The other day my girlfriend says to me "I was closing the curtains (near metal patio doors) and your radio (antenna) bit me (gave her a shock). I said get off, that is an antenna and their is no voltage in an antenna, certainly not enough to give you a shock and I never thought anything of in again. Yesterday she says "I it did it again" so I went to the patio door and grabbed the door and touched my arm on the antenna at the same time and I got a shock. I thought wow this is wierd. I got out my meter and measuerd 120VAC between the antenna and the patio door? The voltage goes away when I turn the (RCA Victrola 9Y5) on!! My question is why would an antenna have this kind of voltage on it only when the radio is off? The wire is an insolated one coming out of the bottom of the chassis and the end is exposed so I just clipped a longer one on maybee this isn't the antenna? I only get reception when attached to it however. Anyway, I will check it out as I have the schem. I guess one should listen to his girlfiend!

Your radio will have a capacitor from the chassis to AC line. This will allow a slight current to flow to the chassis. There will be an antenna coil with a path to chassis so the antenna will have this voltage. The patio door is a ground. If the radio and door are touched at the same time you can feel a shock.

Try reversing the plug. This may eliminate the problem.

Norm

: The other day my girlfriend says to me "I was closing the curtains (near metal patio doors) and your radio (antenna) bit me (gave her a shock). I said get off, that is an antenna and their is no voltage in an antenna, certainly not enough to give you a shock and I never thought anything of in again. Yesterday she says "I it did it again" so I went to the patio door and grabbed the door and touched my arm on the antenna at the same time and I got a shock. I thought wow this is wierd. I got out my meter and measuerd 120VAC between the antenna and the patio door? The voltage goes away when I turn the (RCA Victrola 9Y5) on!! My question is why would an antenna have this kind of voltage on it only when the radio is off? The wire is an insolated one coming out of the bottom of the chassis and the end is exposed so I just clipped a longer one on maybee this isn't the antenna? I only get reception when attached to it however. Anyway, I will check it out as I have the schem. I guess one should listen to his girlfiend!

You might add a .01 uF capacitor in series with the antenna wire, inside the radio. This will limit the AC current to 0.4 mA, a non-hazardous level. (Most people can't perceive a current less than 1 mA.) Use at least a 200 Volt one, preferably higher.

: Your radio will have a capacitor from the chassis to AC line. This will allow a slight current to flow to the chassis. There will be an antenna coil with a path to chassis so the antenna will have this voltage. The patio door is a ground. If the radio and door are touched at the same time you can feel a shock.

: Try reversing the plug. This may eliminate the problem.

: Norm

:

: : The other day my girlfriend says to me "I was closing the curtains (near metal patio doors) and your radio (antenna) bit me (gave her a shock). I said get off, that is an antenna and their is no voltage in an antenna, certainly not enough to give you a shock and I never thought anything of in again. Yesterday she says "I it did it again" so I went to the patio door and grabbed the door and touched my arm on the antenna at the same time and I got a shock. I thought wow this is wierd. I got out my meter and measuerd 120VAC between the antenna and the patio door? The voltage goes away when I turn the (RCA Victrola 9Y5) on!! My question is why would an antenna have this kind of voltage on it only when the radio is off? The wire is an insolated one coming out of the bottom of the chassis and the end is exposed so I just clipped a longer one on maybee this isn't the antenna? I only get reception when attached to it however. Anyway, I will check it out as I have the schem. I guess one should listen to his girlfiend!