Star Grounding

My star ground configuration goes to a ground rod outside the listening space but does not ground to the panel. This is against code which calls for a ground at the main box. The major reason for this configuration is my electricity is suppied by the oldest underground residential service in California (1925) and the noise on the circuits is unbelievably bad.

Some years back a manufacturer named Audio Control (well known for their EQ's and Crossovers, mainly for car audio) offered a White Paper on the subject of "Star Grounding" to anyone who requested a copy. Don't know their URL but maybe the company still offers the White Paper on the subject. The company is still going strong, so getting in touch with Audio Control shouldn't be a problem. Hope this helps anyone.

info@audiocontrol.com (425-775-8461) Mikec

Read this first: http://www.mikeholt.com/Newsletters/ig2.htm
and: http://www.engineeringharmonics.com/papers/p_gupdte.htm
If you have a ground rod for your system that is seperate from your main ground you risk large ground potential differances if you have a lightning strike near by or have a ground fault condition on one of your grounds. The code requires that the grounds be tied together.

The best way to achieve star grounding is to put 3 prong to 2 prong adapters on all of your audio components and then run a piece of 3/4" ground braid from each component's chassis ground to a single tie point and then to your SERVICE BREAKER BOX ground. This method is safe and can eliminate many ground loop problems.