How many have you experienced noise/interference that was specifically induced OVER speaker cables, NOT via line level means or through ground loops etc. An example would be noise picked up over a speaker cable from a dimmer or from RF noise from a radio station next door.

No explanations are necessary about how speaker level inteference is less likely than line level interference or how running balanced lines can be used etc. I'm aware of the technical facts and am simply conducting a little poll for my own curiosity.

Thank You

This message was edited by QQQ on 03/01/04 22:01.

p.s. I would appreciate comments such as "I have never experienced it" just as much as "I have experienced it".

This message was edited by QQQ on 03/01/04 22:01.

I have experienced it and 60hz hum is real, however, an inch is as good as a mile (meaning almost any sepatation from AC will have a big effect). I think as long as audio is not run DIRECTLY on to of AC for a long distance you will probably not notice anything. I did pick up music on the telephone from apeaker wire once, but I think that was an anomaly. Hope this answer was focused enough.

Absolutely, thanks.

Next please :-)?

We have had clients that live next to radio towers that have had the system off and the radio station playing thru the speakers. Just had to trade the speakers out for better shielded models and it solved the problem. Or go to Digital speakers.

Not too much... always on something we didn't wire but not very often.

We did recently do a house that sits under a radio tower and sure had a lot of stray signal running around there. Made it hard to deal with the WAP. Had elevator music through the phones until we used an OnQ surge. Best of all... our Velodyne sub would play a station (with low freqs only) when simply plugged in... no audio to it... plug the audio in and buzzomatic. Energy sub didn't do it for some reason... don't ask me... I don't even want to know.

I once had a client who lived across the street from a ham radio operator who ran way more than a gallon (ham slang for 1000 watts, the legal maximum).

This ham operator's voice could be heard over the house speakers when the system was off.

QQQ, I have never had any noise on any of my own wiring. I may be a "sparky", but I definitely know more electrical theory than any other electricians I have worked with, or even under when I was a helper.

My best friends are 1) an elevator technician who designed and markets his own micro-processor-based elevator controllers and 2) an electrical engineer who specializes in power distribution. Our technical discussions are incredible!

I've done plenty of whole-house wiring, for audio/video, computer LANs, sattelite systems, etc. If there's an electrical equivalent term for 'safe sex', I believe I practice it.

One of the most important things I do with any pre-wire is to test each and every cable for shorts and/or opens before the walls are closed up, and again right after. Drywallers can be careless!

Thanx for the bandwidth.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

I had a customer that had a bad AM OLDIES problem. With the system off you could hear "Blue suede shoes" throughout the house. You could also hear it thru the phone line. I could take my toner and run it across the wall and pick up Elvis thru the elec lines.
When I did this the customer finally realized it wasnt my equipment causing the problem, he then called the radio station (2 miles away).
my 2
cb1

I have never had that problem in the UK.its always been via other routes Mains/line level etc never the speaker cable.

I have experienced it on 2 occassions.

Never had an issue with noise over speaker cables

-Ed

I haven't had interference with speaker cables but I do practice caution with my routing to avoid the problem.

QQQ, Never in 13 years, Have I seen true interference on speaker wire's..Besides the obvious ones..Light swithces etc.. We are always careful. But it just never happens..I have done hundreds of retrofits and used the same hole drilled by the electrician, I know everyone has done this..Especially when laying on your stomach in an attic, in the middle of summer.,LOL..


THXRick

Well Rick.... from QQQ's question, your answer should be "Yes, I have had problems with Light switches"

I have as well.... Mostly in older retrofit situations..... Conduit can be a pain in the butt, but it sure helps reduce interference....