sleepysurf
Well-known member
I have a challenging "ground loop" issue that has reared it's ugly head. I just took delivery of my "dream" CJ CT-5 preamp (my review will follow, once it's broken in). After initially setting it up, I ended up with a horrible loud background hum, making it impossible to even use, but after hours of trouble-shooting, discovered it's due to a ground loop between my audio gear (all on a dedicated 20A line) and my video gear (all on an adjacent standard 15A line). My previous preamp (Modwright) was apparently immune to this problem. My audio and video gear have multiple interconnections (e.g. my Oppo BDP-83 doubles as my audio transport and DVD/blu-ray player, and I also feed my Denon receiver pre-outs to the CT-5 home theater bypass). The problem is, in order to have enough outlets for all my gear, I need THREE power conditioners-- a 2-outlet Running Springs Duke (for my CJ amp and preamp), and a Belkin PF60 for the rest of my two-channel gear. Both of those are plugged into the 20A dedicated line. All my video gear is fed by a Monster HTS 3500 connected to a 15A outlet. As an experiment, I temporarily plugged my CT-5 into the Belkin (since it draws low power), and then plugged the Monster conditioner into the freed up Duke outlet. That put everything on the same 20A line, and eliminated the hum.
I know it's not ideal to daisy-chain power conditioners, but I need at least 18 outlets for all the electronics in my listening/family room! I suppose I could have an electrician run another 20A line from the same circuit as the first, which (presumably) would prevent a new ground loop. However, at this point, I don't hear (or see) any degradation in my A/V performance, so am thinking to just leave things as is.
What are your thoughts about this? BTW, given the frequency of lightning strikes and power outtages/surges in Tampa, I must have protection for all my gear. I need both the Running Springs and the Belkin for the two-channel side, as only the Belkin offers the Cat5 surge protection needed for my Squeezebox network connection.
I know it's not ideal to daisy-chain power conditioners, but I need at least 18 outlets for all the electronics in my listening/family room! I suppose I could have an electrician run another 20A line from the same circuit as the first, which (presumably) would prevent a new ground loop. However, at this point, I don't hear (or see) any degradation in my A/V performance, so am thinking to just leave things as is.
What are your thoughts about this? BTW, given the frequency of lightning strikes and power outtages/surges in Tampa, I must have protection for all my gear. I need both the Running Springs and the Belkin for the two-channel side, as only the Belkin offers the Cat5 surge protection needed for my Squeezebox network connection.
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