Grounding RCA’s

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=49553
Printed Date: May 09, 2025 at 9:13 AM

Topic: Grounding RCA’s

Posted By: fastone
Subject: Grounding RCA’s
Date Posted: February 07, 2005 at 12:46 PM

When using RCA's with a ground, or shield as I would call it, would you connect one end of the ground or both? In using shielded twisted pair wire in analog signal applications most manufacturers recommend grounding one end, at the source. Grounding both ends can create a ground loop.

Replies:

Posted By: bullman96
Date Posted: February 07, 2005 at 2:38 PM

if you ground the deck in the same spot as the amps, i would do both ends. other than that, i see no point in doing one end

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Pioneer PEH-9660mp
Mb Quart PCE-216 biamped
JL 12W6v2
Sony XM-4026 amp for tweeters
Kenwood KAC-7251 amp for mids
JL-4100 amp for sub

Posted By: fastone
Date Posted: February 07, 2005 at 4:40 PM

The way it has been explained to me by engineers is that the shield acts as a drain to induced current from outside sources. If both ends are connected then you have a complete circuit, hence the term "ground loop".

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: February 07, 2005 at 5:08 PM

You are correct. I recomend grounding a shield wire at the amplifier end as this is usually easier, and leaving it disconnected at the source end. Unless you have significant EMI/RFI problems, there is usually not much need for seperatly shielded signal cables in a car...

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