Thread: Using Power strip for the home theatre devices

I recieve electric from all the coducting surfaces of the devices connected my Onkyo AV receiver(TXSR606) (via HDMI or component, eg DVD player's metal surface, Set top box metal surface, LCD TV component pin input edges etc) when it connected thorugh a spke buster power strip. The shock is NOT there when the Receiver is powered directly from switch board socket on the wall. What cold be the reason. Please help.

Earthing may not be proper

Originally Posted by sujithsukrutham

Earthing may not be proper

Please clarify. By earthing you mean the earthing for the switch board or the power strip? What is the best way to check if the house I am staying has got proper earthing? How to solve the issue of powering to multiple devices safely and securely where there are limited number of power sockets.

Get the spike buster checked. Try using another one. Maybe the spike buster is busted.

Please clarify. By earthing you mean the earthing for the switch board or the power strip? What is the best way to check if the house I am staying has got proper earthing? How to solve the issue of powering to multiple devices safely and securely where there are limited number of power sockets.

In your case spike buster may not be properly earthed ( or faulty). Assuming your are using 3 Pin plug. You are not getting shock when direct connection to the switch board, that means switch board is OK.
To check the grounding there are several methods. If the grounding is proper the voltage between ground and neutral will be less than 2Volts (typical condition). For this Volt meter (Multi meter )is required.
If u want to connect multiple devices safely and securely. Check the power rating of the appliances following to be noted:
(a) Ampere rating of Socket and plug.
(b) Rating of Fuse/MCB (Main circuit breaker)
(c) Loose contact. (Go for permanent fixings instead of using plugs)
(d) Quality of wires.

Originally Posted by just4kix

Get the spike buster checked. Try using another one. Maybe the spike buster is busted.

Well actually it is the new power strip I bought.I had a power strip which gave the same problem .So I replaced with this one. But the problem persists. Whether I connect the power strip directly to the socket or via the Voltage stabilizer in between, I face the same problem. And this problem of shocking does not happen everyday or could not predict when and how it is happening. But when ever it happens the shock is not there if I directly connect to the power socket.
Thanks
Sundara raghavan

Originally Posted by sujithsukrutham

In your case spike buster may not be properly earthed ( or faulty). Assuming your are using 3 Pin plug. You are not getting shock when direct connection to the switch board, that means switch board is OK.
To check the grounding there are several methods. If the grounding is proper the voltage between ground and neutral will be less than 2Volts (typical condition). For this Volt meter (Multi meter )is required.
If u want to connect multiple devices safely and securely. Check the power rating of the appliances following to be noted:
(a) Ampere rating of Socket and plug.
(b) Rating of Fuse/MCB (Main circuit breaker)
(c) Loose contact. (Go for permanent fixings instead of using plugs)
(d) Quality of wires.

The spike buster has three pin plug only.
The house is a rented house. According to my knowledge the Middle top one in the three pin socket is the neutral. Where can I find the ground terminal to check with multimeter to follow the procedure explained.
I am staying in Madhapur location, Hyderabad. Here in this area none of the house owners are paying care for earthing properly. I have changed already three houses , just to protect my expesive home theatre system and TV. But this problem is chasing me like anything. I have lost Klipsch subwoofer 2 times already as I have posted in my another thread.
home-appliances-gadgets/19816-power-supply-klipsch-subwoofer-sub10-india.html
Thanks
Sundara raghavan

Middle top one in the three pin socket is the neutral.

It's Ground/earth

Just interchange the phase and neutral terminals of power strip and check.

Originally Posted by sujithsukrutham

It's Ground/earth

Just interchange the phase and neutral terminals of power strip and check.

Ok Sorry. I was in a confusion. Thanks for correcting me.

The Indian Live - Earth - Neutral connection should be as follows:

3-pin socket (facing you)
Bottom left = Live
Top Large = Earth
Bottom Right = Neutral

Potential difference between Live-Neutral, Live-Earth > 220V
Potential difference between Neutral-Earth < 2V

Check this with a tester and multimeter.

I have a klipsch subwoofer sub10.
The subwoofer is down. No response. No LED. But electric shocks observed on the screws in the backside of the speaker when I touched them when connected to the power supply and switched on.
I am trying to figure out the reason. First time happed just 10 days from the date of purchase. I got a replacement. This second one worked well for 4 months and facing the same problem again now from yesterday. In the user manual of subwoofer it is clearly written that the
subwoofer should be supplied with the exact power
supply specified in the back side of the unit, where it is
specified as 230V 50Hz, 1.0 A near the jack-in point.
I think it is suitable with Indian condition which is normally 240V 50Hz 5A to 15 A.The reason I could find is that I receive electric shock from the conducting surfaces (metal casing , component video in , audio in points etc) of all the devices connected to my power strip. I am using this power strip to power my Onkyo TXSR606 AV receiver, Subwoofer, PS3 and DVD player. But inspite of this shock the other devices are not affected.
I want to know what could be the reason for the subwoofer going down often. What are the precautions and saftey measures I should take to protect my HTS and subwoofer in particular. I have Klipsch F1 5.1 speaker package. All the other speakers are passive speakers. The onkyo TX Sr 606 receiver , DVD player and PS3 are connected to the same strip but it is the subwoofer that face this problem often(two times so far). I want to get educated about having a proper power protection for my expensive HTS. No fuse failiure or circuit breakers are detected to prove high surge.
Suggestion to any proven UPS and surge protector power strip suitable for Hometheatre systems and available in India are welcome. I found the following discussion useful but it talks about products in america and prices in dollors.
Vote YES for power protection! - Blu-ray Forum
Can some one please suggest the same with products (UPS and surge protector power strip )available in India.
thanks
Sundara raghavan