josedimarco Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) Hi guys, in the last days I've been experienced a static shock when i touch the headshell. I've got an Audio-Technica Lp-120x and a cartridge at95e. Let's suppose side A finishes and I wanna play side B, when I touch the headshell I receive a static shock. The turntable is connected straight to the speakers so ground connection is not needed. I think it's because the climate is becoming dry here but not sure if that could damage the cartridge or something else. It's anoying What do you think? Thanks! Edited August 18, 2020 by josedimarco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Rutter Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Find out where the build up of static is coming from. Is it from your shoes on carpet? Is it plastic on the TT. Static should not hurt anything on the TT if it doesn't have any semiconductors on it. As you are receiving the shock try touching the TT with your shoes off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josedimarco Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Just now, Colin Rutter said: Find out where the build up of static is coming from. Is it from your shoes on carpet? Is it plastic on the TT. Static should not hurt anything on the TT if it doesn't have any semiconductors on it. As you are receiving the shock try touching the TT with your shoes off. i think is because of my couch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuzzzFuzzz Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 42 minutes ago, josedimarco said: i think is because of my couch Hey Mate. I get a similar zap when I walk across the carpet in my slippers, it only seems to be them, as I don't notice it any other time. I make sure I ground myself by touching the metal TV rack before touching any equipment. I guess you should be careful not to touch a frame that is in direct contact with the amp, TT etc, if they're isolated it should be OK. I'm no expert though. There may be better advice coming... and I may have to change what I do too. Thanks for the thread, I've meant to ask a similar question to be sure. Regards. Ant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikhuong Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, josedimarco said: Hi guys, in the last days I've been experienced a static shock when i touch the headshell. I've got an Audio-Technica Lp-120x and a cartridge at95e. Let's suppose side A finishes and I wanna play side B, when I touch the headshell I receive a static shock. The turntable is connected straight to the speakers so ground connection is not needed. I think it's because the climate is becoming dry here but not sure if that could damage the cartridge or something else. It's anoying What do you think? Thanks! Last winter I went to a hifi shop and touched a playing amplifier to adjust the volume, smoke came out, damn in, maybe the shop could claim insurance or just fix their amp, not sure whose false can be claimed here, but they did not ask me to pay though after this real experience , I always try to adjust volume by remote and be careful to ground myself in winter before touching hifi equipments Edited August 18, 2020 by ikhuong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josedimarco Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 1 hour ago, BuzzzFuzzz said: Hey Mate. I get a similar zap when I walk across the carpet in my slippers, it only seems to be them, as I don't notice it any other time. I make sure I ground myself by touching the metal TV rack before touching any equipment. I guess you should be careful not to touch a frame that is in direct contact with the amp, TT etc, if they're isolated it should be OK. I'm no expert though. There may be better advice coming... and I may have to change what I do too. Thanks for the thread, I've meant to ask a similar question to be sure. Regards. Ant. which TT do you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markielinhart Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Static electricity can be a real issue at times. I have a sweater that I never wear when spinning vinyl due to its attracting every bit of airborne whatnot in the neighbourhood. My floors are wooden, my sofa is leather. I like that sweater - oh the irony... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuzzzFuzzz Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 When I hit submit on that post, I thought I should have been clearer. I mentioned a 'similar' problem... I get a zap when I touch my amps. I haven't noticed the same issue with my TT... sorry 'bout that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiofeline Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 1 hour ago, ikhuong said: Last winter I went to a hifi shop and touched a playing amplifier to adjust the volume, smoke came out, damn in, maybe the shop could claim insurance or just fix their amp, not sure whose false can be claimed here, but they did not ask me to pay though after this real experience , I always try to adjust volume by remote and be careful to ground myself in winter before touching hifi equipments I'm no electronics expert, but this is the first time I've heard an amp smoking due to the volume being changed. I can't see any reason why this could damage an amp in good working order. I would think what occurred was that the amp already had problems, and it was coincidence that your touching the amp caused it to smoke. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josedimarco Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 28 minutes ago, audiofeline said: I'm no electronics expert, but this is the first time I've heard an amp smoking due to the volume being changed. I can't see any reason why this could damage an amp in good working order. I would think what occurred was that the amp already had problems, and it was coincidence that your touching the amp caused it to smoke. that's bizarre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wen Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 i have had issues with static with my amps and TT, i connected a copper wire to the TT earthing point on the back of the amp, length long enough to the front of the amp, stripped back about an inch of the sheathing, every time i went to do anything, grabbed the wire, had no further issues 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikhuong Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, audiofeline said: I'm no electronics expert, but this is the first time I've heard an amp smoking due to the volume being changed. I can't see any reason why this could damage an amp in good working order. I would think what occurred was that the amp already had problems, and it was coincidence that your touching the amp caused it to smoke. When I touched the volume, there was a pop sound at the contact point and fire sparked quickly inside the board. I had to yell out to storeman, "hey, something is burning" , when they run to it, fire was off but lots of smoke. So maybe the grounding of this amplifier is not good or the group wire system at the store did not function well in this case. The amp brand is a pretty highend one and I won't disclose its name or store I wore a leather jacket with wool jumper, I think those are the perfect formula for electric static generating Edited August 19, 2020 by ikhuong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenda Posted August 22, 2020 Share Posted August 22, 2020 One of these might help https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/157912/triumph-fabric-care-anti-static-spray https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/91955/statique-anti-static-spray-150ml https://www.bigw.com.au/product/hollywood-anti-static-spray-clear/p/8387566/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_mike Posted August 23, 2020 Share Posted August 23, 2020 Just shoot yourself with a zerostat gun. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts