Main Restorations Software Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Everything Else Buy/Sell/Trade
Project Announcements Monitor/Video GroovyMAME Merit/JVL Touchscreen Meet Up Retail Vendors
Driving & Racing Woodworking Software Support Forums Consoles Project Arcade Reviews
Automated Projects Artwork Frontend Support Forums Pinball Forum Discussion Old Boards
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board controls.dat Linux Miscellaneous Arcade Wiki Discussion Old Archives
Lightguns Arcade1Up Try the site in https mode Site News

Unread posts | New Replies | Recent posts | Rules | Chatroom | Wiki | File Repository | RSS | Submit news

  

Author Topic: Is this just asking for ground loop hum?  (Read 1536 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Jamesbeat

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 261
  • Last login:February 11, 2019, 06:13:39 pm
  • I want to build my own arcade controls!
Is this just asking for ground loop hum?
« on: March 29, 2016, 12:28:46 pm »

I ordered some binding posts and banana plugs, and a female Molex cable.
My plan is to drill holes in an expansion card blanking plate, mount the binding posts into it, and solder on the Molex cable.
This will be a nice tidy and non destructive way to tap into the computers power supply, and will also be easy to move to a new pc if I upgrade.

I'm definitely going to power my marquee and coin door lights with this, but I'm also toying with the idea of powering my amplifier with it too.

I've read a couple of posts about ground loop hum, and I'm wondering if powering the amp in this manner is wise?


P.H.U.

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 219
  • Last login:April 29, 2023, 01:25:21 am
  • I own my own arcade machines. Word.
Re: Is this just asking for ground loop hum?
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2016, 12:25:10 am »
Seems unavoidable that you will encounter ground loop hum when powering your sound amp using the same PSU from your computer. In any case, seems easily resolved with one of these.
When you find great deals on Craigslist for CRT based cabs, exuberance :laugh2: can be a bad thing!


Current Status of Cabs:  2-of-11 (and counting) working as desired  :applaud: :applaud:/:banghead: :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

P.H.U.

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 219
  • Last login:April 29, 2023, 01:25:21 am
  • I own my own arcade machines. Word.
Re: Is this just asking for ground loop hum?
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2016, 12:39:48 am »
BTW, what amp are you going to use? I have been reading a ton on the TDA7297F-based amps.
When you find great deals on Craigslist for CRT based cabs, exuberance :laugh2: can be a bad thing!


Current Status of Cabs:  2-of-11 (and counting) working as desired  :applaud: :applaud:/:banghead: :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

Jamesbeat

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 261
  • Last login:February 11, 2019, 06:13:39 pm
  • I want to build my own arcade controls!
Re: Is this just asking for ground loop hum?
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2016, 10:13:58 am »
It's a Lepai LP-808, which cost less than that ground loop isolater :D

It's a decent little amp though, perfectly good enough for arcade cab use.
It goes WAY louder than I need it to with no distortion that I can discern.
I'm currently running it on a separate wall adapter, but I'm hoping to use it on the pc Psu to keep things simple.

If I can do away with the separate adapter, the whole cab will be running off the pc Psu, which means that everything will start up and shut down with the pc without me having to mess around with smart power strips etc.

« Last Edit: March 30, 2016, 10:19:47 am by Jamesbeat »

yotsuya

  • Trade Count: (+21)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 19960
  • Last login:August 08, 2025, 09:49:26 pm
  • 2014 UCA Winner, 2014, 2015, 2016 ZapCon Winner
    • forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,137636.msg1420628.html
Re: Is this just asking for ground loop hum?
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2016, 10:53:56 am »
You're not running a pro home theatre 7.1 setup? GTFO.
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

Jamesbeat

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 261
  • Last login:February 11, 2019, 06:13:39 pm
  • I want to build my own arcade controls!
Re: Is this just asking for ground loop hum?
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2016, 12:09:16 pm »
You're not running a pro home theatre 7.1 setup? GTFO.

I did initially, but I had to put the rear speakers in my back pockets, and the bass made me $hit my pants at certain frequencies.

Hearing Donkey Kong in full 7.1 was really something to behold though.

yotsuya

  • Trade Count: (+21)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 19960
  • Last login:August 08, 2025, 09:49:26 pm
  • 2014 UCA Winner, 2014, 2015, 2016 ZapCon Winner
    • forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,137636.msg1420628.html
Re: Is this just asking for ground loop hum?
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2016, 12:10:24 pm »
You're not running a pro home theatre 7.1 setup? GTFO.

I did initially, but I had to put the rear speakers in my back pockets, and the bass made me $hit my pants at certain frequencies.

Hearing Donkey Kong in full 7.1 was really something to behold though.
Reminds me,  I need to make a Brown Note badge for ZapCon...
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***