Ground Loop?

[theWB]

Is it possible to have a ground loop problem where there was never one before?

Last night we had some major storms here in Chicago.
This morning my Descent has a very loud hum, which it never did before.

Also very strange, one of my garage doors was open this morning. Somehow the garage door opener went off on its own and the other garage door opener doesn't work at all.

My Theater Room is above my garage, everything is working fine except the hum from the Descent.

Confused

 

[roberto]

Is it possible to have a ground loop problem where there was never one before?

Last night we had some major storms here in Chicago.
This morning my Descent has a very loud hum, which it never did before.

Also very strange, one of my garage doors was open this morning. Somehow the garage door opener went off on its own and the other garage door opener doesn't work at all.

My Theater Room is above my garage, everything is working fine except the hum from the Descent.

Confused

Hola. Sometimes is due to your cable company at the post outside the house. Use a cheater plug and listen if you solve the problem. To track if the cable is the culprit, disconnect it from your tv box...and listen...happy listening,
Roberto.

 

[amey01]

Ground loops are strange things. I get a 50Hz hum through my system at intermittent intervals - it only lasts about 5 seconds and can appear two or three times in a listening session, then I never hear it for a month. Strange, and I don't know why.

Good luck solving!

 

[theWB]

Cheater plug made it all go away.
Why would I all of a sudden a get a ground loop problem where I've never ever had one?
Electricity? Who can explain the science behind it to me?

 

[JonFo]

Cheater plug made it all go away.
Why would I all of a sudden a get a ground loop problem where I've never ever had one?
Electricity? Who can explain the science behind it to me?

Wayne good to hear it cleared up with lifting grounds. But that's not a safe way to run.

Our friend Cherian can explain 'lectricity and its wierd science to us.

 

[theWB]

Our friend Cherian can explain 'lectricity and its wierd science to us.

Yes it is.
Still can't get my garage door opener working.
On top of that came across 2 more problems since coming home.
Satellite is completly out, couldn't get it back up on the phone with the tech, so their sending someone out Thursday.
Downstairs felt really warm to me so I go over to the thermostat and it's acting all goofy, couldn't get it to reset itself until after I powered it down completly twice.

 

[risabet]

Can you say close lightning strike? I knew you could. What you describe sounds like a near by strike that took out some of your gear. The Depth did not develop a ground loop after the storm, something may have broke, have it checked out along with all the other now dead electrical devices you mentioned.

 

[OldMonolith]

Sounds to me like you have something dumping noise onto the ground. My bet would be a MOV somewhere. I'd look for what it is immediately. If it does happen to be an MOV, when they burn up, they can go in flames. If they're in a plastic cased power strip, it could turn into a fire.

I had a friend, about a month ago, have some kind of event occur during the middle of the night. No storm at all, then or earlier. Was awoke at about three in the morning by the smoke detectors going off. The whole 2 story house smelled of smoke and the fire department was called. In the end, the smoke smell was probably a pair of outlet strips, formerly with MOV's in each, that powered computers two places in the house. Also lost all GFI outlets in the house and an air conditioner.

I recommend, as a side note, that everybody should look for plastic power strips with MOV"s and replace them with metel ones. Good luck with your repairs!

OldMonolith

 

[amey01]

Sounds to me like you have something dumping noise onto the ground. My bet would be a MOV somewhere. I'd look for what it is immediately. If it does happen to be an MOV, when they burn up, they can go in flames. If they're in a plastic cased power strip, it could turn into a fire.

I had a friend, about a month ago, have some kind of event occur during the middle of the night. No storm at all, then or earlier. Was awoke at about three in the morning by the smoke detectors going off. The whole 2 story house smelled of smoke and the fire department was called. In the end, the smoke smell was probably a pair of outlet strips, formerly with MOV's in each, that powered computers two places in the house. Also lost all GFI outlets in the house and an air conditioner.

I recommend, as a side note, that everybody should look for plastic power strips with MOV"s and replace them with metel ones. Good luck with your repairs!

OldMonolith

What are MOVs?

 

[DTB300]

What are MOVs?

metal oxide varistors

 

[Cherian]

Oldmonolith is correct. Failing MOVs can shunt voltage and current to ground. If looks like you took one heck of a surge.

Wayne, I would try your system without any of your power quality equipment to see if your Hummm goes away. If no more humm then you need to change out your power quality equipment.


Good luck.