Equipment Grounding

[Tim Ressel]

Okay, let me jump in here. I will address noise, not safety, as all of my gear
is transformer isolated. The problem here is ground loops. The equipment grounds
are tied together through the power supply. Due to voltage drops the ground
potential at the jacks is different than at the power supply connections. Each
module will have different currents flowing therefore different voltage drops
and different potentials at the 'grounds' of the connectors. When you attach a
patch cord with shield connected at both ends, current flows through the shield.
This current will induce a voltage on the inner conductor.

The way I have dealt with this for years very successfully is this: Star-ground
all of the modules together at one big honkin' ground point. I have used a 1" x
1" copper bar to make these connections. Then you attach the shield grounds on
one side ONLY. This removes the ground loops, and the shield can still drain
down into one module. This method works really well.

--Tim Ressel