Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems This week's Top Tip!

Hi Gents

This idea was passed on to me about 18 months ago, and I've only just got round to trying it out today. Sheer scepticism had maintained the inertia, but curiosity got the better of me! Virtually no cost to try, but making this a permanent part of your system will take a bit more organisation! And the idea? An earthed ground wire from your system's supply point directly to the ground outside (or under your house if on the ground floor!)

The multiway supply strip I'm using has a technical earth post for this purpose. I bought a roll of earth cable from B&Q (10m x 10mm2) for �4, stripped one end back by 1" to plug into the earthing post/banana socket on the multiway, ran the cable out of the window and stuck the other end (about 4" stripped) as far down into the soil as I could (about 1ft). It looks incredibly stupid, and will have to be taken back in tonight so I can shut the window (!), but my goodness...the improvement was significant. How significant? Well, in the same ball park as adding the Isotek Nova, but without the dynamic compression! This is one of those findings that just demands derision. �4 vs �1495? Yeah, right. But, if your domestic set up allows installation of a long wire for just a few hours one weekend, try it...

Let the flames commence.

Cheers

George

Hi George.
An Idea to try, but you have lost me in the explanation.

Exactly where did you connect your earth wire to the system?

What is a multyway supply strip?
What is a technical Earth post?

I get the Idea of a steel stake driven into the ground. A hole drilled through the wall could make this permanent.
What is the Principle that all this earthing is based on?
What is the date?

Questions Questions?

Chris:)

Now, you see Chris, you're not allowed to try this sort of thing!

Here's the multi way:

http://www.the-missing-link.net/wpe110.jpg

If you can forgive their really cheesy graphics, the products themselves are superb! You'll notice a green protrusion at the right hand end of the unit...that's the technical earth point. many manufacturers' multiway units have one (eg LAT, Isotek).

I have the 500, 518 and 568.2 connected to this unit (plus other sources). I can't give you the full technical run down on why, but the theory is that a lot of the system noise can be eliminated better with good earthing arrangements. Probably why you read a lot about "star earthing" in circuit design...it means that every ground point in the circuit is connected back to one common earthing point.

Regarding a hole drilled through the wall, t' missus might have something to say about it, but it has given me a previously absent motivation to get down into the (dark and scary) void space under the floorboards to drive a permanent spike into the ground!

Listening over the past couple of hours has convinced me that this has to be made permanent!

Cheers

George

Hey George,

Although you may route the wire beneath your floorboards to make for a tidy installation the ground rod proper should be driven into the soil out-of-doors where the soil remains damp. This'll provide you with the best ground possible and therefore the most sonic benefit.

Happy Trails!
Vince@freewheelcycle.com

Vince, I did rear back from getting into the "water your spike" discussion!

Cheers

George

This is an old trick from the Naim/Flat Earth Society playbook. It works! You can add a seperate mains spur to the same play book. More expensive but works even better at giving a quieter "blacker" noise floor.

I think this is a similar idea...

You can buy 'clean earth' power sockets that are standard 13A sockets but have a dedicated earth supply that is driven from a seperate circuit. It would probably need professional installation due to the new electrical regulations although TBH, a decent electricial would probably provide good advice on how to provide a safe and clean dedicated earth either from the switch board or from an alternative source.

www.screwfix.com and do a search for 'clean earth' returns 'clipsal 2G Surge + Clean Earth Skt'. I have this unit, it is not necessary to make use of the surge filter if you do not wish to. In the end I didn't bother with a dedicated clean earch circuit and just bridged the earth and clean earth connectors to provide a standard socket but with with a surge protection filter.

There is more information about 'clean earth' circuits available on the web.

OK guys, answer me this one if you please.. I have an 8 socket Black Rhodium supermains block to which all of my equipment is connected and it has a separate earthing terminal which presumably could be a point for connection to an earthing spike. I also have a Russ Andrews mains socket (to which the BR is connected) and it too has a separate earthing terminal. Which one should I use and why?

Rod

Why not try both in turn? I'd have thought that earthing from the Supermains block might be preferable as it's a shorter earth path from the components and avoids another mains fuse, plug/socket contacts, and further wiring inside the wall socket. That said, it will be a neater permanent installation if it's hidden from sight behind the wall socket...

Cheers

George

Hi George
Whichever I use will be noticeable. I have a 2 metre length of Kimber earthing cable and its THICK. The earthing point on the mains socket is external so it can't be hidden but it is a much better socket than a rather weedy looking 'screw bolt head' on the BR. The other problem about trying both is that the earth cable is directional and the connections on the 2 units are not compatible so I'm trying to save a bit of work hence my query

Rod

I already have a hole drilled through my wall from which I run my rear speaker cable round the outside of the house in trunking.

I could easily implement this if, it it does truly have a benfit - I am behind though - I run all my kit out of two socket expanders, which do come out of seperate sockets (ie different walls) but essentially all on the same ring and ultimately fuse.

Suggestions?

Dmurfet, you could take a new earth wire from the screw terminal in the rear if the wall socket (leave the existing earth wire in place too) out to the garden. It's such an easy thing to try that you could probably have a bash within minutes. If it works as mine has, you'll know pretty much instantly if you want to make it a permanent installation, and will need to arrange an electrician accordingly.

Cheers

George