Pedalboard patch box grounding

[boltino]

I'm in the process of building a couple of patch boxes for a pedalboard and amp. It will have connections for guitar in, amp out, fx send, fx return, and footswitch. There will be a box on the board and a box at the amp with a TS snake in between. The box on the pedalboard will be a metal hammond style enclosure and will include a buffer on the guitar input.

My gut tells me I should isolate the grounds for each section in order to get rid of any potential hum but most of the patch boxes I see use regular switchcraft jacks which are not isolated from the box (effectively tying all of the grounds together). Am I overthinking this? Should I just ground all of the connections to the box? It would certainly be easier and I like the idea of using all metal switchcraft jacks. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Paul Marossy]

On my pedalboard patchbay, I used plastic jacks with a metal plate. I connected to the plate to the ground on one set of jacks, but not the other, just so the metal plate can't act like an antenna for noise. It also in theory it would help to prevent ground loop problems. It's been working fine for me for a couple of years.

[boltino]

On my pedalboard patchbay, I used plastic jacks with a metal plate. I connected to the plate to the ground on one set of jacks, but not the other, just so the metal plate can't act like an antenna for noise. It also in theory it would help to prevent ground loop problems. It's been working fine for me for a couple of years.

Thanks Paul.  So if I understand correctly all of the grounds on one side of the box are connected and all of the grounds on the other side are lifted?  I'm hoping to use metal jacks on at least some of the connections just for longevity's sake.

[Paul Marossy]

Thanks Paul.  So if I understand correctly all of the grounds on one side of the box are connected and all of the grounds on the other side are lifted?  I'm hoping to use metal jacks on at least some of the connections just for longevity's sake.

Yeah, that's basically it. I like to use these type jacks for my pedal boards: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=092-120

[blooze_man]

Or use regular metal jacks and a plastic enclosure.

[boltino]

Thanks Paul.  So if I understand correctly all of the grounds on one side of the box are connected and all of the grounds on the other side are lifted?  I'm hoping to use metal jacks on at least some of the connections just for longevity's sake.

Yeah, that's basically it. I like to use these type jacks for my pedal boards: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=092-120

Thanks paul!

Or use regular metal jacks and a plastic enclosure.

I've definitely thought of that, the only rub for me is the durability.  These patchboxes are for a house rig at a large venue; quite a few guitar players will use it and most of them don't respect the equipment as much as I do.     If it was for myself I'd probably go with a plastic enclosure but I need this particular rig to really take a beating. 

I know that Loopmaster uses metal jacks with a metal enclosure; it seems to work but I'm not sure how.     I may just pick up both kinds of jacks and experiment. 

[Paul Marossy]

These patchboxes are for a house rig at a large venue; quite a few guitar players will use it and most of them don't respect the equipment as much as I do.    If it was for myself I'd probably go with a plastic enclosure but I need this particular rig to really take a beating.  

I know that Loopmaster uses metal jacks with a metal enclosure; it seems to work but I'm not sure how.    I may just pick up both kinds of jacks and experiment.  

Yeah, if a multitude of people will be using your patchbay, then durability is definitely a consideration. Just keep in mind that ground loops are always a possibility in even in "ideal" situations, so try to think about ways to avoid it however you decide to construct it.

1/4" plywood with metal jack plates might be another possibility (non-conductive and easy to work with). Pete Cornish makes his pedal boards out of wood, and they hold up pretty well. http://www.petecornish.co.uk/

[amptramp]

One thing you could look for is a shoulder washer that insulated the jack so you can use a metal jack in a metal enclosure without ground loops.  I have used small ones before but I have not found ones sized for the normal jacks.  Does anybody use them?

[Jimi W]

One thing you could look for is a shoulder washer that insulated the jack so you can use a metal jack in a metal enclosure without ground loops.  I have used small ones before but I have not found ones sized for the normal jacks.  Does anybody use them?

Hi,
Small Bear sells them. I've used them for isolating outputs on a Humfree ABY. Worked a treat.
Http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=133

Jimi

[boltino]

One thing you could look for is a shoulder washer that insulated the jack so you can use a metal jack in a metal enclosure without ground loops.  I have used small ones before but I have not found ones sized for the normal jacks.  Does anybody use them?

Hi,
Small Bear sells them. I've used them for isolating outputs on a Humfree ABY. Worked a treat.
Http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=133

Jimi

Thanks so much everyone, you guys are life savers.  Looks like I can use that shoulder washer and make everything else metal.  Awesome!!

[boltino]

These patchboxes are for a house rig at a large venue; quite a few guitar players will use it and most of them don't respect the equipment as much as I do.    If it was for myself I'd probably go with a plastic enclosure but I need this particular rig to really take a beating.  

I know that Loopmaster uses metal jacks with a metal enclosure; it seems to work but I'm not sure how.    I may just pick up both kinds of jacks and experiment.  

Yeah, if a multitude of people will be using your patchbay, then durability is definitely a consideration. Just keep in mind that ground loops are always a possibility in even in "ideal" situations, so try to think about ways to avoid it however you decide to construct it.

1/4" plywood with metal jack plates might be another possibility (non-conductive and easy to work with). Pete Cornish makes his pedal boards out of wood, and they hold up pretty well. http://www.petecornish.co.uk/

Thanks again Paul!