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Can't tell,if my house is properly grounded

Hey guys, I have a low level hi/low buzz that is coming through my speakers, not dependent on the integrated tube amps volume. It is amplified when I turn on my Parasound JC3+ Phono preamp, but only slightly. I have the power cords going to the same outlet. I tried running their power through my Furman Elite Power conditioner but that changed nothing. I ran an independent ground wire and checked all the components in various configurations to no avail. I disconnected all the tv cable to make sure it wasn't coming from there and that solved nothing either. I turned off everything in the house I could' no change. I checked my ground outside at the rod and it is all solidly connected, however the depth of the rod is unknown.

any other thoughts before I call out an electrician?
last_lemming
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
3,018 posts
 
@last_lemming ... jea48 was very helpful to me in finding the cause of hum in my system.
I just unplugged everything but the amp. I didn't notice before the same buzz/hum is there but bearly audible. This make me think that the noise is in the AC line. The phono preamps amplifies small signals so is it possible this bearly audible sounds becomes easily audible once it's boosted?
An easy test would be to use a heavy-duty extension cord and run it to a receptacle on a different breaker, (as mentioned above). Then listen to amp only.
last_lemming OP
407 posts
 
An easy test would be to use a heavy-duty extension cord and run it to a receptacle on a different breaker, (as mentioned above). Then listen to amp only
I have tried this but I didn't try ALL outlets. I can give it another try. 

By chance do you own a multimeter?

yes, what do you suggest?


jea48
2,944 posts
 
last_lemming OP 273 posts                                             02-21-2017 7:01am
An easy test would be to use a heavy-duty extension cord and run it to a receptacle on a different breaker, (as mentioned above). Then listen to amp only
I have tried this but I didn’t try ALL outlets. I can give it another try.

If you can use a kitchen receptacle that is located above the counter top. The branch should be 20 amp.

Just curious what room is the audio system in now? Is the wall duplex receptacle, the audio system is plugged into, a 15 amp convenience outlet circuit? Roughly how old is the house/wiring?
last_lemming OP
407 posts
 
The house is 15 years old. So new buy code standards. The room is a small bedroom. 
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
OP, I realize you already have a Furman Elite Power conditioner, but to the point of the thread (based on the topic title), there are plenty of electrical testing devices to check for proper grounding. 

Something simple like an Emotiva CMX-2 which can remove DC (not saying that is the cause of your hi/low buzz) also has line monitor LED indicators that detect "line correct", "open ground", "open neutral hot ground reversed", "open hot" and "hot neutral reversed". 
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