H&C power jack connector question

[jyrki3101]

Hi , should the power connector on H&C unit be insulated from chassis.....I'm asking this because the hum level of the unit has increased. I did replace the straight power plug with an angled one on the power supply.It is not the cause of hum noise cause I did try that same PS with my 12Vac powered tube preamp and it was ok and no hum !
Should the two brown washers be on one or both sides of the chassis on the 2.1x5.5mm barrel jack connector.......
With kind regards,
Mr Jyrki Telilä

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Jyrki,
Yes, the power socket should be isolated from the chassis. There should be a brown washer on both sides, right next to the painted chassis on both sides.
The right angled plug connector should not affect the hum level.
I am concerned that you have had this hum problem for some time. Did you contact the support email like I suggested a while back? I am sure they will do everything possible to solve this for you.
Regards,
Charlie

[jyrki3101]

HI Charlie, but the original power jack is of not an insulated(from chassis) type,should I replace it with an insulated one before sendin my unit to England for a fix ?
Cheers,Jyrki

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Jyrki,
Try support to see if they can suggest something to avoid the unit having to be sent to England. Tell them I told you that you should contact them!
Regards,
Charlie

[jyrki3101]

I did contact the H&C echo support via email and the suggested to send my echo to them in England to fix the problem! I decided to do that after a concert I have to do end of this month. I definitely need the unit on that gig , because the hum noise is not extremely loud I can live with that for one occasion.....
I could also try to insulate the power socket temporarely with a tape or disconnect it from its chassis hole......

with best regards,
Jyrki

[jyrki3101]

Is it recommended to use a some kind of power conditioner with H&C ?

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Jyrki,
OK, I was not aware you have already contacted support. It is possible that if paint has chipped away from the chassis hole then that could cause an unwanted metal to metal connection, so maybe it should go back in case that has happened.
For now, you could try wrapping insulation tape around the connector.
As far as I know we have not mentioned any use of a power conditioner but a mains filter and/or spike protection device could be a good idea.
Regards,
Charlie

[jyrki3101]

Thanks,Charlie for your answer . If I only had known that the paint on the device forms an insulation between chassis and the power socket , this long conversation by internet wouldn't have been neccessary !
I'm hopefull that this particular issue has been resolved !

Thankfully yours,
Jyrki

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Jyrki,
Please let me know if insulation tape or other remedy solves the problem.
Regards,
Charlie

[frankmarvin]

Sounds like a possible Earth loop to me, I have had no problems.
regards
Frank.

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Frank,
It almost certainly is an earth loop, within the unit itself, in the form of a double earth via the AC socket possibly touching the metal chassis.
If there is a hum problem without the H&C unit connected in line, then of course it could be another earth loop.
Regards,
Charlie

[jyrki3101]

Hi, today the power socket was totally insulated from chassis by a professional electrician .Unfortunately it didn't solve the problem. The hum gets a bit louder after I switch the effect on, there's no difference in hum level whatever patch is selected. So no double earth connection via power socket anymore but I think there never was one cause it didn't solve the problem.
A ground loop or whatever is somewhere else, footswitch wiring perhaps ?, Idon't know. I'm kind of frustrated and tired now cause I really hoped that the hum would go away by making sure there is no contact to chassis on the power socket.
Any suggestions ?

Kind Regards;
Mr Jyrki Telilä

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Jyrki,
Please test by disconnecting the Hall & Collins Signature Echo from your signal chain and let me know if the hum still exists with the rest of your equipment. I need to know the result of this test so I can decide what to suggest next.
I don't think the footswitches could cause a hum problem because they do not carry analogue signals.
I have assumed from the beginning that the Hall & Collins power adaptor and its cables are not too close to any signal cables. However I am not there to see for myself so you could check this too.
Regards,
Charlie

[jyrki3101]

I already did that with 3 different amps, just the HCSE:s output connected to any amp(tweed deluxe,ac15,blues junior),same problem,also with guitar connected to HCSE input.
With my pedalboard the hum gets worse because I use a compressor AFTER the HCSE ! Mo matter what combination of equipment, the hum is still there....,the electrician that helped me today by trying fix the problem (by insulating the power socket) was interested of knowing how all the power filtering is done on the HCSE, he said he don't see any familiar filtering components, electrolytics, rectifier diodes etc.....

  Regards , Jyrki

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Jyrki,
When the power socket was isolated, is the inner pair of wires still routed were they originally were? If not, this could cause hum.
Does any hum remain if the power adaptor is disconnected from the unit and from the mains power?
I am beginning to think the unit will have to be returned as was suggested by support. There should be no detectable hum, even with a compressor in use as you are doing.
Regards,
Charlie

[jyrki3101]

Hi Charlie, Yes the inner pair of wires from the power socket to the pcb is still neatly routed close to the chassis , away from the pcb and the rest of the components. The hum goes away when I disconnect the power adaptor from the HCSE .

Regards, Jyrki

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Jyrki,
OK, thank you. When did you purchase the unit, did you purchase it from new, and what is the serial number please?
Regards,
Charlie

[Charlie Hall]

Also, just a thought, is your mains power 2 wire or 3 wire?
Regards,
Charlie

[jyrki3101]

Hi Charlie, I purchased the unit as new from the first or second batch I think, in late 2015.....not sure cause I don't have the receipt at the moment, the serial number is 219 !
Regards, Jyrki

Oh..., and my mains power is 3 wire(230V /50Hz)

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Jyrki,
OK, thank you.
If you take the casing apart again, please look at the 2 nuts that hold the main board to the chassis. Do both of those nuts have an eyelet and wire connecting to the board? Or is there only one eyelet and wire?
Regards,
Charlie

[jyrki3101]

Hi Charlie ,
Ok, I opened the casing this morning and when looking at the bottom view, on the left side of the board, there's one thick wire from the nut to a ground pad next to the output "molex"connector and from that ground pad another wire goes right next to the power connector on the pcb board, which looks like it is the "ground plane"connection . No wire or wires from the other nut !
Regards, Jyrki

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Jyrki,
Thank you. Please contact support to arrange for the unit to be returned so any issues can be fixed.
Regards,
Charlie

[jyrki3101]

Hi Charlie, thank you for all your help, I really appreciate that !
I'll contact the support next !
Regards, Jyrki

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Jyrki,
I forgot to mention that I had spoken this morning with Stephen at the factory about your unit. Stephen is the person who will look at your unit and sort out any issues he finds with it. You can tell support that I spoke with Stephen about your unit.
Regards,
Charlie

[jyrki3101]

Hi Charlie , I sent my HCSE unit for repair(hum issue) last Friday and now I had it back. It was sent back the SAME day it was delivered there on Wilton Road ! Amazing support I would say !
I plugged in my unit to mains and to my vox ac 15(diy) amp . no HUM !!!
Because I'm a realistic , I'd like to know at least something about the source of the hum noise please ?
With Kind Regards,
Jyrki

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Jyrki,
I answered your identical post in the other thread before I saw this one!
Regards,
Charlie