The great Breaker tripping Midi Keyboard Mystery

[MusicalGlenn2022]

Hi folks

After 4 years I am still baffled as to my Midi keybaord issues.

To explain: Moved into a house almost five years ago. Playing away, no troubles, happy days. About seven months in, Using the keyboard in Pro Tools, Ableton, Reaper,or Studio One would trip the power for the sockets upstairs. No cookers or Microwaves on this circuit, A TV, A desk lamp, PC, Monitors and Speakers. Had new circuit breaker installed, no change. Put in better power unit into my PC, (Dell Inspiron Gaming Tower, I5 processor, 40 GB Ram (Upgraded for media work), never found the cause.

Fast forward to just over a year ago. New house, a full year no problems. Then suddenly, back to the power trips. Got a Novation launchKey for better quality Midi keyboard, it trips the circuit. Last night, opened a new Nektar impact out of its box with a new midi cable. Got 2 lovely hours of making music. Started up again today, with the Nektar. USB device not recognized, The device you plugged in has malfunctioned....

Tried the same keyboard on a laptop, same result. Tried the Novation, lots of flashing lights on the keyboard which was better but my Studio One interface went beserk with sections flashing. Tried the Novation on the PC, Lights came on again but it wouldn't play notes and then CLICK! power gone again, only now it was the master socket breaker. Everything plugged in in the house gone.

Another weird bit is, when I Do get to play a keyboard using my laptop unplged, there's no sign of any trouble aside from only having 3 hours of power.

The chances of two houses having wiring/power issues suddenly are slim. I think it's four different keyboards over the years now. New cables.Going into a PC repair shop to have all the usb ports tested. But here's the thing. I've tripped power now on my Dell Inspiron 15 3000 laptop, The Dell Inspiron PC, My wives Asus laptop and another Dell PC.

I can find no mention of this problem across the internet but maybe, just maybe, somebody here has heard of simmiliar issues?


Glenn

 

[happyrat1]

What's your utility company like? Reliable or lots of dodgy strung up wires?

 

[happyrat1]

Pick up a $10 ground fault detector at Home Depot and check the outlets in your home.

Some DIY installations a dangerously miswired.

You may have a hot ground lead somewhere.

 

[Nova2277]

The power load that your music gear generates is vey low so i would look at what else is on that circuit that you may not be away of.
If you have a heavy gauge extension chord plug in a powerebar with all your gear connected to it, then plug it into a different branch circuit.
if it trips on the new circuit then one of the connected devices is causing it

 

[Biggles]

I certainly would not plug any electronic device into your mains without having a conditioner/surge arrester in the circuit.

I suspect the Utility company have a very poor system in your locale.

 

[happyrat1]

@Nova2277 is correct. Check for what else is loading the circuit, ie Refrigerator, AC, Heater Blower, Space Heater, anything that draws a lot of startup amps.

BUT!!! Before you do anything, buy a Ground Fault Detector at your local hardware store and test all your outlets.

Most people don't realize that the Ground shield around your USB ports is directly connected to Earth Ground thru the third pin on the outlet.

If dangerous voltages are floating around it can do a lot worse than fry a breaker.

 

[SilverfoxUK]

Hi folks

After 4 years I am still baffled as to my Midi keybaord issues.

To explain: Moved into a house almost five years ago. Playing away, no troubles, happy days. About seven months in, Using the keyboard in Pro Tools, Ableton, Reaper,or Studio One would trip the power for the sockets upstairs. No cookers or Microwaves on this circuit, A TV, A desk lamp, PC, Monitors and Speakers. Had new circuit breaker installed, no change. Put in better power unit into my PC, (Dell Inspiron Gaming Tower, I5 processor, 40 GB Ram (Upgraded for media work), never found the cause.

Fast forward to just over a year ago. New house, a full year no problems. Then suddenly, back to the power trips. Got a Novation launchKey for better quality Midi keyboard, it trips the circuit. Last night, opened a new Nektar impact out of its box with a new midi cable. Got 2 lovely hours of making music. Started up again today, with the Nektar. USB device not recognized, The device you plugged in has malfunctioned....

Tried the same keyboard on a laptop, same result. Tried the Novation, lots of flashing lights on the keyboard which was better but my Studio One interface went beserk with sections flashing. Tried the Novation on the PC, Lights came on again but it wouldn't play notes and then CLICK! power gone again, only now it was the master socket breaker. Everything plugged in in the house gone.

Another weird bit is, when I Do get to play a keyboard using my laptop unplged, there's no sign of any trouble aside from only having 3 hours of power.

The chances of two houses having wiring/power issues suddenly are slim. I think it's four different keyboards over the years now. New cables.Going into a PC repair shop to have all the usb ports tested. But here's the thing. I've tripped power now on my Dell Inspiron 15 3000 laptop, The Dell Inspiron PC, My wives Asus laptop and another Dell PC.

I can find no mention of this problem across the internet but maybe, just maybe, somebody here has heard of simmiliar issues?


Glenn

There are a few possibilities here. Most of the gear you have listed will have some form of capacitor network on the front end of the power supply, a filter as it were. Filter maybe but an RCD will see this as leakage.

Another issue could be that the supply is floating. Had this with a supply to a Sony TV. It had a small switch mode power supply, the small black plastic box thing, with just the live and neutral in, no earth. The frame of the TV would float at over 100V with regard to earth. Not enough current to drop you onto the ground but certainly a friendly tingling sensation! It sounds as though you may have something similar going on. Try and separate things because it maybe you have a particularly bad actor. The clue you give is the laptop being unplugged and things work.