Electrical Ground Loop Hum

There are two basic types.

Electrical ground loop hum.

Pretty much any device with a motor hair dryers and blenders for instance as well as light dimmers and failing fluorescent. In part the guitar s ground connection helps remove unwanted. This can be caused by devices that introduce an electric potential to the ground connection including peripheral devices connected to your computer. Chances are you can more easily isolate a problem if it just starting with the addition of a new piece of equipment.

Ground loops are hardly the only thing that cause electrical noise. Ground loops can be geenrally identified by a low hum 60hz in the us 50hz in europe through the sound system. Reconnect each source again one at a time and listen for the hum to return. A ground or earth connection is a term that relates to a multitude of topics related to electrical engineering for our intents and purposes a proper ground connection is an essential part of your guitar s wiring.

The same system are receiving its power from a different ground than other components or the ground potential between two pieces of equipment is not. It s most likely a cabling issue that is allowing noise from the building s ac power lines into your equipment called ground loop hum. This is caused by a difference in electrical potential at grounding points. Wiring practices that protect against ground loops include ensuring that all vulnerable signal circuits are referenced to one point as ground.

Start with the processor receiver to determine if the hum buzz is source related or due to a ground loop occurring after the amplification stage note any recent changes to the system that brought on this problem. Ground loops are a major cause of noise hum and interference in audio video and computer systems. Ground loops are usually perceived as a hum or buzz in your audio signal. Differential signaling can be used to reject ground induced interference.

First you should determine the type of hum you are dealing with. But what exactly does that mean. 120hz buzz typically caused by ground loops and 60hz hum typically a result of poor shielding cable problems or close proximity to strong magnetic fields. In particular a cable tv connection.

If steps 1 and 2 were no but removing all inputs eliminates the hum it is likely you have what is called a ground loop. Ground loops are common when video equipment is connected.