Electrical Hum in USB Headphones after Having Air Con Installed

Blottski on 17/11/2020 - 12:07

Hi guys

We just had a reverse cycle Air con installed. (on the outside wall where my computer is, near the power box)

Now when the Air Con is on, I get an electrical hum in my Logitech G Pro X (USB) headphones which uses it's own USB DAC https://www.logitechg.com/en-au/products/gaming-audio/pro-x-…

I'll be honest, i'm not an electrical geek so I"m not sure what it is (only what is causing it) but would either of these solve the problem do you think?

iFi Isilencer+ https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/products/ifi-isilencer-usb-no…

iFi audio iDefender+ USB Ground Isolater https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/products/ifi-idefender-usb-gr…

I'm not sure which one to get and don't want to blow $80-90 finding out.

Any ideas?

Electrical & Electronics Gaming Headset Logitech

Comments

  • epic on 17/11/2020 - 12:59
    +1

    Does it happen on a laptop when battery powered?
    If so, is it distance dependent?

  • Blottski on 17/11/2020 - 14:00

    Hi. I tested it on my laptop. No it does not (as far as I can tell)

    going back to the PC it is happening on. Touching my metal keyboard eliminates it (assuming my body is acting like a ground)

    It only occurs when the air con is turn on and is operational.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/11/2020 - 15:15
      +1

      Wow. Sounds like you're acting as a ground/earth cable.

      I'm not sure how safe that is but I'd be getting an electrician in rather than worrying about a hum.

  • bdl on 17/11/2020 - 14:35

    Does it happen on all powerpoints in your house/apartment?

  • Blottski on 17/11/2020 - 14:40

    I tried plugging my PC into a powerboard which is on a different powerpoint (but same room in the same location) still does it.

    Hard to move my PC to another room as it's on a massive desk which is hard to move

  • AustriaBargain on 17/11/2020 - 15:05
    +1

    I've had hum with a headphone DAC/amp that I use to drive some hifi quality bluetooth speakers (I like the road less travelled), and I do get a hum if I power the DAC off an ungrounded USB adapter. Which is basically all of them. But my computer gets rid of the hum, I think because the computer is very well grounded? I don't know, all I know is that the hum goes away only when it is powered off my PC mobo usb ports. Getting rid of hum on makeshift setups is more art than science.

    I've tried ground loop isolators and they did nothing for me.

  • PVA on 17/11/2020 - 15:19
    +1

    Call the air con company and say their install wiring is causing problems with other equipment you have.

    • Blottski on 17/11/2020 - 15:19

      Yeah… was consdiering doing that.

      • PVA on 17/11/2020 - 15:25

        Get them to check, they may have something wrong. They caused the problem.

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