# Why is my TV humming? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 18, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199 "2008-09-18T19:45:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/1 "2008-09-18T19:45:53Z")
… only on Video 3? It just started today and it doesn’t hum on any other input. Video 3 is a home-built media PC. The TV hums when the computer is off, though. It’s extremely annoying. It’s a regular old HDTV, not a plasma or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/2 "2008-09-18T19:54:18Z")
It doesn’t know the words. It’s the flyback transformer, probably. Are you saying that it only does it when displaying a blank screen from the turned-off PC? ETA: Actually, maybe it’s not. From where does the hum originate? If you press the mute button, does it cease? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/3 "2008-09-18T20:10:55Z")
No, it hums whenever it’s on Video 3 whether the PC is on or not. It does not hum on videos 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, or 7. I didn’t try muting it. I’ll check tonight. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/4 "2008-09-18T20:18:25Z")
Does it hum when the PC is disconnected? Just powering off may not be enough. If it still hums when the PC is completely unhooked then it’s the TV. If the humming stops when the cord is removed, then it’s the connection. Gotta figure out which it is before how to fix it. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/5 "2008-09-18T20:44:12Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Does it hum when the PC is disconnected? Just powering off may not be enough. If it still hums when the PC is completely unhooked then it’s the TV. If the humming stops when the cord is removed, then it’s the connection. Gotta figure out which it is before how to fix it. And if it hums even when the PC is off, (try unplugging the PC as well as anything else plugged into the PC (what I mean is, unplug your speakers, USB hub etc from the wall) to see if it stops), it could be a ground loop issue…which sucks. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/6 "2008-09-18T20:53:46Z")
Ground loop was my first thought, too. Are they both plugged in to the same outlet? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/7 "2008-09-18T20:58:26Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Ground loop was my first thought, too. Are they both plugged in to the same outlet? As well as all the periperals (printer, modem, hub, network gear) anything plugged into a different outlet could cause that. Then there’s issues with the phone line or cable line being at the same ground potential. Even then there can still be problems (my name is Joey P and I have a ground loop problem, it sucks). ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/8 "2008-09-19T01:59:16Z")
It’s never been a problem before today - why now? Yes, the sound mutes with the mute button. I diggled around with the connections with the computer off and the TV on, and that fixed it when I unplugged and replugged the end of the sound cord that goes to the computer (the green thing.) Then I turned on the computer and it was back. It goes away if I unplug the green thing, but it’s back if you even touch the end of the green thing to any bare metal on the computer. It’s not like there’s another outlet to plug anything into - why wasn’t this a problem until today? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/9 "2008-09-19T02:07:39Z")
Okay, I crawled back there an umpteenth time and they’re both definitely plugged into the same power strip. Every time I squeeze myself back there the TV stand takes a chunk out of my leg. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/10 "2008-09-19T02:10:03Z")
If it matters, by the way, the video from the PC goes through a funny little box from Radio Shack and into S-Video, and the audio goes through one of those headphone-jack-looking-things and into the red and white audio guys. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/11 "2008-09-19T14:32:19Z")
…sob… bump? I was getting shamefully into _Bones_. I’m not proud of it, but the hum doesn’t help. My boyfriend is sure I broke it, but he’s on a shoot for the next couple days and can’t really look at it. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/12 "2008-09-19T15:22:06Z")
Are all the other things that are connected to the computer plugged in to the same strip (or at least the same outlet) as well? Other things plugged into the TV? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/13 "2008-09-19T15:31:05Z")
A cable going bad or not solidly connected could do the noise too. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/14 "2008-09-19T17:01:30Z")
Back in the day, a good WHACK would fix many TV problems. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/15 "2008-09-19T17:55:21Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Back in the day, a good WHACK would fix many TV problems. 😉 Tried that. 🙂 Everything but the cable box is plugged into the same strip. There’s a Wii, an Xbox 360, a PS2, and a DVD player in that strip along with the TV and PC. The cable box is plugged into the other plug on that outlet, with no strip. (We can’t have any more electronics in the living room 'cause we’re out of electricity for them. There is no. more. room.) Himself wants to try using a cheater to bypass the ground on the computer, but that’s not really a long-term solution, is it? Is that even safe? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/16 "2008-09-19T18:41:39Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Himself wants to try using a cheater to bypass the ground on the computer, but that’s not really a long-term solution, is it? Is that even safe? I’ve never heard of that solving this kind of problem. Is there any chance you could replace the power strip with another one to see if maybe that’s where the problem is? Outside of that, I agree that you could try replacing cables. And with that, my suggestions are pretty much at an end. I probably should have confessed up front that I have a very similar problem and have lived with it for a year or so because I can’t find a good solution. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/17 "2008-09-19T19:00:56Z")
But why did it start now? We’ve been using the TiFaux for a year! I was using it the very day before for hours (because what do you want when you’re home sick but that guy from Angel with his shirt off? Admit it.) and then I fired it up yesterday morning and suddenly there’s a problem. Like I said to Himself, who didn’t believe me, I didn’t touch anything! ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/18 "2008-09-19T20:18:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Why is my TV humming? It doesn’t know the words? _Sorry, old joke, but what the heck, I’m old._ ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/19 "2008-09-19T20:22:13Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > _Sorry, old joke, but what the heck, I’m old._ A little over 24 hours old here too. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199/20 "2008-09-19T20:24:28Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > If it matters, by the way, the video from the PC goes through a funny little box from Radio Shack and into S-Video, and the audio goes through one of those headphone-jack-looking-things and into the red and white audio guys. Do you have the wherewithal to temporarily bypass that box, just so you can test if that’s the point where the noise is being injected? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-tv-humming/464199.md?page=2)