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Ground loop (electricity)
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{{Short description|Electrical configuration allowing electricity to cross between grounded devices}} {{About|the electrical mis-configuration commonly known as a "ground loop"|uncontrolled rotation of an aircraft during ground movement|Ground loop (aviation)}}{{Mcn|date=January 2017}}{{technical|date=July 2014}} {{Use American English|date=July 2022}} In an [[electrical]] system, a '''ground loop''' or '''earth loop''' occurs when two points of a circuit are intended to have the same [[Ground (electricity)|ground]] reference potential but instead have a different potential between them.<ref>{{citation |work=IEEE Std. 100 - Authoritative Dictionary of Standards Terms |edition=Seventh |publisher=IEEE Press |date=2000 |ISBN=0738126012 |title=Ground Loop |page=494}}</ref> This is typically caused when enough current is flowing in the connection between the two ground points to produce a [[voltage drop]] and cause the two points to be at different potentials. Current may be produced in a ground loop by [[electromagnetic induction]]. Ground loops are a major cause of [[electrical noise|noise]], [[mains hum|hum]], and [[electromagnetic interference|interference]] in audio, video, and computer systems. Wiring practices that protect against ground loops include ensuring that all vulnerable signal circuits are referenced to one point as ground. The use of [[differential signaling]] can provide rejection of ground-induced interference. The removal of ground connections to equipment in an effort to eliminate ground loops will also eliminate the protection the safety ground connection is intended to provide. {{listen |filename=Ground loop 50 Hz sound.flac |title=Ground loop 50 Hz sound |description=Noise from ground loop at 50 Hz captured with audio equipment.}}
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