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Small Cabin Forum / Off Topic / Headphone amplifier noisy when plugged in
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paulz
Member
# Posted: 3 Aug 2022 23:31
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I have a small headphone amp, has a built in battery and is rechargeable via USB cable. I would like to leave it plugged into my battery bank but when so there is a lot of static. I can plug it into a stand alone battery with a USB port and no static, so for some reason the static comes from something in my electrical system.

Anything I can do?

darz5150
Member
# Posted: 3 Aug 2022 23:46
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Can you post what device you have?

ICC
Member
# Posted: 3 Aug 2022 23:48 - Edited by: ICC
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Try a different, and better quality, usb AC power adapter. The static is probably caused by the AC 60 Hz cycle not being filtered out by cheap components or poor design. That is why using power off the battery power makes no noise. No AC.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 4 Aug 2022 01:03
Reply 


Here's the unit. The good news is, by unplugging everything else one by one, I narrowed it down to a tablet, also plugged in to the same USB hub. Replaced that USB cable, no more static. Here's the old cable, pretty sure the whole end was covered in plastic, maybe it got too hot for some reason. Anyway, good to go, I should have tried it before asking but thanks for the input.
sl1600.jpg
sl1600.jpg
20220803_215835.jpg
20220803_215835.jpg


gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 4 Aug 2022 09:21
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Actually good to post up this stuff; gets it into our awareness and the process to correct.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 4 Aug 2022 10:28
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Thanks, and since you mention it..

Upon further pondering: This tablet, a Kindle, I use solely to stream video, my TV if you will. I use an earbud at night. The max volume setting is too low for me, so I downloaded a 'volume booster' app. That works, but every time I turn on the tablet I have to load the booster app, and constantly play with the volume. So instead I got this external amp, which has a convenient volume knob, just like the old days.

Anyway, the volume booster app did have some warning about damaging the tablet, I'm wondering if using it created enough extra heat to damage the old charging cable. Just a guess.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 4 Aug 2022 10:36
Reply 


I think most of those cables are made ACAP, As Cheap As Possible.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 19 Aug 2022 09:43
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Quoting: gcrank1
I think most of those cables are made ACAP, As Cheap As Possible.


I was streaming video on my 8" tablet last night, which is permanently plugged into a charging port, and noticed the battery was at 15% from it's usual 100%. Changed the cable for a new one, back to 100%. Second time now I've had to change the cable. I had the brightness at full, I've knocked it down, that should help.

So I've been reading up on USB cables. I've cut open a few and yes, the Dollar store ones have hair thin wire. I've seen others with much more substantial wire.

I've got a lot of USB powered stuff at the cabin, tablets, lights, cameras, fans, bug zapper.. I haven't used any Dollar store cables in awhile, using the cables that come with these devices. All of these use the Type A USB connectors. Now I'm reading that at some point Type C, which I have one or two of, will take over.

They also come in 2.0 and 3.0, which I think relates to speed and current capability. For the tablet I think I need 3.0.

Anyway I'm on the hunt for some quality cables..

paulz
Member
# Posted: 31 Aug 2022 10:32
Reply 


Followup, I was still getting static in my earbuds when the amp or tablet was plugged in to charge. Bought this filter, problem solved. Don't know how it does it, but it works.
Screenshot_2022083.png
Screenshot_2022083.png


toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 5 Sep 2022 13:31
Reply 


Probably the cable is wrapped around a torroid core inside.

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