Amp buzzing/crackling when electrical appliances are on

Calum13

My amplifier, a marshal master reverb 30, is buzzing when electrical things are on in the next room (hair dryers ect) It also buzzes when my phone is on charge and I touch the sides (metal part) of my phone. I'm worried in case it could make unwanted noises at a gig if there's any appliances near.

ICBM

You need to check that the amp and it’s power cable are earthed correctly, and if they are then you may need to have your house wiring checked for the same reason.

thebreeze

ICBM said:

You need to check that the amp and it’s power cable are earthed correctly, and if they are then you may need to have your house wiring checked for the same reason.

Is it serious if the house isn’t earthed correctly?

paganskins

ICBM said:

You need to check that the amp and it’s power cable are earthed correctly, and if they are then you may need to have your house wiring checked for the same reason.

Arse, I'm having the same problem in my music room (backend of the detached garage converted). I wondered if it might be the wiring in the garage as I experience it with nothing but an amp switched on but the same gear is fine inside the house.

Edit: Suppose running an extension lead from the house would be the easiest way to test if the garage's wiring is at fault.

Edit 2: sorry for the thread hijack @Calum13

ICBM

paganskins said:

Arse, I'm having the same problem in my music room (backend of the detached garage converted). I wondered if it might be the wiring in the garage as I experience it with nothing but an amp switched on but the same gear is fine inside the house.

Yes, very likely. If the problem doesn't happen in the house it's probably the garage wiring.

thebreeze said:

Is it serious if the house isn’t earthed correctly?

It's certainly not good. It's not as dangerous as in the old days because a lot of modern appliances are double-insulated and don't need an earth, and modern distribution boxes are RCD, but it's not really safe.

Rocker

An electric shock can kill you so it is best to get the wiring checked out by an electrician. ASAP

Calum13

I'm going to check if it happens when the appliances are plugged into a different socket as the wall my amp is plugged into is directly opposite to the one the appliances are usually in. Also should it be making a noise when I turn it off or should I just turn the sound down to resolve this. I'm sort of new to guitar 

ICBM

If the problem goes away when the guitar volume is turned right down then it's probably not an earthing problem, although it still could be. In that case it's more likely to be an issue with the guitar shielding.

Calum13

ICBM said:

If the problem goes away when the guitar volume is turned right down then it's probably not an earthing problem, although it still could be. In that case it's more likely to be an issue with the guitar shielding.

It's still there when the guitar volume is on so it's probably an earthing problem.

ICBM

Calum13 said:

It's still there when the guitar volume is on so it's probably an earthing problem.

No, is it there when the guitar volume is turned *off*?

Calum13

ICBM said:

Calum13 said:

It's still there when the guitar volume is on so it's probably an earthing problem.

No, is it there when the guitar volume is turned *off*?

I meant off, my mistake

ICBM

Ah, OK .

Sounds like an earthing problem then.

Calum13

ICBM said:

Ah, OK .

Sounds like an earthing problem then.

I'll get it checked, thanks.