Laptop Problems: Dell Inspiron Notebook AC buzz noise

brandonjp · Post by **brandonjp** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:14 am

I know it's not exactly a Live issue, but I desperately need help. I've spent the last few months testing and testing and just finally figured out last night that the buzz from my rig was because of the Dell AC adapter. My setup is as follows:

Dell 5100 > M-Audio FW410 or Presonus Firepod > Sound System

and whenever the AC adapter is plugged in it's the most horrific crackling and popping and cracking and buzzing, but unplug it and everything is pristine and clean.

So...is it a problem with every Dell AC Adapter like this, or is there something else I can try. I've spent too much money beefing up this computer for audio production to let this little adapter ruin everything!! grrrr...

Any tips?
thanks
--bp

BASSbüro · Post by **BASSbüro** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:36 am

that's a classical "buzzing-circle". when you're running your laptop without the ac-adapter; in battery-mode, the "buzzing-circle" should be gone.

but that's not the solution for the problem: is your ac-adapter grounded? if yes, that's the reason for the "buzzing-circle". so you have to cut the grounding.

yes, some people will think, that's fucking dangerous. but you don't need a grounded ac-adapter for a laptop, trust me......i'm still standing here.

belmiro · Post by **belmiro** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:09 am

Bang!

brandonjp · Post by **brandonjp** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 11:29 am

BASSbüro wrote:so you have to cut the grounding.

You nailed it...but how do I cut the grounding....just break off the ground prong on the plug? easy enough, i guess.

Come to think of it - this is the only laptop I've ever had with a grounded 3-prong plug....those dell bastards

thanks for the info
--bp

BASSbüro · Post by **BASSbüro** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:07 pm

if you don't wanna mangle the original dell ac-adapter, here's the solution:

buy a simple electrical outlet like this:

http://shopping.search.ch/images/produc ... x_typ_.jpg

open it, remove the 3. prong (grounding), close it, and connect your dell ac-adapter over the new electrical outlet.

no more buzzzzin'.......

brandonjp · Post by **brandonjp** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:19 pm

well..i've got two dell adapter cables so I just ripped the ground stick off of one, on the other one I also tried using a 3 to 2 prong plugin adapter - both had the same exact effect....MUCH better!

I'm still getting some lower-pitched buzzing - but I need to test stuff some more - regardless, this has been a major advancement in my computer music life

can't thank you enough
--bp

BASSbüro · Post by **BASSbüro** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 5:29 am

you're welcome!

ilantz · Post by **ilantz** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:17 am

http://www.travelbugbooks.ca/graphics/i ... nalset.jpg

take allways everything, 3 pin , 2pin.

samsensual · Post by **samsensual** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:33 pm

Is that the only solution available ever? Removing grounding from AC adapters? I had hoped there was another option.... by the way, how do I exactly cut the grounding plug?! I believe I didn't get it fully....

ilantz · Post by **ilantz** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:35 am

, well you dont have to cut anything actually, all you need is to bypass one grounding to stop the "ground loop" which is the problem here.

using one of the adapters i've pasted above you can just fit one & it's as if you "cut" the grounding..

hope you got it now