Author Topic: A Shocking Experience Again. (Read 562 times)

olieoliver · « **on:** January 27, 2009, 06:14:21 AM »

I posted this in the trouble shooting area then though maybe it may fit here better...

This is not really a trouble shooting question as much as an advice request.
I was switching from my 4 string S-2 to my 5 string S-2, and while unplugging the 5 pin cable I must have gotten my thumb wrapped aroung too far and got a pretty good shock.

2 questions; Has this happened to anyone else here and which is the recommended way to unplug a Series instrument cable, from the DS-5 first(which does not have a power switch like my DS-5R or bass first or does it not really matter?

OO
(buzzed but OK) LOL

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2009, 06:41:15 AM »

Wow; that's never happened to me, and it never even occurred to me as something to think about.

I'm wondering if the phenomena varies among different makes of plugs; whether some plugs have the contacts further from the surface of the plug.

At home, when I'm done practicing, I bring the volume pedal down, unplug from the bass, put the plug on the rack handle, bring the power amp volumes down, and turn off the rack.

It seems to me that you shouldn't have to turn your rig off every time you switch instruments. But it's an interesting question.

At least I now know not to touch the surface of the plug when the power is on. Thanks Olie!

811952 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2009, 07:22:54 AM »

The cable should only be passing +9 volts and -9 volts at relatively low-current (not like licking a 9-volt battery with a wet tongue, for instance), so you shouldn't be able to feel much (if any) shock. I would check for a ground loop somewhere in your rig and look into other factors in your environment (barefoot on a steel stage?

)

John

olieoliver · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2009, 07:53:38 AM »

I don't know whay I thought the voltage was more like 32 volts on a Series instrument. Felt like more than 9 volts. LOL

I beleive what happened was my thumb touched the ground on the cord and the bass as I was disconnecting and it became the loop.

On a side note the drummer said I was rushing a tad after that.

OO

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2009, 08:47:13 AM »

I'm only on my second cup of coffee, but unless you have your hand inside the control cavity I don't think you can touch ground on the bass. And ground on the cord would be one of the five pins.

mica · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:07:39 AM »

I asked my dad bout this yesterday. He suggested first sending in the power supply, but then as he thought about it more, he has a new theory. You wouldn't need to wait to hit a pin to get shocked if the source was the bass, cable or power supply. Once you touched the metal housing on the 5-pin cable that would have been enough.

He said that sometimes when you touch something with a small surface area (like the tip of one of the 5-pin connector pins) suddenly, it can really feel like an electrical shock if you hit your finger just right. He's done it before, but not with a 5-pin connector.

David Houck · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:38:36 AM »

Well, I think that negates what I said during my second cup of coffee. Will I have to start on a third?

olieoliver · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:57:52 AM »

It's only happened once and my hands were pretty sweaty. No big deal I was just curious.

Is it only 9 volts running through the cable from the DS-5?

OO

mica · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2009, 10:04:18 AM »

To clarify, the electric shock feeling can happen on anything, even something that's non-conductive. It only feels like a shock, it's actually a nerve response.

olieoliver · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2009, 10:08:59 AM »

NO... I wasn't nervous... just kiddin'.

I una-stan!. That's entirely possible.

(((O)) (((0)))

terryc · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2009, 10:35:12 AM »

just a small point..any moisture will reduce the resistance of any surface whether it be metal or skin.
The fingers do contain a huge number of pain receptor nerve endings.
Although 9V is small and I guess the current is around 300mA but maybe a little more it may still give a tingle if the resistenace is reduced due to sweat.

JimmyJ · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2009, 01:22:10 PM »

OO,

The DS-5 generates closer to +18 and -18 so about a 36 vote potential from + to -. That would be enough to give you a pretty good zap but I can't imagine how you might be able to touch any of the pins while plugging in or unplugging. Contact is not made until the body of the plug is about 1/4 into the jack... UNLESS you have lost the set screw on the bass's male jack and the insert with the pins is being pulled out as you unplug... (I can't remember if Switchcraft plugs do that but I think Neutrik can.) Check to make sure your pins aren't moving!

This is one of the great things about the Series design - as long as you have the pickup selector OFF you can plug and unplug the basses at will without sending transients down the audio line. I've seen many engineers quickly reach for the mute switch when they see I'm changing instruments. Ha!

Jimmy J

olieoliver · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2009, 01:32:14 PM »

All is tight in the connector, I'm pretty confident it had to do with my hands being extremely wet do to sweat and that is what made contact between my thumb and the connector.

OO

Bradley Young · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2009, 04:28:19 PM »

Jimmy,

The pickup selector *off* bit was a piece of information that was escaping me: I have unplugged completely silently, but occasionally it makes noise!

I'll remember the proper detent in the future.

Bradley

jacko · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2009, 04:39:24 AM »

Bradley - Having almost blown speakers unplugging, I feel it should be compulsory for amp manufacturers to include a mute button (sorry Mica)

graeme