[sdiy] Grounding of inputs/outputs for modules

[Neil Johnson]

Hi Tom,

> I'm building some Eurorack synth modules. Normally when wiring up jack sockets, I'd have the sleeve grounded, and the signal on the tip. Is the ground necessary for synth modules? Seems to me that with everything on the same power supply (and therefore the same ground) I'm going to be creating lots of little ground loops if I connect it.
>
> What's the standard practice for this?

The "standard" practice is one ground for everything, and all jack
sleeves grounded.  By grounding everything you actually create a
ground "mesh", so it's not as bad as you might think.

If you miss out the ground connection completely then you can only
make connections to modules in the same modular rack.  You won't be so
successful in plugging in anything else (e.g., guitar effects pedal)
as there won't be a common ground.

In my DuaLFO Euro module I separate the internal signal/power ground
from front panel/jack ground and route them both to separate pins on
the power header (the middle pair of ground pins are "frame").  This
takes the panel ground back to the power supply or distro separately
from the signal/power ground.  And while not minimizing ground loops
as such, it does help separate the large ground loop wires (patch
leads, panels) from the signal/power ground.

What's nice about this scheme is that it is fully-compatible with
existing Euro power distribution systems.

Neil
-- 
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Homepage: http://www.njohnson.co.uk