Some time ago I take some weak shocks from the cables (the audio and video cables) that coming out of the TV and the Mini System. So I decided to connect the TV and the Mini System to the grounding of the house's electrical grid. The shocks stopped. Sometimes (since ever) I take weak shocks from the audio and video cables that coming out of the consoles. I am thinking of connecting the GND of the consoles to the grounding of the house's electrical grid, in the same way that I did with the TV and the Mini System. I wonder if there are any advantages to doing this, other than stopping taking shocks. Is there any risk to the console when doing this? Does this somehow increase the security in electrical variations? (I had problems with various PS2 because of electric variations) Has anyone here already done this? Thanks.
What exactly are you proposing to do? Your post is a little vague and could either be interpreted as a really good idea, or a really dangerous one. What country are you in?
Hi smf, thanks for reply. Sorry, I'm Brazilian and my English is a little confusing. Almost all my PlayStation 2 had problems. The most common are black screen and do not turn on the power led. I think they were stemming from electrical variations. I've never had problems with electricity, maybe the PlayStation 2 is very sensitive. I think a landing could have avoided most of the problems. What I want to know is: 1. Grounding the consoles on the electrical network bring any real benefit? (As in PCs) 2. Brings any risk to the console? 3. Or is it just unnecessary since nothing changes? Thanks.
An UPS that regulates the AC, even a small one, could fit to our needs and protect your consoles against electrical surges. Grounding one pin of the 2-pin electrical plug might fix your problem, but if the electricity isn't clean, I'd go with the UPS/surge protection.
You get shocked because the grounds are different, a lot of smaller AV equipment uses a floating ground (because they are double insulated, no exposed parts that are directly referenced to mains), you touch the console cables and you complete the ground. You get a shock Having everything with the same ground can cause problem. Like a ground loop (buzzing sound in audio)
I haven’t lived in Brasil for many years. Are you referring to the “ground prong” (terra)? The ground prong is connected to a device’s chassis for safety reasons: to prevent electrical shorts and shocks. Ground is also used in the high voltage input stage (120v/220v) of power supplies to remove noise and reduce radiation emissions that may spill onto the powerline (interference). Ground and neutral should combine at the circuit breaker panel. It is quite common practice to leave out ground in Brazil, but it is a good idea to use ground for safety, even if you are in one of those parts of Brazil that uses 220v and need to step down to 120 with a transformer (vice versa).
Great. Here in Brazil calling UPS of "No-Break". Sounds like the best thing to do. Sadly at the moment it is financially unviable for me. Thanks. I didn't know if it was safe to have all on the same grounding. Unless I land the appliances directly and not their power implies. Você é brasileiro, man? Thanks for reply. In my region is 220v. I use a "estabilizador" (I don't know what it's called in English and yes, I know it's bad) for convert to 110v. I have also some "filtros de linha" (AC Line Filters?!?). I'm with another doubt now. If I decide to ground, is it better at the power supply (alternating current) or in ground of the console (direct current)? Valeu, cara. Thanks to all those who answered, I am to learn more. Later I will put a picture of how the consoles are organised and where each Umm is connected.
The “estabilizador” is a step-down transformer, stepping 220V to 120V – we would rarely see those in Sao Paulo . The “filtros de linha” are surge protectors (if there is no power filtering or protection, then it is a power strip), these allow you to plug more devices or appliances to a wall outlet. Messing with household ground wiring (including neutral) can be incredibly dangerous, only a qualified electrician should do this. Anytime you see “ground” or “GND” mentioned after the power supply stage in a device (motherboard, pinouts, ICs, etc.), this “ground” refers mostly to the neutral line (-), not the ground prong at the wall (it can sound a bit confusing without power supply familiarity). Grounding in a household should follow this scheme where ground and neutral combine only at the circuit breaker panel: (https://hackadaycom.files.wordpress..._grounding_system_normal_case.jpg?w=800&h=364)
