Phonoland

My AMI C seems to give off an electric shock when you touch any of the outside metal. It seems to be coming from something on the front door panel, possibly the fluorescent light fixture, because when I disconnect the fixture,it stops. This Is a Really odd problem, and I cant see any reason why the fixture would do this? I hope someone can Help me or give me a tidbit of info?????

Is this an old "C" record player, or a new (?) CD 100-C machine?
If the record player, did you change out ALL the original "117 VAC" cords? If not, it should be done. If so, look for the plug for the lamp ballast, and turn it over 180 degrees, and/or, turn the power plug over in the wall. Ron Rich

It is an old AMI With Records (78's) sorry about that, And 117 VAC" cords? you Mean The wires on the fixture going from the bulb sockets and to the starter?

No problem--I figured that it might be---
All of the "lamp cord" in those old AMi's is of a very poor quality. The insulation gets "old", and hard, and tends to fall of. This is a very unsafe situation. Sometimes it does NOT fall off, but it can "conduct", when it goes bad. Every last bit of it needs to be replaced. I strongly suggest that it be done, AND, that you plug the whole phono into a GFI curcuit at all times. If the phono trips the GFI, you have an unsafe machine !!! This can be fatal to small kids, and sometimes even big kids (like us).

The ballast might also have a short to its case.

That's a real possibility, but would affect the outside case, of the phono, only if the ballast were mounted on metal, or someone added "grounding wires" to the phono. I don't know if that ballast is mounted to wood or metal? Ballasts in those days wer usually not grounded--they ARE today, in which case a shorted (to case) ballast should blow the fuse.

Thank You Ron , I changed out some old light fixture wiring and it seems to work fine Now!
Matt

Matt,
You are welcome--but change ALL of that wire--It IS a fire hazzard !!
Ron Rich

If it's a 78 unit, the chassis is probably hot - one side of the metal amplifier chassis is connected directly to the line cord. Be careful with these.

Those grounding wires might be an attempt to make it safe.