If one component has a safety ground isolated from
signal and another does not, chances are very good
that ground loops will not become an issue. When
ground loop problems arise it is most often a result of two
interconnected components, each having safety grounds
and signal grounds joined inside the component. In
these circumstances one of the grounds will have to be
abandoned, or you will have make them all more alike…..
your choice.
Logically one would think, you could eliminate ground
loops by disconnecting the power-cord grounds on all
your gear. Some people might try to break the ground
connection by cutting the grounding pin on the power cord,
using a cheater plug, cutting the ground wire inside the
equipment, taping over the grounding connector etc. As
logic predicts this may effect a cure for the noise.
Do not do this. Removing the ground connection
isn’t right! It is against electrical safety regulations and
potentially very dangerous. Removing a safety ground
connection can defeat the actions of the noise fi lter or spike
protector inside the equipment. If the ground connection is
cut then a fault in the insulation inside equipment may
apply dangerous voltages to the equipment case instead
of interrupting a fuse. Running without a power ground will
not automatically electrocute you but will make this much
more probable if something goes wrong in your system.