Ground Lift plugged into Powerstrip Safe?

[scott_free]

Hello,

I am a musician with a home studio. I recently finished building a custom computer for recording. The new computer uses the same sound card and is plugged into the same wall outlet as before, but now I am getting disk access noise, mouse movement noise through my speakers.

I tied using my old PSU, disconnecting everything that was not necessary to run, but the noise remained. I then tried a ground lift and bingo, the noise disappeared.

Is it safe to use a ground lift when it is plugged into a grounded powerstrip?

scott

I realize this is probably a dumb question...but I do not know anything about electricity. The groundlift I am using is just a 3plug to 2plug adapte.

Ultimately, I know I need to locate the root of the problem inside the computer...I have two ideas to try, but it will be time consuming and take away from making tunes.

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

hi scott ive put this link up for everyone who like me had no idea what a groundlift was so they can have a read and try to give you an answer, i dont know myself part of me says if they make it it must be ok to use but part of me says they make heroin and ecstasy and they are not ok so.... we will see


Ground lift - What is it? What do you do with it? What do you do if you haven't got it?

 

[dragon-av]

MOre commonly known as an earth loop or ground loop its normally when you have devices with a potential difference between 2 earths and current flows, OFten happens in video equipment where you can buy off the shelf isolaters and normally its a 50Hz hum or a harmonic

 

[banny07]

hi scott ive put this link up for everyone who like me had no idea what a groundlift was so they can have a read and try to give you an answer, i dont know myself part of me says if they make it it must be ok to use but part of me says they make heroin and ecstasy and they are not ok so.... we will see


Ground lift - What is it? What do you do with it? What do you do if you haven't got it?

thanks for link mr sparks

 

[gorilla]

Hello,

I am a musician with a home studio. I recently finished building a custom computer for recording. The new computer uses the same sound card and is plugged into the same wall outlet as before, but now I am getting disk access noise, mouse movement noise through my speakers.

I tied using my old PSU, disconnecting everything that was not necessary to run, but the noise remained. I then tried a ground lift and bingo, the noise disappeared.

Is it safe to use a ground lift when it is plugged into a grounded powerstrip?

scott

I realize this is probably a dumb question...but I do not know anything about electricity. The groundlift I am using is just a 3plug to 2plug adapte.

Ultimately, I know I need to locate the root of the problem inside the computer...I have two ideas to try, but it will be time consuming and take away from making tunes.

I have had a wee thinky about this and from what I can remember when I use to help out with various stage management rolls at my old school (done it for 3 years and done over 100 different productions) we used a whole host of different electrical equipment connected in to powerstrips that were all grounded.

Our audio gear was susceptible a whole load of interference issues of which one was solved by using ground lifts, Other issues were solved by basic rewires and relocation of some equipment. The only thing about doing a ground lift is making sure the system you use doesn't affect the earth for other appliances, usually though they are good.

If it works for you keep a eye on it and just be aware to isolate everything if you need to move it. I doubt the earth for your computer will be seriously effected, ours was never effected.

 

[scott_free]

I appreciate the advice. I think it will buy me some time until I can do open exploritory surgery on the computer