I hope @jea48 reads this thread. He's the man who knows grounding schemes.
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?
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@fatdaddy2 |
FINAL UPDATE: |
I believe you don't need a box if you are connecting the signal grounds to an outlet ground. If you are using a box by itself to dissipate EMI then make an antenna in a V shape inside the box with a simple banana plug. I fill my boxes with quartz crystals, Rochelle salts, and tourmaline. I use wooden boxes and also have purchased some cylindrical cardboard tubes for the passive devices. So I use both methods and for the outlet I made a one wire plug for the ground only and a banana jack sticking out the back to make connections from the signal grounds to the plug. I also use the Ground Master for power grounds onto the Puritan and separate ground rod. I may make a parallel run with another groundmaster for the signal grounds. |
- 22 posts total