Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: plumcrazyfx on August 18, 2018, 07:39:07 am

Title: Ground lift. Keep or remove?
Post by: plumcrazyfx on August 18, 2018, 07:39:07 am
I have a very late-run (1979) Traynor YBA-1 in need of a cap job and general updating.  The amp seems to have come with the 3 prong by this time.  It also has an accessory jack and a ground lift switch.  A quick inspection shows a .0047uf cap and 12ohm resistor on the switch for the ground lift.  I don't see a standard death cap in the chassis.


I guess I'm wondering if I leave it or of it should be removed for safety.




 
Title: Re: Ground lift. Keep or remove?
Post by: sluckey on August 18, 2018, 08:01:35 am
Keep it.
Title: Re: Ground lift. Keep or remove?
Post by: pdf64 on August 18, 2018, 09:19:38 am
Do you mean that the switch breaks the direct connection between the amp's chassis and mains ground (eg puts a cap and resistor in series with it)? :huh:
Title: Re: Ground lift. Keep or remove?
Post by: sluckey on August 18, 2018, 09:56:00 am
I believe he means this...
Title: Re: Ground lift. Keep or remove?
Post by: PRR on August 18, 2018, 10:52:44 am
It is a fall-back for when you only have a 2-pin wall outlet. Quite possible even past 1979. It allows you to throw a cap to either side of the line to reduce buzz. If you DO have a proper 3-pin wall outlet, it basically does nothing.

Yeah, I'd keep it too.
Title: Re: Ground lift. Keep or remove?
Post by: plumcrazyfx on August 18, 2018, 09:44:37 pm
Yah.  It looks like that schematic.  3 positions labeled ground ground and ground lift.
Title: Re: Ground lift. Keep or remove?
Post by: ac427v on August 19, 2018, 06:41:50 am
Wish I had wired my amps like that! Moving the switch to the lower position uses the 12 ohm resistor to isolate the "circuit common" connections from the "earth ground". That means the amp ground wire to the house ground doesn't have a direct connection to the input jack ground. I could use my 120volt stereo chorus pedal with two amps without the extreme hum from the ground loop formed by the power cords and input cables. Great feature for those who use obsolete pedals.Craig