USB Drive is putting noise on TV?

Question

Hi All,I have a PVR (something like Tivo) connected to my home theatre systemthat can connect to an external USB hard disk for storing movies.I bought an external hard drive and connected to my PVR and things areworking fine. The only problem is as soon as I connect USB drive (Onor Off) to my PVR I see noise lines on my TV. So some how Drive'sadaptor (that generate 5v and 12v) is putting noise on everything. Isthere anyway that I can put a capacitor somewhere to get rid of thatnoise?Thanks in advance,Homer

AJ · Accepted Answer

May try rerouting the interconnect wiring between the USB External Drive and the PVR, ??Does it cause the interference when it is plugged into the USB port but the power supply to the external drive is not connected?? Possible the power supply for the external drive is radiating RFI??

PhattyMo · Answer

That's my bet...welcome to the world of SMPS's..Try looping the power (and USB) cords through a ferrite donut/core a few turns...

Mark · Answer

If the power supply is inside the box, a possible quick fix would be to 'shield' the external box with aluminum foil. Just take out all of the electronic components from the box, and line the insides with a layer of tin foil (using glue or whatnot).

That would be the first thing I would try.

Charlie Siegrist · Answer

Circa Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:20:52 -0700 recorded as looks like Homer sounds like:

Try plugging the hard drive into a different outlet than the one powering the television, preferably one on a different circuit.

Try changing the physical location of the devices, perhaps the interference is generated through the air as opposed to through the wires.

The ferrite bead idea is worth a try, they're cheap enough. I wouldn't recommend randomly inserting capacitors into devices and transmission lines.

USB Drive is putting noise on TV?

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