Need a resource to study proper grounding techniques for audio/video/network systems

[handimatt]

I am needing a resource to study proper grounding techniques for audio/video/network systems. Does Mike Holt or anyone else have a book that goes into a lot of detail. Thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[jtinge]

I am needing a resource to study proper grounding techniques for audio/video/network systems. Does Mike Holt or anyone else have a book that goes into a lot of detail. Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Do a web search on Mid Atlantic Products Grounding Practices and you can find a link to a good document on grounding practices for rack mount equipment and audio systems.

 

[templdl]

I am needing a resource to study proper grounding techniques for audio/video/network systems. Does Mike Holt or anyone else have a book that goes into a lot of detail. Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Any time and if at all posible depending upon the size of the system I always take my loads from the same line of the panel. For example it is common for a load center to have 2 vertical rows of breakers where every other breaker one one side is feen from 120v line to neutral as well as the breaker directly across from it. The otherside is the just opposite with it being feed from the other 120v line. There is 240v between the 2 lines.
What I try to do is fed the system from one line such that there is 120v L-N and L-G.. BUT, when measuring the voltage between the lines that feed each of the devices it should measure ZERO volts. In doing so I should keep the potential between each piece of equipment in check and reduction the incidences of ground loops.
If you mc the ones be feeding loads from opposite lines the line conductors that feed two pieces of equipment will measure 240v between them. Normally this isn't an issue but with sound equipment you are often fighting to find the source of hum and noise.
Just a thought.

 

[John120/240]

I've always heard that Motorola R56 was the last word for electronic equipment grounding. The SOARES book on grounding is a well respected text. Google either or both.

 

[zbang]

I've always heard that Motorola R56 was the last word for electronic equipment grounding. The SOARES book on grounding is a well respected text.

You can usually find used copies of Soares from online booksellers. Jensen Transformers has some good application notes for audio.

For data networks, if you're doing twisted-pair Ethernet, then don't worry about it at all, it's already transformer-isolated at each end. Other data networks will have requirements, but it's such a broad topic. And of course, anything optical is isolated .

Beware, or double beware, of the many myths of audio and video grounding from so-called audiophile publications. Many of their suggestions are, ahem, not based in science. Or they're terribly unsafe. Or both.