[Elecraft] Mac Grounding

[Jim Brown]

On 4/12/2011 11:07 AM, Edward R. Cole wrote:
> None of my computer chassis are grounded directly to my radio
> grounds.  I made it especially that way to avoid audio ground
> loops.

That's why I abhor the phrase "ground loop"  -- it causes people to do 
exactly the WRONG thing, just as you have done. AC hum, buzz, and RFI 
are CAUSED by not bonding together equipment that is interconnected. 
Study the tutorials in the links I posted yesterday to understand why.

And, as W3FPR has observed, this same lack of bonding that causes hum, 
buzz, and RFI also can cause severe damage in the case of a lightning 
strike or power line spike.

Bottom line -- bonding equipment together, bonding it to your station 
ground, and bonding your station ground to all other grounds in your 
home, are critical both for lightning safety and for minimizing hum, 
buzz, and RFI.  Most important -- ERASE THE PHRASE "GROUND LOOP" FROM 
YOUR VOCABULARY!

73, Jim Brown K9YC