[pearsall001]

They didn't work for me. A $.99 cheater plug took care of the problem. That was some time ago, I've since swapped out a few things & the ground loop never reappeared.

One doesn't suggest such things in 'polite' society 
While disabling a mains safety ground on components which are supplied with grounded mains plugs, often can minimize ground loop hum/noise, it defeats a major safety precaution. If there is an internal fault inside the component that shorts potentially lethal voltages to the chassis, lifting the ground will prevent that voltage going to mains ground and tripping the mains breaker. With a 'lifted ground', that path is through you and/or your loved ones.

Components supplied with 2 prong plugs (other than AVA products, and possibly others) are certified by an ETL (government approved electrical testing laboratory) to take other steps, double insulation and minimal 'creepage' requirements, which provide alternative safety measures.

FWIW,
Paul

You have a better chance of getting killed by slipping in the shower.  When's the last time you heard of some one getting a jolt from a cheater plug?  Never I'm assuming.

[Gordy]

You have a better chance of getting killed by slipping in the shower.  When's the last time you heard of some one getting a jolt from a cheater plug?  Never I'm assuming.

The following NSC stats don't include heating and or air conditioning electrical fires...

"Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects, but many more are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, incorrectly installed wiring, and overloaded circuits and extension cords."

Of course, once the fire or insurance inspector finds the cause of a fire is due to a misused adapter, your insurance will be up in smoke as well.

[richidoo]

You have a better chance of getting killed by slipping in the shower.  When's the last time you heard of some one getting a jolt from a cheater plug?  Never I'm assuming.

The subject line of this thread has a hidden meaning....      

The invention of the ground circuit / circuit breaker has allowed you to grow confident in the safety of electricity. It is very safe with the safety ground in place. But when you cheat the ground you enable a dangerous force to cause injury or property damage. There is no reasonable advantage to defeating the ground.  

Use a cheater as a tool for hum diagnosis, not a cure. It can help you identify the hum on signal line vs. mains, and help save money by buying the right hum buster the first time, the good ones (Jensen) aren't cheap.

Occam's just trying to run a safe Lab and protect us from ourselves.
Rich

[pearsall001]

You guys are all scaried cats!    How does PS Audio manage to give you the option of removing the ground pin from some of their PC's. Maybe it's not a true grounded cord? 

[Steve Eddy]

You guys are all scaried cats!    How does PS Audio manage to give you the option of removing the ground pin from some of their PC's.

Same way Mapleshade manages to make power cords like the one below using just thinly insulated magnet wire stuffed into thin plastic bags. They just do it and don't worry about meeting any sort of safety standards or regulations.

se





 

[Occam]

Facilitators comment -

I wasn't aware that had been a sufficiently large and validated study of people who'd defeated the mains safety ground of a Class I electrical components.

If you are expert (or foolish) enough to defeat the grounds of components that should be grounded, Keep it to yourself, and do not advocate it on the Lab circle. That's my rule, and if you don't like it, post somewhere else.

FWIW,
Paul, Facilitator of the Lab Circle

[Occam]

Yes Pearsall,

I am a sacredly cat. There are folks who post or read these threads who may not be as sophisticated, or invulnerable as you. As facilitator or the Lab circle, I'm simply not going to be even partially responsible, even passively, for someone hurting themselves or others.

There are no such things as 'cheater' plugs, they are adapters to provide a safety mains ground to existing 2 prong outlets via a screw connection to a grounded outlet housing.

An insurance adjuster is going to do their best to reneg on any coverage if they find a 'cheater' plug installed to defeat a mains safety ground, nor would they have to prove causality.

FWIW

[JoshK]

Use the grey matter between your ears and do it right instead of some mickey mouse job....

read these

http://sound.westhost.com/earthing.htm

and

GROUNDING PRACTICES IN CONSUMER AUDIO

[Wayner]

The reason some audio manufacturers put a 3-prong plug on their equipment is because they are usually made of conductive metal. It is a safeguard for unimaginable environments like wet basement concrete floors. If the right kind of short circuit exists, the potential for fault comes into play.

Many other consumer devices such as vacuum cleaners and some power tools are "double insulated" meaning the materials used in the device's housing is an insulator and in the event of a short circuit to the housing of a vacuum cleaner, for example, still provides a level of safety because there is no way for the short to conduct outside of the vacuum cleaners case to some kind of earth ground (completing the circuit).

Defeating a ground invites all kinds of problems, electrically and legally.

Wayner