Furman now humming.

[kfr01]

Hey guys, my big Furman 20i has started to hum. Pretty freaking annoying when the "quiet system piece" is the thing humming! Plugged a couple components straight into the wall, and their power supplies didn't hum.

Now I am wondering if I set the furman down too hard (f'er is heavy), whether there's a latent problem with electrical, or whether it is just time for a new power conditioner.

Thoughts? I didn't budget for this, so inexpensive is better.

[Mikado463]

perhaps a 'not to expensive' repair is in order ……..

[Cohibaman]

Usually it's caused by loose laminations on the transformer, but DC on the AC line can also cause mechanical transformer hum. Try a different circuit or better yet, turn off ALL circuits and unplug everything but the Furman. If it stops, work backwards to find the culprit. It's possible another piece of equipment is causing DC noise on the AC line.

[matt_zak]

Originally Posted by Cohibaman

Usually it's caused by loose laminations on the transformer, but DC on the AC line can also cause mechanical transformer hum. Try a different circuit or better yet, turn off ALL circuits and unplug everything but the Furman. If it stops, work backwards to find the culprit. It's possible another piece of equipment is causing DC noise on the AC line.

What he said. Have you added anything new lately? Is your amp plugged into the furman or it's own outlet? See if it hums also on the same outlet.

[nc42acc]

Have you recently added an aquarium with a filter pump?

[kfr01]

Originally Posted by nc42acc

Have you recently added an aquarium with a filter pump?

lol, personal experience?

no, nothing like that

[nc42acc]

Aquarium pumps are notorious for adding DC to your AC which can cause transformer hum. Not my experience but a good friends who tells it very comically.

[kfr01]

Originally Posted by Cohibaman

Usually it's caused by loose laminations on the transformer, but DC on the AC line can also cause mechanical transformer hum. Try a different circuit or better yet, turn off ALL circuits and unplug everything but the Furman. If it stops, work backwards to find the culprit. It's possible another piece of equipment is causing DC noise on the AC line.

I tried a few quick things this morning. A TripLite surge protector on a different circuit was adding quite a bit of noise. Still some hum, but not nearly as bad. I will continue the process tonight. Does it tell you anything about my electrical that a surge protector on another circuit would have this effect?

[The Lost Bears]

I had a problem with a compact florescent light bulb in my dining room making a buzzing sound in my preamp. It drove me crazy. Some times the preamp would buzz and sometimes it was fine. It took me a while to figure out what was going on as the dining room is not close to the stereo. I have a Furman a 15i and it did not seem to help at all. To be honest I think my old Adcom 515 did a better job at noise suppression than the Furman. I have been thinking of replacing the Furman 15i with something like one of the Torus Power units.

[Cohibaman]

Originally Posted by kfr01

I tried a few quick things this morning. A TripLite surge protector on a different circuit was adding quite a bit of noise. Still some hum, but not nearly as bad. I will continue the process tonight. Does it tell you anything about my electrical that a surge protector on another circuit would have this effect?

Strange that the Tripp Lite surge protector is causing noise on the Furman. I'd keep unplugging stiff 'till you find the culprit or determine it's the Furman itself.

Btw...Dimmers cause a lot of noise too. Also, Ivan is offering a good deal on the PS Audio Noise Harvesters. They might help.