# Grounding my turntable **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 8, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grounding-my-turntable/559899 "2010-11-08T13:25:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ScatteredFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@ScatteredFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScatteredFrog)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grounding-my-turntable/559899/1 "2010-11-08T13:25:39Z")
So…my wife and I just rearranged our living room, a long-overdue project. Unfortunately, due to the way we had to arrange things, my turntable (a Technics SL-Q200) is now too far away from the receiver for the ground wire to attach to the receiver. It won’t even reach the receiver, in fact. Is there anywhere else I could attach the ground wire? I heard somewhere that it’s common to attach it to the center screw of a properly-wired electrical outlet, but none of the electrical outlets in our apartment actually HAVE a center screw! There is a cable TV outlet nearby, though; could I just maybe rig it to that somehow??? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grounding-my-turntable/559899/2 "2010-11-08T13:56:28Z")
Buy a length of wire that will reach your stereo or amplifier. Doesn’t have to be anything flash just expose the ends and hook it up. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grounding-my-turntable/559899/3 "2010-11-08T14:06:20Z")
Yup, don’t run it to some other ground. Proper grounding requires control circulating currents in the various conductors to avoid ground loops. A ground loop will manifest itself as mains hum. The ground wire on the turntable leads isn’t a safety ground. Its job is to provide a ground point for the electrostatic shileding of the turntable’s metal parts that are around the signal carrying wires - which basically means the arm and cartridge body. Logically, and electrically, this is an extension of the receiver’s electrostatic shield, which usually means it’s case. There is nothing special about the wire itself, it just needs to connect up solidly, and not meander about creating loops. Do keep it away from mains cables however. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grounding-my-turntable/559899/4 "2010-11-08T14:27:59Z")
yes, get some wire of the same size as the turntable grounding wire. use stranded wire to have it flexible and easy to work with. if the turntable wire has a spade/ring lug to go under a screw then get a nut/bolt that will fit (#6 likely), attach new extension wire to the lug and wrap tape around it. take other end of new extension wire and attach to unit. enjoy tunes. ---
**Author:** ![ScatteredFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@ScatteredFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScatteredFrog)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grounding-my-turntable/559899/5 "2010-11-09T13:17:33Z")
Thanks for the suggestions, but…the grounding wire has sort of a custom plug on one end that goes into the turntable…how do I deal with that??? I could buy a length of wire, but it would require to somehow be attached to the custom plug…never soldered before, but would I need to do that??? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grounding-my-turntable/559899/6 "2010-11-09T13:37:05Z")
possible solution is to cut the ground wire about one foot from the end and add the new wire at this mid point. remove about half an inch of insulation on the ends, twist tightly together with the wires inline with each other to maintain the same profile (Western Union or lineman splice is the term), then solder and tape. it should be soldered eventually though could be twisted tightly and taped short term. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grounding-my-turntable/559899/7 "2010-11-09T15:42:51Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > possible solution is to cut the ground wire about one foot from the end and add the new wire at this mid point. remove about half an inch of insulation on the ends, twist tightly together with the wires inline with each other to maintain the same profile (Western Union or lineman splice is the term), then solder and tape. it should be soldered eventually though could be twisted tightly and taped short term. You can do this, but splice the wire together with a crimp connector like this one > **[Shop Now RadioShack Products | RadioShack Official Website](https://www.radioshack.com/c?source=redirect&productId=2103505)** > > Start exploring all RadioShack original products from it's official website, powering technology, then, now and always. Shop now durable & high quality products.