Another cheater plug thread


OK. So on a couple of other threads, opinions of cheater plugs to tame system hum range from "If it works use it" to "you're going to die in a fiery inferno." In my case, I used a cheater plug between my power supply and my pre-amp to finally get rid of a year-old hum problem. the power supply is a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet with only two outlets that supplies only my amp and pre-amp. Because the PS is still grounded - I think - all I did was break the ground circuit between the two components. So the question is, do I still have any grounding on my pre-amp here, just on the basis of being plugged into a grounded power supply? I wouldn't think so, but I'm not an engineer. Also, what is the benefit of being grounded vs. ungrounded in this situation?

Ready, set, fight!
grimace

Showing 1 response by rower30

If your chassis is NOT grounded to the wall outlet ground it will be floating above ground. With a VOM set to continuity, touch the chassis to the wall oulet "ground" and it should measure continuity showing it is indeed grounded. Removing a chassis ground might break a ground loop and sound good but it is deadly if you touch the unit's chassis, and any conductor to ground. If there is a fault in the system, the system is looking for a ground through YOU someday, and to earth. THAT is WHY the chassis has to be properly grounded at all times.

I would heavily advise to not let your chassis float ungrounded, and fix the ground loop.