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Ground

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 3:32 am
by roachie
Not much action going on here these days, so here's one...
When I plugged in my TV at my old place, there were white horizontal lines that would scroll up the screen. I cut off the ground pin on my ac, and behold, the lines went away. My TV still works.

Good/Bad?

Explain.

Re: Ground

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:21 am
by Jef
roachie wrote:Good/Bad?
Explain.


Good: Your TV works.
Bad: Don't watch TV in the tub.

The ground plug is for SAFETY.

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:09 am
by macrae11
And if you are going to watch TV in the tub, make sure the set is plugged into a properly installed GFI plug. :lol:

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:36 pm
by roachie
HEY... you're still out there. Merry 2009.

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:36 pm
by Malcolm Boyce
roflmao

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 2:30 pm
by RoadDog
Good Grief

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:01 pm
by Malcolm Boyce
RoadDog wrote:Good Grief
This thread keeps making me laugh...

I think the fact that he thought of removing the ground in the first place is what is making me smile the most...

Hey... As long as the cabinet is made of plastic, what could go wrong....? :roll:

Roach... If your TV is connected to "cable TV", it is seeing "ground" off the shield of the coax. What you were probably seeing is the difference between the AC ground and the "cable" ground.

I'll say it again.... Removing the AC ground path on a device designed to have one should be an absolute last resort when problem solving. Using a "cheat" to troubleshoot something is one thing... but removing it altogether is asking for a shocking experience someday, for someone.

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:05 pm
by Mathieu Benoit
Malcolm Boyce wrote:I'll say it again.... Removing the AC ground path on a device designed to have one should be an absolute last resort when problem solving. Using a "cheat" to troubleshoot something is one thing... but removing it altogether is asking for a shocking experience someday, for someone.


Malcolm can you show us a picture describing this exact kind of thing so that we all know what to avoid?

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:20 pm
by Malcolm Boyce
In my mind, a "cheat" is something that allows you to temporarily remove the ground. A simple cable with a full "three pin" female connector, and a male connector with the ground removed allows you to see what happens when you "lift" the AC ground without getting the tools out.

I've been known to have one around for general annoyances, as well as an "audio" version in a 3' XLR with pin 1 disconnected. Helps troubleshooting without having to cut up anyone's cables.