More splitter madness.

[nicpope]

Hey there Gearslutz.
I'm a long time lurker here and I have read through countless DIY splitter box threads.

What I'm wondering is, is there any honest reason why I need to go to the trouble of installing ground lift switches on the transformer balanced side of the split? Wouldn't it be more straightforward to just not land the shield? Assuming it is landed at all of your gear the shield will still work, right?

Of course I know you have to leave the ground connected at your direct through feed for phantom power, but it just seems silly to me to go to the expense/hassle of putting in all those damned switches.

Am I crazy?

[Rick Sutton]

Originally Posted by nicpope

Am I crazy?

Yes.

[Rick Sutton]

Sorry, just couldn't resist.
You may (or may not) be crazy but you'll definitely be sorry when you encounter the situation that the ground lift switch would have saved your bacon. Never mind that you won't need it often, it's that occasional time that you'll need it that is important. And it will happen, just ask Murphey, he's always on the job at remotes.

By the way, welcome to the forum!

[nicpope]

Haha, you made that second post between when I read your first one and when I went to reply.

I was about to ask if I was crazy because of my grounding scheme, or because I was dropped as a child.



Anyhow, I guess I can further clarify my question by asking why would I (ever) want to connect the ground of one consoles mic pre to another in parallel? Just lifting your ground on one side of the cable doesn't make the shield stop doing its job as long as its landed at the other end.

I'm not just looking for someone to agree with me here, I'm just trying to figure what the advantage of having the shield landed at the mic input when I would never be passing phantom power from that side.

[Rick Sutton]

It's not that your scheme is wrong, just kinda seems ill advised.
Is this in a fixed installation that you have control of?
If so, you might be fine.....don't have the brain cells to spare to figure all the ramifications.

But, if this is going on remotes with you then the ground lift is a good idea. At remotes all kinds of AC ground potentials can arise and the ability to lift/tie grounds can be a very good thing. Being able to try both schemes at the remote allows you to hear if there is a difference or not.....a very small buzz can be eliminated with the proper settings. If you are ALWAYS going to be setting up right next to the other console using the same AC drop......maybe you're golden, but even then I'd feel better having my options open. Many times on remotes I have to set up at great distances from the main console and the split is on the stage. Sometimes the noise floor is better with the ground tied, sometimes lifted. I think that it is sorta like an insurance policy. With the switches you've got them available if you ever need them. If it ever comes up you at least have a paddle when you are up that proverbial creek.
Others here can give you more specifics but it just seems (at least to me) that for very little effort and cost involved that it would be ill advised to construct splitters without this switch (let alone the phantom issue that Mr Murphey will ask you to supply some day!)

[nicpope]

You know, you're probably right that it's really not that big of a deal to install. I guess I never stopped to think how cheap switches are. :-)

All that went through my head was 48 more components!

I have a feeling that I would be good without them, but hey, I should probably make my gear as complicated looking (and unlabeled) as possible in the label owned studio in 1950 fashion, if for no more reason than to confuse the monitor guy.

[bishopthomas]

Sorry to hijack, but the original poster may benefit from the answer to this question too. Does anyone know where to find some small toggle switches that's threads are less that 1/4"? I'm running out of real estate and want to keep things small.

[Remoteness]

First of all, the simple answer is. You SHOULD install ground lift switches on your transformer secondaries for the simple reason that (sometimes) you have to ground a channel or three...

It may not happen alot, but it does happen.
Can you imagine having no grounds attached and needing to attach one or two channels?

I remember whe we had to groundthe bass rig to clean everything up.
If everything was lifted we would have been rigging crazy stuff to makeit right.
Furthermore, it's a lot easier to switch the grounds off then switch each one individually until you find which one is the problem.

8 (or 9) out of 10 times you will do just fine without any grounds on your XFMR outs, but why take the chance?

--------------------------

Thomas, I have a lead on switches.
I may have a few in stock.
Call me if it's still applicable.