Prickling sensation when touching WiiM Amp

[dimezis]

I also have this problem, although plugging HDMI doesn't resolve it, I guess because my LG C9 (EU version) doesn't have a grounding pin in its power cable either.

 

[d00]

The same problem with Ultra + Vibelink. Ultra was not grounded because I use it with an external SU-1 DAC. The touch of the Ultra itself did not cause a problem, but when I touch, for example, the Ultra with one hand and Vibelink with the other at the same time, I feel the electric digging and the electric field. I solved this by pinching one RCA cable between Vibelink and Ultra and it seems OK.

V12 trigger also grounds the device in between? I have to buy a cable.

No, V12 trigger didn't work.

 

[artishard116]

I also have the prickling issue (in Germany too). To make this situation even stranger, I can make the audio on my Ultra drop out just by touching the hdmi cable from the tv to the case of the WiiM (without plugging it in). This is while streaming via WiFi and outputting audio over coax to my genelecs. Can also see a tiny little arc of electricity when touching the hdmi to the case.

Reversing the power plug does make it less severe.

 

[mlsstl]

I don't know anything about German house wiring, but here in the US it is not uncommon to find wall sockets that are improperly wired -- grounds that are poorly or not at all connected or the neutral and hot wires are reversed. Those issues can cause noise issues and/or create shock hazards. Here they have inexpensive testers that will quickly show if that's an issue. You might check to see if similar test devices are available in Germany.

 

[d00]

I don't know anything about German house wiring, but here in the US it is not uncommon to find wall sockets that are improperly wired -- grounds that are poorly or not at all connected or the neutral and hot wires are reversed. Those issues can cause noise issues and/or create shock hazards. Here they have inexpensive testers that will quickly show if that's an issue. You might check to see if similar test devices are available in Germany.

In Poland We probably have the same as in DE. After all, it's EU. I just bought a tester for EU sockets - we'll see what it shows in my house.

 

[onlyoneme]

The touch of the Ultra itself did not cause a problem, but when I touch, for example, the Ultra with one hand and Vibelink with the other at the same time, I feel the electric digging and the electric field.

Nothing unusual, your body acted as the missing ground wire.

 

[WiimyselfandI]

I see you're in Germany. In the US, house wiring does have neutral and hot wires. 120 volt wall plugs are supplied by one of the two hot (black or red colored) circuits coming into the house. The hot wire is 120 volts over neutral (white), so the 60 Hz voltage swing takes place wholly above neutral. A third "ground" (bare) wire is present for additional safety. The other hot wire coming into the house is 180 degrees out of phase to the first hot wire, so when you have a socket that uses both hot wires, you now have a 240 volt circuit for appliances like stoves, dryers, AC and the like.
Back to the original subject, wall sockets can be wired incorrectly and this can be one cause of tingle the OP is experiencing. Hence, $10 or $20 for a wall socket tester is a good investment.

I come across that all the time doing remodels. I big thing you also see often in older(ish) houses in the US is improper grounding where the original cabling was BX wire (the metal clad armadillo looking stuff) and/or metal conduit that use the metal casing and metal boxes in lieu of a grounding wire back to the panel for ground, but somewhere along the line someone modified a circuit improperly NM wire (e.g. Romex) and plastic boxes and broke continuity. Same thing in houses new and old with people splicing in PEX or PVC in formerly all metal water piping systems, or installers using CSST (the yellow coated flex tubing) in a section of gas line without properly grounding it to maintain earth ground continuity. Between multiple homeowners, plumbers, HVAC installers, big box stor appliance "installers" etc., a good percentage of homes in this country have people messing with systems that either are or have the ability to become energized without knowing or caring about how to properly do so. Add a massive layer of clueless people trying to be DIY influencers posting a plethora of videos that show people how easy it is to DIY when what they're showing is the wrong way and it creates a lot of potential messes.

 

[harkpabst]

I don't know anything about German house wiring, but here in the US it is not uncommon to find wall sockets that are improperly wired -- grounds that are poorly or not at all connected or the neutral and hot wires are reversed.

German power outlets have a safety ground (which might indeed be improperly wired in older houses), but hot and neutral don't have fixed positions. The plug always fits when rotated by 180⁰. Every device must be able.to cope with this, just like with class 2 devices,.which don't have safety ground (like the WiiM Ultra, the Wiim Amp or the WiiM AMP Pro).

 

[artishard116]

Yeah it seems like a WiiM issue I’ve never experienced reproducible dropouts with any other source in any German home.

 

[PS Panda]

I wire my Ultra to a radiator water pipe via the outer of the (unused) sub output (although any unused RCA would do). This eliminates the prickling sensation and a slight residual buzz on the MM phono input. It's the single earthing point for the system, so no issues with earth loops. UK location, and my sockets have been checked for correct wiring.

 

[hgo58]

I wire my Ultra to a radiator water pipe via the outer of the (unused) sub output (although any unused RCA would do). This eliminates the prickling sensation and a slight residual buzz on the MM phono input. It's the single earthing point for the system, so no issues with earth loops. UK location, and my sockets have been checked for correct wiring.

The Ultra has a ground connector

 

[slartibartfast]

The Ultra has a ground connector

Should he connect the ground connector to the water pipe

 

[hgo58]

Should he connect the ground connector to the water pipe

Yes. That is what it is for, when you want to ground the WiiM Ultra. Usually used with a phone connection but can be used generally.

 

[jed1]

A ground issue can potentially lead to a ground loop problem when other audio / video equipment connected use different ground points. I use 3-prong (i.e. US power plug with ground pin) USB-C power adopter for WiiM Pro/Pro+. I always use this type of power supply for MacBook. No tingling sensation.

 

[PS Panda]

The Ultra has a ground connector

Well observed. However, I reserve that one for my turntable, and I already had an earth to RCA outer wire from a previous configuration.

 

[rccarguy]

Hi,

With two of my four WiiM Amp I've noticed that, when touching the case, there seems to be some level of electric current present on the metal casing.

It e.g. prickles at the fingertips when moving them across the case. This sensation is stronger in the back half, but also present in the front.

This is not a static discharge, but constantly present as long as the amplifier is plugged in. It disappears when unplugging it. No change when turning the plug around.

Is that common and, most importantly, safe?

Try flipping the figure of 8 mains cable, that helped with my technics tape deck

 

[slartibartfast]

Try flipping the figure of 8 mains cable, that helped with my technics tape deck

He mentioned trying that in the post you quoted written more than a year ago.