Ground Loop Question


Just curious about this....

What exactly is a ground loop and why does it affect the stereo like it does? What exactly is happening to cause this? I'm a little rusty on electrical but i know the basics and terms. I would assume a ground loop is actually where a ground gets fed back into itself and maybe oscilates and causes the hum? or am i totally reaching here?

My buddy's ol man has a pretty decent mid-level system that is PLAGUED by this Hum. He has a MONSTER 3600 stage 3 power filter and the hum is still there.

Better yet, when he turns on the lights the hum gets WAY worse. (not a dimmer switch either) Normally i would attribute this to bad power, but shouldnt the stage 3 filter be clearing this? Does this sound like it could be a ground loop?

What are some common causes of ground loops and some common fixes?
slappy

Showing 1 response by wepratt

HI SLAPPY, FIRST OF ALL IS THE HUM COMING FROM THE SPEAKERS OR A COMPONENT? IF IT IS COMING FROM SAY THE AMP OR PREAMP IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A DC PROBLEM THAT'S CAUSING THE TRANSFORMER TO HUM. FOR MONTHS, I HAD A HUM PROBLEM WITH MY PIONEER SX-1980 RECEIVER. MY HUM WAS LOUDEST WHEN STREET LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. DUKE POWER CAME OUT AND CHECKED THE STREET LIGHT/S CLOSEST TO MY HOUSE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. POWER CONDITIONERS HAD ABSOLUTELY SO AFFECT ON THE HUM. AS A LAST RESORT, I DECIDED TO TRY THE HUMBUSTER FROM PS AUDIO AND IT WORKED IMMEDIATELY. NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. HOPE THIS HELPS. KEEP ME POSTED.