I'm looking to build my own 8-channel XLR patch panel for use with my patchbay. While I haven't made my own cables before, I do have some experience with soldering and working with audio equipment. I have the panel, Neutrik connectors, cable, DB25 connector, and all the necessary tools for the assembly. My main concern is about the Sommer cable I purchased, which only has one ground wire. Can I use this cable to have all 8 XLR connectors share the same ground? If so, what would be the best way to achieve that? Thanks in advance for any guidance!
2 Answers
I agree with CableMaster89! You really want to connect the green/yellow wire to ground at just one end to prevent noise issues. Usually, it's best to connect it at the mixer end. Also, don't forget to ground the shields properly. Just remember, keeping your shield connections isolated from the power ground can help eliminate those annoying buzzes. It's all about avoiding those ground loops!
It looks like each pair in your cable is shielded, which is good! If you're confused about the yellow/green wire, it's actually just for grounding but should only be connected to ground at one end. If you connect it at both ends, you risk creating ground loop noise, which can cause interference. I recommend connecting it at the mixer end to avoid issues. It's standard to connect the shield of each pair to the XLR shell at the mixer end to keep things grounded without introducing ground loops. Just make sure any connections you make throughout your system are isolated from power ground to minimize interference.