Help save my stereo!

[JesseP]

Hey guys,
Its been a long time since i posted on here. I have a nice stereo at home that I am very happy with but currently I am away living at school and it is not feasible for me to bring my stereo into my small dorm room obviously. So i bring my powered studio monitors because hell they sound decent and they are not as big a concern if they are scratched up a bit.

My problem is that my dorm was built in the late 1960s and when i flick either the light in the bathroom, the fan in the bathroom, the hallway light, or the light in my room it sends a huge pop through my speakers. I know this can cause permanent damage to them and I'm not happy about that. I have them plugged in to a surge protector and i have tried others but clearly thats not solving the problem.

i've been told this is caused by the use of improper switches in my room, however I don't fully understand what that means. I can call the facilities department at my campus and they are obligated to fix anything wrong in my room but obviously an electrician working at a college who gets paid the same rate even if he's not doing work isn't the most qualified person to take a look at my problem. I called and he came once when i wasn't there so I couldn't even get a chance to talk to him but according to my roommate he opened up all the light switches in the wall and checked to make sure everything was connected fine. He unplugged my speakers from my surge protector and plugged it into his and then left it for me to use. He said it just had to do with the building being so old.

I'd much appreciate if you guys could help further diagnose what is wrong in the wiring of my building and give me the proper way to fix it so i can talk to the electrician about it. Knowledge is power.

 

[its phillip]

I'm no electrician so I can't comment on the wiring or why it's popping, but maybe a good UPS like an APC Back-UPS would solve the popping issue. I dunno though.

 

[JesseP]

I'm no electrician so I can't comment on the wiring or why it's popping, but maybe a good UPS like an APC Back-UPS would solve the popping issue. I dunno though.

Thanks for the advice but in my eyes it shouldn't be my responsibility to go out and spend 75 dollars for something I'm only going to use for another semester when it should be the schools responsibility to properly upgrade the wiring in their buildings.

If anyone else can help me out with some information on this problem so i can work it out with the school it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jamie2112]

I would contact the maintenence staff and tell them you have a fire hazard ......

 

[KEW]

Thanks for the advice but in my eyes it shouldn't be my responsibility to go out and spend 75 dollars for something I'm only going to use for another semester when it should be the schools responsibility to properly upgrade the wiring in their buildings.

If anyone else can help me out with some information on this problem so i can work it out with the school it would be greatly appreciated.

I agree with you in principle; however, the reality is that a proper rewiring of a building from the 60's is not a task you want to happen while you are living there.
You may be able to get them to provide a line filter/conditioner for your use if you make enough noise, but assuming this is a typical college or university, I would consider that a long shot. They will be reluctant to do this because it sets a precedent (I'm sure you are not the only one in the dorm with that problem). Also, nobody want to do things you try to force them to do.

If I was in your shoes, I would go to the Physical Plant (or wherever the operations center is for your maintenance department) and ask around for someone who "understands" the wiring of your building. Trust me, there is definitely someone there who has a very good understanding of all things electrical. Inquire about (and show interest in) what is causing the pops over your stereo. Ask if there is a way to prevent it (short of rewiring the building). They will likely tell you what type of device you need. Next ask if they "happen" to have one lying around you could use while you are there. If they don't and you can't afford one, ask if there is any chance to get the school to provide one.

Admittedly, there are no guarantees, but most people - if treated with respect - will do all they can to help you, and schools usually have all kinds of (often valuable) crap laying around (unless someone made them cleanup and throw everything away recently).

That is my two cents. Good luck!

 

[JesseP]

I agree with you in principle; however, the reality is that a proper rewiring of a building from the 60's is not a task you want to happen while you are living there.
You may be able to get them to provide a line filter/conditioner for your use if you make enough noise, but assuming this is a typical college or university, I would consider that a long shot. They will be reluctant to do this because it sets a precedent (I'm sure you are not the only one in the dorm with that problem). Also, nobody want to do things you try to force them to do.

If I was in your shoes, I would go to the Physical Plant (or wherever the operations center is for your maintenance department) and ask around for someone who "understands" the wiring of your building. Trust me, there is definitely someone there who has a very good understanding of all things electrical. Inquire about (and show interest in) what is causing the pops over your stereo. Ask if there is a way to prevent it (short of rewiring the building). They will likely tell you what type of device you need. Next ask if they "happen" to have one lying around you could use while you are there. If they don't and you can't afford one, ask if there is any chance to get the school to provide one.

Admittedly, there are no guarantees, but most people - if treated with respect - will do all they can to help you, and schools usually have all kinds of (often valuable) crap laying around (unless someone made them cleanup and throw everything away recently).

That is my two cents. Good luck!

Your reply is much appreciated. I doubt there are many other people with this problem on my campus however. I live in a very very small dorm one of about 2 or 3 that still stands from the 60s and each only holds around 40 people. Its really an apartment more then a dorm it just happens to be on campus.

I should ask about getting some kind of device like you suggested. Honestly though, the facilities at our school is at a pretty embarrassing level. They came to fix a window once already in our apartment and just broke our blinds and left them in pieces on the floor to never come back. They also came to fix a chair and just took it and never returned with it. There are numerous other things ive had fixed so far but there really is no respect going on. They will come in when im not home move my stuff and leave a mess. Ive had to clean up after them every time. They even leave broken glass... real safe.

Hopefully i can get this problem resolved because honestly it seems to be getting worse every time i use the light switch.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Rickster71]

Are the switches turning on old style fluorescent lights? The starters in those old lights have switching noise.
Another caused is electrical arcing at the switch; could be from a poorly designed or failing / old electrical switch.
I'd met with the electrician again.

 

[TLS Guy]

Your reply is much appreciated. I doubt there are many other people with this problem on my campus however. I live in a very very small dorm one of about 2 or 3 that still stands from the 60s and each only holds around 40 people. Its really an apartment more then a dorm it just happens to be on campus.

I should ask about getting some kind of device like you suggested. Honestly though, the facilities at our school is at a pretty embarrassing level. They came to fix a window once already in our apartment and just broke our blinds and left them in pieces on the floor to never come back. They also came to fix a chair and just took it and never returned with it. There are numerous other things ive had fixed so far but there really is no respect going on. They will come in when im not home move my stuff and leave a mess. Ive had to clean up after them every time. They even leave broken glass... real safe.

Hopefully i can get this problem resolved because honestly it seems to be getting worse every time i use the light switch.

Thanks again for the advice.

I would bet they are old switches that make a spark when opened and closed.

The only solution is new switches or to put 0.001mf caps across the contacts of each switch.

Make sure the breaker is off before doing this.

I see no other solution to your problem. You can not solve the problem with devices at the outlet supplying your stereo. A UPS will not solve this or any other device.

 

[96cobra10101]

I am pretty sure an APC UPS would solve your problem, plus you can plug other electronics into it (pc, laptop). I am not a 100%, but the APC's do some filtering and you actually run off the battery on one side. The other row of outlets are usually just surge. You could also install some new light switches. There about 3 bucks each at home depot. Gold is hot, silver is neutral, green ground. If a light is controlled by more than one switch, get the 2 way ones. If you don't want to change themyourself, maybe buy them and have the engineer of your facility do it.

 

[TLS Guy]

I am pretty sure an APC UPS would solve your problem, plus you can plug other electronics into it (pc, laptop). I am not a 100%, but the APC's do some filtering and you actually run off the battery on one side. The other row of outlets are usually just surge. You could also install some new light switches. There about 3 bucks each at home depot. Gold is hot, silver is neutral, green ground. If a light is controlled by more than one switch, get the 2 way ones. If you don't want to change themyourself, maybe buy them and have the engineer of your facility do it.

I'm absolutely certain a UPS would not solve his problem.