Grounding the GNX4
Hi
I get unwanted noise from my GNX4, which sounds alot like grounding noise. There is a hum besides the notes being articulates, which is apparent when the note doesn't sound out too loud.
I tried pressing the ground lift button, but that did nothing. The only other alternative I could see was to get it properly grounded.
However, even though the electrical plug itself has 3 connectors, the wire going to the transformer only contains 2 wires? How on earth can I then ever get it properly grounded?
What have any of you done?
Thanks in advance
I get unwanted noise from my GNX4, which sounds alot like grounding noise. There is a hum besides the notes being articulates, which is apparent when the note doesn't sound out too loud.
I tried pressing the ground lift button, but that did nothing. The only other alternative I could see was to get it properly grounded.
However, even though the electrical plug itself has 3 connectors, the wire going to the transformer only contains 2 wires? How on earth can I then ever get it properly grounded?
What have any of you done?
Thanks in advance
Comments
Check it out and see if that could be your problem.
that 3rd hole in your wall the round hole is a ground that connects to your home's ground, go look near your elec meter and you will see a copper rod sticking out of the ground with other copper wires attached to it.
You will need to put the wire there in a sense.
if you are familiar with electricity you will understand.
otherwise get help.
As you said the unit only has 2 conductors not 3, the 3rd is a ground
the others are hot/common.
I would'nt go sticking it in the wall unless you know what you are doing,
and if someone did'nt wire the outlet incorrect.
Ususally a good surge protector can tell you if the ground is good.
If you are using a computer, that causes noise as well.
try it without the computer off.
I'll try to explain precisely what I mean.
I am fully aware of what grounding is in general. I did all the electrical work in my house and all outlets are grounded, as this is a demand for new houses in my country. So, the grounding is solid.
My problem is that although the plug has 3 pins, only 2 wires run from the plug to the power supply. This confuses me, as I then cannot see how grounding could ever work. Even if I could connect the 3rd leg to the ground hole in the outlet (which I can't directly since I bought the GNX in England, where they use another type of plug than we do, but there are ways around that...), I don't see how that could ever have any effect, since the 3rd leg must just be ignored (otherwise I gues there should be 3 wires going from the outlet to the power supply).
How are the American versions of the power supply built? With 2 or 3 wires?
If they have 3 wires, how do I get one of those?
If they have 2 wires, where does your ground come from?
I have tested with the simplest of chains: guitar -> GNX4 -> headphones and there are no other electrical appliances connected to the same outlet group.
No units have a 3pin plug.
If they do,then the middle/earth/ground pin is just for cosmetic purposes.
All units have two wires,red(live) and black/blue(neutral)
Unlike with DC(batteries),wires can be put either way,but recommended to put red to red and black or blue to black or N, when rewiring a plug top when using a 3 pin plugtop.
Just lke a hair drier,drilling machines(double insulated),domestic appliances etc etc
2 pin plugs are rated 5amps and 3 pin are rated 15amps.
I often chop off the original plug off my appliances, incl power adaptors of my music stuff,and replace it with a 3 pin plugtop so I can plug it in any outlet of my home or extension plug strip since I often have a few musical items to plug in simultaneously.
I have yet to see a ground wire in anything,only red and black or blue.
I am an electrician as well but only worked with 240v/50HZ not US 110V/60HZ
I think the hum you are talking about is a electromagnetic/cable hum,nothing to do with your outlet.
Dust in your gnx cable holes?Guitar jack?possible cause.
I would try different instrument cables/guitars or take what you have next door to see if you can eliminate a few scenarios.
Thanks for your input.
I have actually tried different cables and guitars and the problem is the same in my bands rehearsal room.
I live in Denmark, with 230v/50HZ.
What I saw about grounding issues on the Internet was just that the noise needs a way out - which would be the ground...
or actually inside the power adaptors there is usually an ac noise suppressor,
its normally a rectanglular resin filled block,soldered on the AC side somewhere on the board.
I've never opened a digitech one so sorry cant help.
google noise suppressor for AC or something.
Is there a different power adaptor for the gnx you can try?
A 1a is fine to test power up etc
when the adaptor packed up,I tried a smaller voltage one,and it had this annoying hum all the time,which only dissapered when I tried increasing the voltage switch as it was only a 12vdc adaptor,but actually outputs 15.9vdc
when the volatge was right the hum dissapeared.
So it could be your adaptor breaking down under load as it would show perfect voltage if you just tested the end plug of it with a tester without any load on it.
The only way is to open the unit and test the input terminals once powered up and see the volatge there.