peavey ltd 400 shocking the player

[Helmholtz]

I was just testing out the amp with and without the safety ground and on either polarity by plugging a guitar cable in and touching the tip to get a hum noise. I noticed that when the amp is grounded the hum sounds normal and it sounds the same on both polarities. However when the ground is lifted and it either polarity, when i touch the tip of the guitar cord the amp pops extremely loud and the hum is extremely loud and the dim bulb lights up like the amp is pulling abut 100 watts. the amp will normally light up the dimbulb if it is played extremely loud. Im not sure that removing the y capacitor didnt cause another kind of problem.

What you experienced is normal. Imagine a voltage of 64V between your body and amp ground hitting the input.
Problem is not the missing cap but the missing ground.
Safety class 1 equipment must not be used without safety ground. Otherwise it's not safe (danger of electrocution!).

[Greg Robinson]

I was just testing out the amp with and without the safety ground and on either polarity by plugging a guitar cable in and touching the tip to get a hum noise. I noticed that when the amp is grounded the hum sounds normal and it sounds the same on both polarities. However when the ground is lifted and it either polarity, when i touch the tip of the guitar cord the amp pops extremely loud and the hum is extremely loud and the dim bulb lights up like the amp is pulling abut 100 watts. the amp will normally light up the dimbulb if it is played extremely loud. Im not sure that removing the y capacitor didnt cause another kind of problem.

You really need to go back and re-read the thread. This is NOT safe. In fact, it wasn't safe when the amp was designed and built either - but that was just a reality of the time and place, with grounded outlets being a new and uncommon thing. That is NOT THE CASE TODAY, and there is absolutely NO reason to operate this amp in such an unsafe manner anymore. The polarity switch is now a relic of the past and completely unecessary, and really should be removed. The amp should NEVER be operated without a grounded outlet. If you think otherwise, you're putting whoever may use the amp in future in danger. End of story.

[georage]

I understand that, and appreciate your time. Thank you.