Death Switch

Questions and Answers

From Dr.Distortio--(at)--bs.mhv.net Thu Jun 8 17:33:11 CDT 1995
From: Dr.Distortio--(at)--bs.mhv.net (Dr Distortion)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.amps
Subject: Re: Death switch.
Date: 8 Jun 1995 17:46:23 GMT

Mark Garvin (mgarvi--(at)--anix.com) wrote:

: 2. Break the shielding from the guitar cable going to amp #2.

Assuming both amps have grounded AC outlets, that's the best and easiest way.
I would never try to float the ground at the outlet.

: 3. Make sure both amps' ground switches (death switches) are
: disabled.
: In any event, the ground (death) switch is just one incredible
: invention. How many toasty guitarists result?

I hate that stupid fuckin' switch, and I remove it from all my amps. I
also remove any fixed (unswitched) "grounding" caps that may be present
>from the AC line to the chassis. I got bit by my share of hot chassis in
my pre-technical gigging days, when I didn't know about that cap going to
the chassis. If I do end up using an amp equipped with the "death" cap
(like if I'm using someone else's amp), I check between the chassis and
earth ground with a multimeter set to AC volts. I adjust the switch or
the plug orientation for the lowest voltage (usually 1-2 volts if the cap
is going to the neutral line).

Index:

Amp Shipping	Dealer Cost Vs List Price	Death Switch	Diodes on Plates
Dont Use Stereo Speakers	Effects FAQ	Effects FAQ	Effects FAQ
Fix Reverb Ground Hum	Flea Market Checkout	Hammond Organ Buys	Hammond Tonewheel Organs
How Long Do Tubes Last	How Many Watts	Magnetics for Morons	Microphone Placement
NOS defined	Stage Placement	What Are Optoisolators	What are orange drops
What Dealers Pay	What is 6V6GTA	What is a Fetron	What is a Klystron
What is a Plexi	What is Bias	What is Blue Glow	What is Ground Lift
What is Kinkless Tetrode	What is Single Ended	What Is Tube Glow	What JBL Means
Which 4x12 Impedance	Who Made Delco Tubes	Who Makes Kendrick Spkrs	Why 16ohm Loads
Why AC on heaters	Why Blackface an Amp	Why Bleeder Resistors	Why Cap Value Spread
Why Care About Phase	Why Change SF Lead Dress	Why Microphonic Cords	Why Not Bias By Scope
Why Opto Trem	Why rectifier is separate	Why Select Highest Z Tap	Why Sprague Caps
Why Use Grid Stoppers	Why Use Standby