SOUND ON SOUND

[Folderol]

CPC sell the yellow plastic grounding plugs in different versions, 0 ohm or including 1M Ohm resistor, Stud or binding post.

Now, the guy Dave is trying to help may be in the US which would change things a little.

Somewhat !

CPC are Farnell and might have a USA option in their USA store.
I got "Access Denied" when I tried to look.

These days they are very fussy about the browser you use - idiots!
Vivaldi works for me,

[Hugh Robjohns]

Groundology don't appear to do a specific USA plug... just an international adapter one which has an mode for the US:

https://www.groundology.co.uk/earthing/earth-connection-plug-ww

[ef37a]

I have sent the guy a link to the CPC plug, best I can do I think?

Dave.

[Moroccomoose]

I just googled 'ESD strap plug' and various options came up ranging from £4 to £20. Or did I miss something?


Edit.... yes I did miss something... its a US one yer after. That will teach me to read the thread more thoroughly! :beamup:

[wireman]

Know what I mean sport?

A plug with no live or neutral connections but a solid connection to the earth pin.

What for?

[N i g e l]

These days they are very fussy about the browser you use - idiots!
Vivaldi works for me,

bah !!!!

RS components USA have a thing....

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/esd-grou ... s/2877559/

Still a helluva price though !

[Martin Walker]

My inclination would be to make one from a standard plug top. Maybe encapsulate the live and neutral pins internally in epoxy so there is no risk of the earth wire becoming detached and making contact with the live?

I do have slight reservations WRT safety so what does the 'hive mind' think?

I did make one for exploratory use, although I consider myself an experienced user. That idea about epoxy is probably a sensible one for general purpose safety though.


Martin

I just followed Hugh's tip and used a couple of rounds of heatshrink.

I was going to suggest heatshrink, except that the MK mains plugs I tend to use have live and neutral pins that are a firm fit in their sockets, so you couldn't push them back in with heatshrink shrunk onto them.


Martin

[Sam Spoons]

Know what I mean sport?

A plug with no live or neutral connections but a solid connection to the earth pin.

What for?

Getting a good earth into a floating system, say a laptop and bus powered interface. It's not a problem if something in the rig has a 'proper' earth, say through an IEC power plug but many laptop PSUs don't pass the earth connection to the computer.

[James Perrett]

but many laptop PSUs don't pass the earth connection to the computer.

Or, if they do, it possibly isn't as low impedance as it needs to be.

[wireman]

Know what I mean sport?

A plug with no live or neutral connections but a solid connection to the earth pin.

What for?

Getting a good earth into a floating system, say a laptop and bus powered interface. It's not a problem if something in the rig has a 'proper' earth, say through an IEC power plug but many laptop PSUs don't pass the earth connection to the computer.

OK, then. I would just look for a plug that is designed so that the end of the fuse connected to the live pin is encapsulated in the plug top when screwed in. The other end and the fuse would not be needed. It would be pretty unlikely for the earth wire to come loose and hit the live but as far as is possible this should be prevented. Covering up with something insulated or using a directly connected ESD plug would also be an option. If the plan is to make a wander lead then it would make sense to use a short segment of full 3-core cable with insulation at the plug end to get good clamping (for plug styles like the MK safetyplug).

[Martin Walker]

but many laptop PSUs don't pass the earth connection to the computer.

Or, if they do, it possibly isn't as low impedance as it needs to be.

Very good point James - sometimes a 'decent' earth connection can largely resolve the audible problems caused by a ground loop.


Martin