1935 GE Model A-53 AM/SW Tombstone Radio

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

OK So I managed to pick up at a local computer store a 700W EVGA Branded power supply for $85 and I Installed it in my computer and its dead silent as far as EMI/RFI noise goes.

Unfortunately my housemate's power supply is still as mean, nasty and noisy as ever.

In fact, I took my recently acquired Sony AM only transistor radio around the house and I figured out (and I should of figured it out sooner) that my Housemate's computer power supply is using the whole house's wiring system as a giant antenna (think of those old capacitive coupled FM Antennas from back in the day that used to use the whole house wiring system as a giant FM Dipole Antenna) and so the EMI/RFI noise being emitted by my housemate's computer power supply is being radiated all throughout the house via the house's old ungrounded romex wiring (yes you heard that right UNGROUNDED romex wiring).

The fact that this house is still utilizing its original 90+ year old ungrounded romex wiring that is being concealed with modern grounded outlets (that are actually ungrounded clear back to the breaker box) that is why the my radios are affected by EMI/RFI noise so easily, including battery sets, because the
el cheapo computer power supplies are acting like a small radio transmitter of sorts and radiating a "radio signal" all through out the house with the ungrounded wiring acting as an "antenna" of sorts.

I don't know if Romex was around 90 years ago. The house might be wired in BX cable. BX has been around since the early 20's. It has a flexible steel armor.
Anyway, it's a code violation to install a grounding receptacle to replace a non grounding receptacle, unless it can be effectively grounded.
Some shady electricians tie the neutral conductor to the ground terminal to appear that the receptacle is grounded.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

I don't know if Romex was around 90 years ago. The house might be wired in BX cable. BX has been around since the early 20's. It has a flexible steel armor.
Anyway, it's a code violation to install a grounding receptacle to replace a non grounding receptacle, unless it can be effectively grounded.
Some shady electricians tie the neutral conductor to the ground terminal to appear that the receptacle is grounded.

I'm sure its Romex, very early Romex, its got a black cloth outer sheathing and then 2 inner rubber insulated solid copper conductors (black and white respectively for hot and neutral), no grounding conductors present whatsoever.

My guess is that the lack of a grounding conductor at the box and going elsewhere in the house is why there's so much RFI/EMI Noise radiating throughout the house from my housemate's computer power supply.

My landlord when he bought this house for his son (my housemate) he had the house completely gutted supposedly and redone, which when they did that, I'm kind of surprised that he didn't have the place wired up to code, but he didn't I think he just more or less just "put lipstick on the pig" so to speak and called it good enough.

In other words he left the old ungrounded wiring in place and put grounded outlets into place to hide the fact that there was no grounded wiring in place and just went from there.

I'm actually surprised this place passed inspection with as many corners as they cut.

I can get a picture of the old wiring for you so you can see what it is that's in my house.