Shocking Issues!!

[thats_mr_to_you]

Hey guy just a quick question. I was jamming with my band last night, and I touched the metal part of the XLR cable hat connects to the Mic, and I got a crazy shock! Only got shocked if I touched that part of the cable, I coul touch the Mic no problem. This never happened before, and we didnt do anything different with the setup. Does anyone know why? could it be the cable was messed up, or the whole PA wasnt grounded properly?

Im afriad to try it again caise I dont want to get schocked again. (it kinda hurt)

If anyone has any omments, let me know, it will be greatly appreciated

 

[DonF]

What else were you touching at the time you got the shock? The metal shell of the XLR connector should be grounded. If that's true, you must also have been in contact with something that was "hot" (i.e., carrying an electrical voltage sufficient to produce a shock).

If for some reason the XLR shell is "hot", you have big problems. Is anyone using a "ground lift" device, or does any equipment have a damaged electrical plug -- specifically, a plug with a missing ground prong? If so, that's the likely culprit.

Could be that the building wiring is faulty. Is it possible that someone mis-wired an electrical outlet? Hire a competent electrician to check it out if you're not sure.

This can kill you. Take it seriously and get it fixed.

Don

 

[altiris]

this would bring up a question. what if the building has bad ground issues? how can you make sure the building is properly wired and grounded when your at someone esles building? I can see how you can check this at home. but I dont think a property owner would like you snooping around their electrical boxes and closets.

 

[DonF]

You can plug one of these (click) into an electrical outlet to get a general idea of the condition of the wiring. No snooping required.

 

[thats_mr_to_you]

What else were you touching at the time you got the shock? The metal shell of the XLR connector should be grounded. If that's true, you must also have been in contact with something that was "hot" (i.e., carrying an electical voltage sufficient to produce a shock).

If for some reason the XLR shell is "hot", you have big problems. Is anyone using a "ground lift" device, or does any equipment have a damaged electrical plug -- specifically, a plug with a missing ground prong? If so, that's the likely culprit.

Could be that the building wiring is faulty. Is it possible that someone mis-wired an electrical outlet? Hire a competent electician to check it out if you're not sure.

This can kill you. Take it seriously and get it fixed.

Don

I was holding my bass, does that make a difference?

 

[DonF]

Yeah, it makes the wiring of your bass amp highly suspect. Are you by any chance using an older amp that has a two-prong electrical plug that can be plugged in either way?

 

[Slowjett]

Man I used to jam in this basement at my buddys fathers house.. he wouldnt let us where shoes in there, and it was a concrete floor. cold.. Anyway once in while you'd get a shock right on your mouth from the friggen mic.. The ground was busted off the amp plug, so thaty was likley the issue being it was also a powered mixer would make it easier for it to happen.

I got lit upa few times, I got some slippers and i was golden =]

 

[andyhix]

Definately get a curcuit tester like don suggested, and also plug your amp into the same recepticle as the Mic's P.A. Some smarter than me can explain why that works. I just know that it does work.Well, it usually fixes the prob of getting zapped by a mic, but not so sure about it in this case, with the cable (not the mic) being the culprit. Worth trying though.

 

[twon]

your different outlets are probably wired to different grounds. this is very dangerous, as charge can build up on either end and you dont want the current shorting through YOU! plug everything into the same power point then get an electrician to wire all your powerpoints there to the SAME GROUND. this will make you much safer.

twon