Scart sockets blow up devices.

Can a Scart socket damage devices connected to it? It seems to have happened
to me three times with different products. I have an old Marantz audio
visual HI FI system that I can connect to TV's, Videos, Laser disk players
etc with either scart connectors or audio/video cables. I always used it
connected from the video to the Hi Fi with the audio connectors. One day I
decided to connect the TV to the HI FI using a Scart connector, there was a
loud crackling noise from the speakers followed by a bang and a burning
smell as the Amplifier went. I did not try that trick again for a long time
until I got a DVD player for my computer. I connected the DVD output leads
to a scart adaptor and plugged it into the same TV, the DVD drive promptly
expired. Now I have a new TV, Video and an AllinWonder TV/Graphics card. The
AIW card worked fine in every function until yesterday when I tried to use
the Video Out function from my VCR to the AIW card using a Scart connector.
The computer screen immediately went blank and I ended having to reboot the
computer. Since then the TV tuner on AIW does not work nor does Video in
from my camcorder which worked before but the card can play VCD's and video
files that I have on my HD. I should add that it was not the same scart
connector involved in each disaster. Has anyone else experienced such a
problem? when I suggested that the Scart connection had caused the problem
with the Marantz amplifier the repairer dismissed the idea out of hand. I
also queried the problem with the TV manufacturer (Hitachi) who also
dismissed the idea.

"Derek F" wrote in message
...
Can a Scart socket damage devices connected to it? It seems to have
happened
to me three times with different products.

I had a similar problem but it was self-inflicted ! I decided to fit a mains
isolation
switch to a cheap satellite STB. I trapped the live wire in refitting the
case making
the case live. I blew up the TV and the STB.

I do not believe that a SCART lead itself can ever be the cause of such a
problem.
Most kit these days has a two-core mains cable and is thus un-earthed.
A developing fault in one device can begin to make the chassis live, not
full live, but
sufficiently so to allow an earth current to flow through the SCART cable
screens
to another device which does have an earthed chassis. This fault current
will also
get into the signal wires with the sort of result that Derek F found.

"Bob Higham" wrote in message
...

"Derek F" wrote in message
...
Can a Scart socket damage devices connected to it? It seems to have
happened
to me three times with different products.

I had a similar problem but it was self-inflicted ! I decided to fit a
mains
isolation
switch to a cheap satellite STB. I trapped the live wire in refitting the
case making
the case live. I blew up the TV and the STB.

I do not believe that a SCART lead itself can ever be the cause of such a
problem.
Most kit these days has a two-core mains cable and is thus un-earthed.
A developing fault in one device can begin to make the chassis live, not
full live, but
sufficiently so to allow an earth current to flow through the SCART cable
screens
to another device which does have an earthed chassis. This fault current
will also
get into the signal wires with the sort of result that Derek F found.


What does one do in that situation and would the manufacturer of the faulty
device take responsibility for it?
Derek

Derek F wrote:

Can a Scart socket damage devices connected to it?

No, not on it's own

snip
Has anyone else experienced such a
problem? when I suggested that the Scart connection had caused the problem
with the Marantz amplifier the repairer dismissed the idea out of hand. I
also queried the problem with the TV manufacturer (Hitachi) who also
dismissed the idea.



I would say that you have a mains wiring fault in your house or in the
mains socket. Looks to me like either Live and Neutral are swapped over
or Live and Earth are swapped over.
In a modern house the neutral and earth are bonded together.
I suggest that you get your house wiring/sockets/mains leads/13A plug
wiring checked by a competant Electrician.
Dave


--
My opinions are just that, check the facts carefully before
acting on my advice.
Please reply to newsgroup.

"Dave Spam" wrote in message
...
Derek F wrote:

Can a Scart socket damage devices connected to it?

No, not on it's own

snip
Has anyone else experienced such a
problem? when I suggested that the Scart connection had caused the
problem
with the Marantz amplifier the repairer dismissed the idea out of hand.
I
also queried the problem with the TV manufacturer (Hitachi) who also
dismissed the idea.



I would say that you have a mains wiring fault in your house or in the
mains socket. Looks to me like either Live and Neutral are swapped over
or Live and Earth are swapped over.
In a modern house the neutral and earth are bonded together.
I suggest that you get your house wiring/sockets/mains leads/13A plug
wiring checked by a competant Electrician.
Dave


--
As I live in a block of flats that were all rewired at the same time
presumably all the other 25 occupiers would have the same problem if that is
the actual fault?
Derek.

Derek F wrote:

"Dave Spam" wrote in message
...

Derek F wrote:


Can a Scart socket damage devices connected to it?

No, not on it's own

snip

Has anyone else experienced such a
problem? when I suggested that the Scart connection had caused the

problem

with the Marantz amplifier the repairer dismissed the idea out of hand.

I

also queried the problem with the TV manufacturer (Hitachi) who also
dismissed the idea.



I would say that you have a mains wiring fault in your house or in the
mains socket. Looks to me like either Live and Neutral are swapped over
or Live and Earth are swapped over.
In a modern house the neutral and earth are bonded together.
I suggest that you get your house wiring/sockets/mains leads/13A plug
wiring checked by a competant Electrician.
Dave


--

As I live in a block of flats that were all rewired at the same time
presumably all the other 25 occupiers would have the same problem if that is
the actual fault?
Derek.


Not neccessarily. Only one socket or one 13A plug might be faulty.
Each socket has to be wired by hand. It's all too easy to make a
mistake. One is supposed to check *every* single socket, connection,
fitting etc. when the job is complete.
What I'm suggesting is that somewhere an earth lead is "live" or has
been disconected/broken and it's shorting out through the conviently
connected scart lead.
What also *might* cause it is a live mains leakage into the TV aerial
lead (faulty distrubution amp, bad wiring etc) such that the braid is
live, again shorting out through the scart lead.
Do any fuses or trips blow when this happens?
Dave



--
My opinions are just that, check the facts carefully before
acting on my advice.
Please reply to newsgroup.

"Dave Spam" wrote in message
...
Derek F wrote:

"Dave Spam" wrote in message
...

Derek F wrote:


Can a Scart socket damage devices connected to it?

No, not on it's own

snip

Has anyone else experienced such a
problem? when I suggested that the Scart connection had caused the

problem

with the Marantz amplifier the repairer dismissed the idea out of hand.

I

also queried the problem with the TV manufacturer (Hitachi) who also
dismissed the idea.



I would say that you have a mains wiring fault in your house or in the
mains socket. Looks to me like either Live and Neutral are swapped over
or Live and Earth are swapped over.
In a modern house the neutral and earth are bonded together.
I suggest that you get your house wiring/sockets/mains leads/13A plug
wiring checked by a competant Electrician.
Dave


--

As I live in a block of flats that were all rewired at the same time
presumably all the other 25 occupiers would have the same problem if
that is
the actual fault?
Derek.


Not neccessarily. Only one socket or one 13A plug might be faulty.
Each socket has to be wired by hand. It's all too easy to make a
mistake. One is supposed to check *every* single socket, connection,
fitting etc. when the job is complete.
What I'm suggesting is that somewhere an earth lead is "live" or has
been disconected/broken and it's shorting out through the conviently
connected scart lead.
What also *might* cause it is a live mains leakage into the TV aerial
lead (faulty distrubution amp, bad wiring etc) such that the braid is
live, again shorting out through the scart lead.
Do any fuses or trips blow when this happens?
Dave
Each time it has been a different TV aerial (would you believe that I have
four on our roof) and different 13 amp sockets. I am now going to "phone a
friend" who was a senior engineer with Scottish Power.
Derek.

Each time it has been a different TV aerial (would you believe that I have
four on our roof) and different 13 amp sockets. I am now going to "phone a
friend" who was a senior engineer with Scottish Power.

Could still be swapped around at your fuse board, which would not affect
anyone else.

You could get one of those plug-in testers, they're the quickest way of
finding wiring faults. I don't think they can detect earth-neutral shorts
or swaps though.

I'd guess you have a dodgy earth somewhere anyway. Any hums on any
equipment?


---
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"Peter G Sheppard" wrote in message
...
Each time it has been a different TV aerial (would you believe that I
have
four on our roof) and different 13 amp sockets. I am now going to "phone
a
friend" who was a senior engineer with Scottish Power.

Could still be swapped around at your fuse board, which would not affect
anyone else.

You could get one of those plug-in testers, they're the quickest way of
finding wiring faults. I don't think they can detect earth-neutral shorts
or swaps though.

I'd guess you have a dodgy earth somewhere anyway. Any hums on any
equipment?

No hums or haws.
Derek.

"Dave Spam" wrote in message
...
Derek F wrote:

"Dave Spam" wrote in message
...

Derek F wrote:


"Dave Spam" wrote in message
.. .


Derek F wrote:



Can a Scart socket damage devices connected to it?

No, not on it's own

snip

Has anyone else experienced such a
problem? when I suggested that the Scart connection had caused the

problem


with the Marantz amplifier the repairer dismissed the idea out of
hand.

I


also queried the problem with the TV manufacturer (Hitachi) who also
dismissed the idea.



I would say that you have a mains wiring fault in your house or in the
mains socket. Looks to me like either Live and Neutral are swapped
over
or Live and Earth are swapped over.
In a modern house the neutral and earth are bonded together.
I suggest that you get your house wiring/sockets/mains leads/13A plug
wiring checked by a competant Electrician.
Dave


--

As I live in a block of flats that were all rewired at the same time
presumably all the other 25 occupiers would have the same problem if

that is

the actual fault?
Derek.



Not neccessarily. Only one socket or one 13A plug might be faulty.
Each socket has to be wired by hand. It's all too easy to make a
mistake. One is supposed to check *every* single socket, connection,
fitting etc. when the job is complete.
What I'm suggesting is that somewhere an earth lead is "live" or has
been disconected/broken and it's shorting out through the conviently
connected scart lead.
What also *might* cause it is a live mains leakage into the TV aerial
lead (faulty distrubution amp, bad wiring etc) such that the braid is
live, again shorting out through the scart lead.
Do any fuses or trips blow when this happens?
Dave

Each time it has been a different TV aerial (would you believe that I
have
four on our roof) and different 13 amp sockets. I am now going to "phone
a
friend" who was a senior engineer with Scottish Power.
Derek.


Odd, very odd. A close examination and thorough check is now in order.
Dave

Sounds expensive:-)
Derek.