| Ground Loop (electricity) |
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For example, the electrical potential at different points on the surface of the Earth can vary by hundreds of volts, primarily from the influence of the Solar Wind . (Such an occurrence can be hazardous, for example, to personnel working on long, grounded conductors such as metallic Telecommunications Cable pairs.) A ground loop can also exist in a Floating Ground system, that is, one not connected to an Earth ground, if the conductors that constitute the ground system have a relatively high resistance, or have, flowing through them, high currents that produce a significant voltage ( I · R ) drop. Audio wiring is particularly susceptible to ground loops. If two pieces of audio equipment are plugged into different power outlets, there will often be a difference in their respective ground potentials. If a signal is passed from one to the other via an Unbalanced connection, this potential difference causes a spurious current to flow through the cables, creating an audible buzz at the AC mains frequency (50 or 60 Hz ) and the Harmonic s thereof (120 Hz, 240 Hz, and so on). Sometimes, performers remove the grounding pin from the electrical wiring to avoid ground loops, however, this creates an electrocution risk; the correct solution is to use Isolation Transformer s, Opto-isolator s or Balun s to avoid a direct electrical connection between the different grounds. ''Contrast with'' Ground Current . EXTERNAL LINKS Audio equipment
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