Going back to "open" jack sockets

[MartyMart]

I've been trying to use "plastic' case jacks for a while and have had some awful "grounding" issues because of them, the "open" switchcraft style gives you and instant and clean "box" ground, and I hate drilling a box out to fit a "screw or bolt" just to get a ground connection, ( spoils the box )
Any thoughts on this? other ways of getting a good ground ?
And by the way, "Happy new year" to all !!  

Marty.

[H.Manback]

I never really understood why it is necessary to ground to the enclosure, what is the point when you have a wire as a connection to your board anyway, I would think that makes quite a bottleneck anyway...

Can someone explain the use of grounding the enclosure as opposed to just wiring it isolated from the enclosure?

[bioroids]

Hi!

You need to ground the enclosure so it can act as a shield for external noise sources (like RF for example). Obviouslly it has to be a metal enclosure
Same thing if you use shielded cable for internal conections, you have to ground the shield, otherwise it's useless

By the way, I prefer open metal switches also, but be sure to use a serrated lockwasher (like the ones Small Bear sells) to make a proper contact with the enclosure

Luck!

Miguel

[MartyMart]

I never really understood why it is necessary to ground to the enclosure, what is the point when you have a wire as a connection to your board anyway, I would think that makes quite a bottleneck anyway...

Can someone explain the use of grounding the enclosure as opposed to just wiring it isolated from the enclosure?

If your circuit "grounds" dont contact with the "enclosure" then you just have circuit connected to jack grounds and the battery - terminal, you can therefore have horrible "hums' and noise.
You must have a proper "box" ground in most circumstances.
Mine is normaly the input jack, connecting with the box.
Marty.

[H.Manback]

Hmm, I think I understand it sort of now, I never understood the how of it all, how does connecting your enclosure prevent electromagnetic noise, but I read this article:

http://www.rane.com/note151.html

and I think I understand the idea now a lot better.

[bwanasonic]

Any thoughts on this? other ways of getting a good ground ?

I normally use open jacks, but I have a couple of closed ones here, and it would seem they ground to the enclosure via the sleeve and washers. I don't think you need to hard wire ground to the enclosure. :?:

Kerry M

[MartyMart]

Any thoughts on this? other ways of getting a good ground ?

I normally use open jacks, but I have a couple of closed ones here, and it would seem they ground to the enclosure via the sleeve and washers. I don't think you need to hard wire ground to the enclosure. :?:

Kerry M

Mine are a plastic body and plastic sleeve !
so there's no ground connection at all to the box.
Marty.

[Paul Marossy]

All I have ever used is the open type jacks...  

[gez]

You can buy 'grounding rings' (think that's what they're called) which are like washers with a little solder tab on them.  You use them like a washer and they make contact with the surface of the box...

[(doug harrison)]

Mouser 568-NYS234. Closed jack with four points that dig into the enclosure when you tighten up the nut. Best reason for using this jack is that you can mount pots right over top of it in compact enclosures without having to worry about something shorting out.

[bigjonny]

This principle of grounding to a metal enclosure establishes what is called a "Faraday's Cage", whose name also designates units of capacitance (Farads).
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/estatics/u8l4d.html

[NaBo]

Mouser 568-NYS234. Closed jack with four points that dig into the enclosure when you tighten up the nut. Best reason for using this jack is that you can mount pots right over top of it in compact enclosures without having to worry about something shorting out.

i just stick some electrical tape on things that shouldnt be connected but are gonna end up rather close together.  got a couple altoids tin builds under my belt with that method so far.

i will always use open jacks i think.  take up a lot less room, easy to clean and fix if they arent making good contacts... not to mention being pretty much half the price.  im down with that.