Forum menu
I'm getting small electric shocks off the TV aerial plug and wondering if anyone knows if this is normal or if it can be prevented.
Our aerial was replaced about a year and a half ago as we totally lost signal and was only getting a few channels.
The aerial is on the chimney, cable running down the outside of the cottage, in under the window frame to a splitter. One split goes up into the bedroom, one to the freeview box in the living room (connects to the TV via SCART).
No problems with the TV in the bedroom, 91 channels clear as day. The box in the living room gets about 8 channels. It's been getting progressively worse over the last month or so so I've fiddled about with the coax cable, refitted new plugs on each end, swapped out for different cables but still the same. The box is about a year old so should still be OK.
This is, off that cable I get small shocks, to the point you can see tiny sparks. It's always had some charge to it, but it does seem to be a little worse than that.
any ideas what could be causing the problem?
ta
You say a splitter, is it a powered amp?
Normally, you shouldn't have much more than 2mV on the coax
its not static from the carpet is it?
Just link it to a Flux Capacitor and you'll be laughing... all the way to the future!
Couple of points - check what's attached, generally you don't get it from the antenna alone, just when a device is attached? On a side note, and regarding the missing channels - are you making sure your screen is properly attached and you're using fully screened connectors?
ta
No carpet in the house, it's just a coax splitter as installed by the aerial guy.
Looks like this [img] 
[/img]
Screened cable from the splitter to the freeview box has a normal coax plug moulded to one end (the box end). It's the same as the one upstairs.
I'll check again what the cable screen is doing at the splitter.
There will be an option for antenna power in your box setup I suspect (there is in mine) and you can turn it off (for power saving). AFAIK it's a power supply over the co-ax for remote devices like amps and filters.
Disconnect the upstairs box - pull the aerial feed
Do you still get the shocks/tingles
cheers,
I think tonight will consist of a process of elimination (electrocution)
🙂
OK so had a fiddle about, definitely coming from the box. none of the other cables attached to the splitter have a current.
It may be that it's just the way it is for a cheap digibox.
Anyway, fiddled about with the connectors, restored factory defaults on the box and it found 81 channels. Still has current though.
However, that's good enough for me.
Bad design on cheap equipment probably no earth connection in plug causing earth leekage currents, I would buy a decent box. At some point the screen of the CoaX needs earthing little tag with screw on is one way if none of your TVs or freeview box have one.
Probably right, the digibox is powered via 12VDC plug. No earth on the plug.
cheers