DIY Active Ground Box


I recently received a custom cable that has three loop-ground spades that are linked to the cable's shield. The cable was originally designed for phonograph use, but my customized version is being used in a digital to analog function. The manufacturer left the loop-spades in. The manufacturer said I could just use electric tape to "cap them off."   The ground cables are not 100% necessary in this application. However, they are an exposed conductor. I know that I can enhance their performance by treating them as a floating shield by using an active ground.

I was thinking it would be cheaper and more practical to make my own. Does anyone have experience doing this? If so, can you share your design ideas?

The concept I have seen and want to build on, is making a wooden box that is coated internally with copper plates. Then use an IEC C14 socket to attach the ground lead to the copper plates via a solid copper cable.  Then create a simple plug using a NEMA 1-15 connector where only the ground lead is connected.

Then insert banana plug sockets that also attach to the copper plates via a copper cable. Then connect the spades to the banana plug outlets.

Once this contraption is plugged into the wall socket, it should effectively attach to the house's ground.

Thoughts?

128x128guakus

@thyce 

I guess I should disclose my system.

The socket is Audioquest NRG Edison with a PSAudio Noise Harvester in one socket, the other is the Shunyata Research Venom V16 power conditioner using their Reference Delta V2 XC high current cable. 

The problem is the custom Synergistic Research Atmosphere Alive Phono cable.  I needed a cable that went from 3.5 Stereo Mini Pin to Left/Right RCA.  When I ordered the Foundation version, they left off the ground loops.  For some reason, they decided to leave the ground loops on. Three of them.  One for the 3.5 mini pin and one each to the RCA connectors.  They're connected to the braided shield, so really, it has a floating shield. 

I know Synergistic sells a "ground block" and other companies sell "ground block" products, but I was hoping to DIY a version. I cannot simply take these 6 inch cables with an open spade and just magically connect them to the wall socket or even the Venom V16.  They need a way to get there.

My idea is, any signals the shield captures, would drain into the box and the box drains into the actual shared ground as all the rest of the equipment. :)

Does that make a little more sense? :)

@guakus Something I’m not clear on, ground wires on one end, what will be the termination on the source end of this cable?

Wouldn’t the ground wires attach to the grounding box and then go to the Shunyata?

 

@lowrider57 

Remember, this was supposed to be a phono cable and those have a ground, typically. Due to the type of customization, Synergistic suggested the Phono cable as the base.

One end is stereo 3.5 stereo mini pin; like a headphone jack. The other end is two RCA, one left channel and one right channel. Synergistic left in the ground wires, as if it was still going to be a phono cable. I can't stand the fact that there are three wires with silver spades just hanging free. :(

This cable comes out of a USB DAC and plugs into a pair of powered speakers. Audioengine HD6.