably quickest just to try another amp preferably with tuner for source. only front speakers hooked up. If you still get static sparky might be required to check house wiring/static source. If not Mavs advice would be way to go. Until you get it down to amp level.

Cheers Bill

[Hydrology]

Toet,

Probably quickest just to try another amp preferably with tuner for source. only front speakers hooked up. If you still get static sparky might be required to check house wiring/static source. If not Mavs advice would be way to go. Until you get it down to amp level.

Cheers Bill

Not that it helps but HK amps sound great, when they work. They seem to have reliability issues these last few years.

[byte-me]

Not that it helps but HK amps sound great, when they work. They seem to have reliability issues these last few years.

Yes I agree on both counts Mark.

They have an excellent sound in both 2 channel and HT but of late the reliability factor has slipped a bit and i now personally know of over 10 brand new out of the box issues that needed to be resolved by the unit being returned or replaced.

To be honest it is a bad blow for HK as they were starting to gain some ground with the likes of NAD, Marantz etc and these issues will hurt them a little bit I feel.

I am not sure what has happened whether it is a change of manufacturing or a change of internal component purchase but 12 odd months ago i would have had no hesitation in recommending them, and while I still feel they have an excellent sound compared to other offerings in and above their price range, reliability even out of the box is now leaving a sour taste in quite a few peoples mouths.

[Tweet]

I would suggest the amplifier's earth is floating,that is.... it is not perfectly grounded via the mains earth.

The mains earth also may not be perfect and could be a little resistive due to all the dry weather we have been having.

The speaker cables also act as antennas for noise injection from the mains ,radio stations and the like.

The amplifier's internal earth for grounding all its power amps etc to one central point (Star earthing ) must have integrity with the chassis and with the mains earth via the 3 pin plug, otherwise noise injection will occur especially if it has D/A converters etc. It does have a 3 pin plug and 3 core mains cord ....doesn't it ?

If not, then there's the problem, the internal grounding of the amp may be at fault. Some metal cases are quite resistive and do not offer good shielding to internal circuits so noise can be injected into adjacent circuits. This internal grounding may be temperamental, be heat sensitive, vibration sensitive....or just a 'dry' joint, either way it will be irrational.

If it does have a 3 core mains lead and plug you could try 'wetting' the mains earth where it penetrates the ground at the switchboard connection point (if that is possible) to improve ground conduction.

But I would guess this is where your problem is either it is an internal grounding fault within the amplifier or the mains earth resistance is too high. I would check the mains earth first,even wetting the ground around the earth stake might do the trick. I hope it works for you, I have seen some crazy faults in my time and in the end they all had a simple explanation.

C.M

[Guest Conifer]

I appreciate everyones feed back, thank you

I go to the lady house tomorrow night to tuckle the issue again.

I will have re-enforcements. I will have a sparky with me!

But I think you guys are....Power issue or AMP

I hope so...............

[Guest Conifer]

Well you were right

After 2 receivers it now works!

3rd receiver lucky.... i think HK will be shocked

[joz]

Well you were right

After 2 receivers it now works!

3rd receiver lucky.... i think HK will be shocked

For interest which model HK?

I'd bet your breathing a sigh of relief.

[byte-me]

For interest which model HK?

Was going to ask the same thing myself.

[Roderick]

Well you were right

After 2 receivers it now works!

3rd receiver lucky.... i think HK will be shocked

Hey Toet. Does the Harmon Kardon even have an earth connection, and if so, is it electrically continuous with the metal casing and black speaker terminals?

I've just discovered that my Sony AVR does not even have an earth pin in its power plug. Pitty! I was hoping to use the house-wiring earth conductor as the common ground (black connectors) for some of my speakers .

Rod

[wheresbaz]

Well you were right

After 2 receivers it now works!

3rd receiver lucky.... i think HK will be shocked

Whew now can we can all sleep tonight. You never say never with electronics. Glad you got it sorted Toet.

Cheers Bill

[Guest Conifer]

Sorry for the delayed reply

HK 340

The HK does have earthing on it.

I do installs all the time and this is the first HK amp I've seen be fualty!

I knew it wasn't my cabling! I do to good of a job, for it to be the cables.

[50mxe20]

Sorry for the delayed reply

HK 340

The HK does have earthing on it.

I do installs all the time and this is the first HK amp I've seen be fualty!

I knew it wasn't my cabling! I do to good of a job, for it to be the cables.

Good to hear you got it sorted out. Must have been a worry.

[Guest Conifer]

Good to hear you got it sorted out. Must have been a worry.

Tell me about it Lyle! it was killing me!

Going through 2 HK amps is rare! 3rd one lucky!

I was just shocked with the 2 amps being fualty!

As mentioned I knew it was me, or the way I hooked it up.