best way to ground TV - ideas?

[Cattlegod]

I have a TV mounted to a wall with a computer plugged into it. The computer audio goes to an amplifier. The problem is I get buzzing in the amplifier speakers. I've narrowed down the problem to the TV not being grounded. The TV (Sharp Aquos) only has a 2 prong plug and is ungrounded. I connected a wire to the frame of the TV and stuck the wire into the outlet ground and the buzzing went away. Anyone know a good adapter or other method to affix a ground wire to the frame of a TV and run it to the ground outlet?

Attaching a wire to the frame of the TV isn't an issue, but I'm failing to find any connector that plugs into the wall ground and still be able to plug the 2 prong power cable from the TV into it as well.

Thanks!

edit: wrong forum! meant to go in the AV forum, please move!!

 

[olds]

 

[Cattlegod]

Good idea! My initial concern was that when someone else (it is in a place where someone other than myself may take the TV off the wall) removes it, that it would snag and they could drop the TV. I could just use some type of quick disconnect. Any ideas to interface with the screw so I don't have to take the TV off the wall (outlet is behind the TV so I would have to take the TV off the wall to access with a screwdriver). This might be my only option though.

 

[Markbnj]

Don't know if they still sell them, but you used to be able to buy a 3-to-2 prong plug adapter that had a ground wire and a little "U" tab connector that slipped under one of those screws you highlighted. It's meant for the other way around, obviously, but I think it would also do what you want.

 

[olds]

Don't know if they still sell them, but you used to be able to buy a 3-to-2 prong plug adapter that had a ground wire and a little "U" tab connector that slipped under one of those screws you highlighted. It's meant for the other way around, obviously, but I think it would also do what you want.

You're right. Forgot about those. That would be a better way.

 

[Cattlegod]

You're right. Forgot about those. That would be a better way.

Not sure if that would help - no connection would be made to ground.

Ideally I'd like to get a way that I don't have to take the TV off of the wall. If I have to use a screwdriver on the outlet screw, I would as the outlet is behind the TV.

Now if that tab existed with the ground plug in tact, I would be in business!

 

[olds]

That little green thingie at the top is the ground. It's held in by the face plate screw.

 

[olds]

 

[Cattlegod]

That little green thingie at the top is the ground. It's held in by the face plate screw.

Ahh - makes sense. I have a normal 3 prong outlet, so this plug will probably be unnecessary. Do they make a ground 'prong' that is attached to a wire at all? my issue is the power cord itself doesn't have a ground wire in it.

 

[Markbnj]

Not sure if that would help - no connection would be made to ground.

Actually, you're right, that doesn't help much. You can pick up one of those U connectors either crimp-on or soldered to a length of wire from Radio Shack, and just run a wire over there. Me, I'd probably replace the current power cord from the TV with a three-conductor cord and three-prong plug, and attach the ground to the chassis.

 

[Cattlegod]

Here is a similar power cord

here is a similar outlet:

I could hard wire something to the plate screw, but was looking for a more disconnectable option - maybe a single wire I can just plug into the ground and affix to the TV frame. Trouble is I can't seem to locate a connector anywhere with just a 'ground' that will plug into an outlet and still have the 2 prong power cable plug in.

 

[olds]

Ahh - makes sense. I have a normal 3 prong outlet, so this plug will probably be unnecessary. Do they make a ground 'prong' that is attached to a wire at all? my issue is the power cord itself doesn't have a ground wire in it.

Oops, I read it the other way. I believe you'll have to go the first route.

 

[Cattlegod]

Oops, I read it the other way. I believe you'll have to go the first route.

hoping that wasn't the answer looks like no lazy route for me! Thx for your input!

 

[EliteRetard]

Couldn't you just rig up your own ground cable with a banana plug?

Edit: Something like this:

I think you could use some heavier gauge audio gear and make it work.

 

[Cattlegod]

Couldn't you just rig up your own ground cable with a banana plug?

Great idea! Any idea if a banana plug will fit into the ground outlet firmly?

 

[EliteRetard]

Should be pretty close, banana at 4mm and I think the ground pin is 3/16 (4.76mm).

Edit: Also notice the ground wire prong is a U shape so the round 4mm plug may fit snug without issue...

Just pry a little on each of the bulging sides to spread the plug out if you need to.

 

[Rifter]

Take old 3 prong plug extension cord, cut off end at same length of cord as current TV cord.

Open case for TV to access the board where the power cable is attached. Cut off stock power cord leaving enough room to splice. Splice in new 3 prong cord into stock cord coming off power board. Add wire for ground to frame of TV inside the case near the power board and splice into ground prong on new cord.

Would look like it was like that from the factory.

 

[Cattlegod]

Got my solution! Going to get an alligator clip wire to banana plug! Will use the alligator clip to attach to the wall mount and the banana plug end to stick into the wall socket. This will work perfectly and take less than 30 seconds to install! Thanks everyone for your help!

 

[Squisher]

Is the power cord detachable from the TV? If so, you could cut the power cord near that plug in the TV and splice in a three wire power cord to the two existing wires and you can run a short jumper from that frame to the unused ground wire. The reason I said is it detachable is that you could always go back to a two wire setup later on.

It'll look a lot neater that way.

 

[Sa7aN]

double post

 

[Sa7aN]

Is the power cord detachable from the TV? If so, you could cut the power cord near that plug in the TV and splice in a three wire power cord to the two existing wires and you can run a short jumper from that frame to the unused ground wire. The reason I said is it detachable is that you could always go back to a two wire setup later on.

It'll look a lot neater that way.

probably one that has a small door with a single screw that give access to the plug for the power, should be easy to change that plug over to the 3 wire cable and there should be a ground in the general area also

 

[EliteRetard]

Let us know how it works out, I myself am curious.

 

[Cattlegod]

Let us know how it works out, I myself am curious.

Worked perfectly!

I had 5 TVs to do this to and ordered this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I mashed down on the banana plug so it was wide enough to seat into the ground outlet. The plugs were right behind the TV so 12" was perfect. I attached the alligator clip to the bolt that fastens the mount to the TV. Buzzing 100% gone! Took < 30 seconds per TV!

 

[EliteRetard]

Sweet!

How close fit were the plugs originally, did you have to mangle them much?

Just out of curiosity on that particular order, did it come 3 red 3 black or 6 of each?

 

[Possessed Freak]

If you still have a ground loop issue with one of the sets, try tying the sat ground to the circuit breaker box.