Electrical Issues (1 Viewer)

[morleyz]

We recently had some custom entertainment center furnature built for our front projection system. I started the move into the new furniture this weekend.

The major system components that I'm having problems with are (or potential culprits):
Sony Reciever (2-prong plug)
Sony DVD Player (2-prong plug)
Dish Network VIP 622 DVR (3-prong plug)
Infocus projector (3-prong plug)

Originally, when I installed the projector 2 years ago, I ran a fresh circuit to the projector and had the rest of the equipment plugged into a surge bar on the closest outlet. In the new cabinet, I installed a fresh circuit and put a wiremold outlet bar down the length of the cabinet. I connected this to a breaker on the same bus, with the same neutral and ground as the projector.

When I first hooked up everything this morning, I found the color to be off and the picture was very unstable (causing the projector to search for a source, etc.). I knew the only thing I really changed was the power source, so I plugged everything back into a power strip and the problem went away. After isolating individual components, the problem shows itself when I have the Dish DVR plugged into the wiremold strip. If I have everything else plugged into the wiremold and the DVR plugged into a different outlet, everything is fine...as soon as the DVR goes into the wiremold I get horizontal bands of color (usually green and red) that travel up the picture. This made me think "ground loop", but it seems to me that by having the 2 circuits on the same bus/neutral/ground, I should have less ground loop problems, not more.

The DVR and DVD are connected via component cable to the receiver. The DVR is using optical for the audio and the DVD is using a COAX connection.

Any suggestions on what might be causing the problem and how I might be able to fix it?

Thanks.

 

[Gregg Loewen]

check your component cable. Perhaps it is too close to a power cord or it is of low quality.

 

[morleyz]

Maybe I wasn't clear. The whole system was setup and working fine with the same cables, etc. The only change I made was to the power. If I plug the DVR into the old power source, the picture is fine. When I plug the DVR into the new power source, I get the messed up picture. All of the non-DVR devices are still using the new power source and the projectors power hasn't changed at all. I'm was guessing that this would have to be some sort of power/ground issue.

 

[Gregg Loewen]

you were very clear. Please follow my suggestion.