Strange studio power issues.

[Arpangel]

This is really crazy, and it scared me a lot.
Last night, I went into the studio, the power was completely off, nothing turned on at all.
As I walked over to a rack on the table, my Behringer FX2000 started to power up, when I say "started" and this is weird, only the lower part of the display lit up, not all of it, my hand then touched an MXR Iso Brick, the red light on the top, the "bad power" warning light came on, this really freaked me out.
As I said, nothing is switched on, this ring main was recently completely rewired, so it can’t be bad wiring.
I’m wondering if there is an earth leakage, coming from somewhere in the house, that’s leaking into the new basement consumer unit, is that possible?

[Wonks]

As I said, nothing is switched on, this ring main was recently completely rewired, so it can’t be bad wiring.

Tell that to Zukan!

[Arpangel]

As I said, nothing is switched on, this ring main was recently completely rewired, so it can’t be bad wiring.

Tell that to Zukan!

Brand new 2.5m cable, going back to a brand new fuse box, with earth leakage trips.
Metal wall boxes with double pole switched two gang sockets.

[Wonks]

First a new incoming mains connection burnt half his house down, then the remedial electrical work was condemned as dangerous and had to be completely redone.

New only = good if done by the right people.

[Arpangel]

First a new incoming mains connection burnt half his house down, then the remedial electrical work was condemned as dangerous and had to be completely redone.

New only = good if done by the right people.

I don’t know how we could have done this better, all wiring in correct trunking, correct height, well over specced for the use it’s getting, the tails from the fuse box go straight into the incoming mains from the street, via a multi-way connection block, so I can’t see how any stray leakages could break through.
We had a qualified electrician look at it, and he said it was fine, they’ve done work for us before and they are very good, well up on the regs etc.
This has only just started, the only thing I can think of is that damp has got in somewhere, but why would things light up uf nothings switched on?

[Folderol]

Sounds more like static to me. What clothes/footwear did you have on? Did you walk on any synthetic carpets?

[Arpangel]

Sounds more like static to me. What clothes/footwear did you have on? Did you walk on any synthetic carpets?

Yes that did cross my mind, I don’t wear shoes or socks indoors, but we have a lot of very deep pile synthetic carpets, much to my annoyance (my partner likes them) I hate them.
But, on the way down to our basement, I have to touch handrails, etc, so I would have thought they would earth me.
Also, when I’ve experienced static before, there’s always been a spark, no sparks happening now.

[Wonks]

When you say 'switched off', is this at each individual item or at a mains switch on the wall?

[Wonks]

I'd be unplugging some IEC leads, getting my multimeter out and checking if there were any voltages present at the ends with the mains switch in the off position.

[Arpangel]

I'd be unplugging some IEC leads, getting my multimeter out and checking if there were any voltages present at the ends with the mains switch in the off position.

It’s switched off at the wall.
I’ll get my meter out and do that this morning.

[MarkOne]

Could it be a portal to the dread dimension?

Were there any suspicious folk in black cowl's lurking around your party at the weekend?

See if there is an independent consulting wizard in your area who can come and check for residual magical energy.

Failing that I really don't know. Static? and Yeah, voltages on sockets with the power off.

[Folderol]

It’s switched off at the wall.

This might be significant. Is it a damp wall? Depending on what type of switch it is, there could be enough damp getting to the switch contacts for a very small amount of leakage, and if all the kit is on switching PSUs, one or two could weakly try to fire up. If any of the kit used a conventional transformer (and was itself switched on) that wouldn't happen.