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<blockquote data-quote="rrmccabe" data-source="post: 3597739" data-attributes="member: 582712">A ground loop problem may pick up alternator noise and usually does, but is not exclusive to alternators.&nbsp; I have had ground loop issues with radio equipment I operate (I have an advanced class amateur radio license) and there this is no alternator involved. Any system including stereos, radios, cable TV, etc can be subject to ground loop when more than one path to ground exist.Here is the technical description for a ground loop.What is a ground loop? A ground loop occurs when there is more than one ground connection path between two pieces od equipment. The duplicate ground paths form the equivalent of a loop antenna which very efficiently picks up interference currents. Lead resistance transforms these currents into voltage fluctuations. As a consequence of ground loop induced voltages, the ground reference in the system is no longer a stable potential, so signals ride on the noise.The noise becomes part of the program signalSo anything, including an alternator can introduce noise into a system.But as you said, as long as it worked. And it did.&nbsp; After reading this forum, I am amazed how common this issue (and fix) is.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="rrmccabe, post: 3597739, member: 582712"] A ground loop problem may pick up alternator noise and usually does, but is not exclusive to alternators. I have had ground loop issues with radio equipment I operate (I have an advanced class amateur radio license) and there this is no alternator involved. Any system including stereos, radios, cable TV, etc can be subject to ground loop when more than one path to ground exist. Here is the technical description for a ground loop. [I][B]What is a ground loop?[/B][/I][I] A ground loop occurs when there is more than one ground connection path between two pieces od equipment. The duplicate ground paths form the equivalent of a loop antenna which very efficiently picks up interference currents. Lead resistance transforms these currents into voltage fluctuations. As a consequence of ground loop induced voltages, the ground reference in the system is no longer a stable potential, so signals ride on the noise.The noise becomes part of the program signal[/I] So anything, including an alternator can introduce noise into a system. But as you said, as long as it worked. And it did. After reading this forum, I am amazed how common this issue (and fix) is. [/QUOTE]

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