Tingle/zap from aerial splitter?

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grolschie

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#230494 26-Feb-2018 15:16

Hello.

I have 3x aerial wall sockets, 2 of which are being used. The patch panel in our garage contains a splitter joining the 3x wall sockets to the DVB-T aerial on the roof.

I touched the splitter the other day and got a large tingle/zap from it. I have put a multimeter on it and detected a current (in the 10's of v I think, not 100's) but very low current (amps).

I have narrowed it down to our 2013 Panasonic Viera E6. When I unplug the aerial from the TV there is no tingle/zap from the splitter. I can't feel anything when touching the aerial socket on the back of the TV. Unplugging the other TV (32" Veon) did nothing.

The splitter is not screwed to the patch panel - it's just floating. Is this a small current a normal phenomenon? Thanks.

Oblivian

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#1964611 26-Feb-2018 15:43

Not a dual mode TV is it configured with DVB-S?

Youll get 12v out on it if enabling the DISCQ switch if so.

Mistenfuru

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#1964613 26-Feb-2018 15:45

Oblivian:

Not a dual mode TV is it configured with DVB-S?

Youll get 12v out on it if enabling the DISCQ switch if so.

Too true, didn't think about DVB-S, although 2013 would be pushing it for availability of inbuilt Sat tuners

World of Warcraft Veteran, Avid Sci-Fi Geek.

ISP - Technical Support - Lines and infrastructure.

tripper1000

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#1964614 26-Feb-2018 15:50

Yeah, I've been zapped exactly as you say. Also can happen with laptops and other double insulated appliances with switch-mode power supplies. Re touching the TV plug directly and not getting a zap - I've found that the finger tips insulate you from low voltages, but sensitive skin between you fingers or on the inside your arm don't, so you can be mucking about with a coax with no problems, then it touches your inside arm and you get zapped.

FYI some TV's and set top boxes put 12 to 18 volts out the antenna port on purpose in order to power mast head amps etc.

grolschie

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#1964620 26-Feb-2018 16:01

Thanks guys.

You might be interested that I got a very fast reply from Panasonic basically saying there's nothing wrong with the TV and that they get similar readings. They also attached a PDF that explains this phenomenon with double-insulated products. It says you can get a reading of up to 90v, but nominally less than 0.5mA, and that it is within specification and is safe.

B1GGLZ

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#1965952 28-Feb-2018 15:16

Could be just static discharge. In dry weather I quite often get a significant zap getting out of the car.

grolschie

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#1965953 28-Feb-2018 15:17

Nope. I can't touch it for long. It's constant. Worse than licking a 9v battery. ;-)