Hello,
I don't know but i put in the isolated lines and i did not connect the ground to the electrically panel but a separate grounding rod that was grounded into the earth. I believe that is within code and never had any ground loop problems at all unless you introduce something that was not on the same ground. Also in my experience doing this project was well worth it and any my system never sounded better.
So i think it goes to show that not every one has the same experience and you just have to make up your own mind based on the info that is out there.
Once again, Good Luck
I don't know but i put in the isolated lines and i did not connect the ground to the electrically panel but a separate grounding rod that was grounded into the earth.
In the event of a dead short ground fault it works great for hunting fish worms. Just keep pets and bare footed humans out of the area of the ground rod on a heavy dew morning.
Mother Earth does not possess some magical mystical power that sucks nasty’s from the AC mains of our home.
Per NEC code. The earth shall not be considered as an effective ground fault current path.
In the case your isolated dedicated ground rod is called upon to pass a ground fault from a piece of your equipment, or a shorted hot to ground power cord connector, or whatever, if a path is provided the fault current will take any path available to return to the source. It likes the least resistive path but it is non-discriminating, it will take any path available.
Possible paths?
If the rod is close to a driven rod for your main electrical service it will head there. It will enter that rod and travel to the grounded main service neutral in the electrical panel.
Of course if the moisture in the earth is low, soil resistance could be high and not enough current will flow to trip the branch circuit breaker open feeding the ground fault.
Your neighbor’s house. If your neighbor happens to have his electrical service on the same side as your isolated ground rod the current will go through the earth enter his rod go to his electrical panel to his main service neutral then go outside on the service neutral and head for the power transformer that feeds your house. And again if the ground fault is a dead short will the earth resistance prevent enough current flow to trip the breaker open in the electrical panel in your house?
The Utility power transformer. Usually power companies connect the center tap of the secondary side to a wire that is connected to earth. This could also be the path for the ground fault current to flow through the earth to get back to the source.
It will take any and all paths available.
http://www.aes.org/sections/pnw/pnwrecaps/2005/whitlock/whitlock_pnw05.pdfAlso the dedicated isolated ground rod has a better chance of frying your audio equipment from a lighting strike. Lightning can travel horizontally through the earth for, I believe, up to 5 miles.