Got a new (to me) older audio stack. Not used to some of the earlier electronics conventions.

The system has two pronged cords, and has external grounding. How much danger am I looking at here? I’m not 100% certain how to use it properly.

  • Vinny_93@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    2 days ago

    I have only a very basic knowledge of electricity and an even smaller knowledge of amps but I have heard about certain amps that would be susceptible to immense power surges which would short out some circuits and that power needs to go somewhere. If it’s not grounded properly it might release its current into the air where it’ll find you, or maybe catch fire.

    The specifics of this and why or how this happens should be findable online.

    Most likely it’ll also have something to do with the higher voltage direct current being transformed into a lower voltage alternating current. But why and how you’d need to be properly grounded for that is beyond me.

    • a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      Is an external surge protector sufficient for such a case? You may not know the answer either.

      I certainly don’t plan to plug them right into the wall.

      • Vinny_93@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        It’s not. If you mean an extension cord with built-in ground and surge protection, that is.

        If your amp had a ground in its power plug, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. If there is a surge in the actual power to the outlet, the surge protector might catch it. But since this is about surges inside the device itself, it means you should no longer actually touch the amp because you might get a shock. You can imagine that the higher the amperage flowing through the amplifier, the more dangerous this is.

          • Kathmandu@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
            1·
            2 days ago

            If you are worried about grounding the system, and don’t mind cutting the cord/ crimping stuff, you could get a 3 prong cord from the hardware store and screw the ground into the box via a case screw on the back.