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Is cheater plug safe with grounded monster power?

I recently plugged in a new amplifier into my monster power HTS-2600 and experienced a loud speaker hum. Applying a cheater plug to the amp outlet on the HTS-2600 completely eliminated the hum. My question--and excuse my ignorance--is whether it is safe to use a cheater plug to the amp outlet of a power station that is itself properly grounded? Although the temptation to continue using the cheater plug is high because of improvement in sonics, I am not comfortable because I think the amplifier without a ground to the power station would not be protected even if the power station is grounded. Am I correct in my logic? I thought a cheater plug was only safe when used with old 2-pronged outlets to allow use of 3-pronged plugs and attaching the cheater plug wire to the screw of the grounded outlet?
number1cuban
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Household appliance including mainly portible heating devices?

Again you exaggerate, even if in caps. Many audio and video devices with three pin wall plugs have no connection in the device of the grounding wire. All cd players that I have checked, both of the preamps I have, and the phono stages lack any chassis ground. The primary reason is gound loop problems.

How precisely would you cope with ground loops, oh superior one?

It is circuit breakers that are the primary electrical protection. It would be really stupid to put a penny into the fuse box as people used to do before breakers.
gregadd
574 posts
 
For a discussion of groundloops and how to solve them go to:

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/index.html
If I enterd that wrong just type groundloop into your internet browser.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
This gives a good explanation of what the problem is and why it exists, but it is mainly for AV systems. It does suggest starting with the amp only in the system. You will probably not have much hum. Then you add until you get hum. Guess what you then deal with the problem, which probably means ungrounding that component.

It also suggest plugging everything into one power strip. This is in effect star grounding and will usually cause no problems.
rex
245 posts
 
Tbg - responses in order of your questions:

No.

If you choose to play around with things electrical, you really should develop a better understanding about electrical standards and construction of the equipment you are playing with. Your assumptions may kill you. A chassis does not have to be referenced to ground if it is insulated. It's designed designed to prevent the chassis from becoming "live" if there is a ground fault. In this type of design there is no need for a ground prong. A chassis that is referenced to AC ground needs the ground connection; if it is removed and there is a ground fault, the chassis can become energized and deliver a potentially fatal shock to someone who touches it.

Isolation transformers and a properly-constructed star ground. This is what I did in my home theater. No "cheater" plugs necessary. BTW, I didn't try to pin any sarcastic labels on you. Why do want to start that kind of childish crap?

Circuit breakers will not stop an electrical fire. Circuit breakers will not prevent ground faults.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
"STUPID, STUPID" Your statement prompted my dismissal of your condecenson. One of my undergraduate majors was EE, so don't lecture me.

None of the component that I refer to have plastic housings, so forget that assumption.

"if (the grounding of the chassis) is removed and there is a ground fault" (and if the person is grounded, there can be a fatal shock. Really? Lots of ifs, which many manufacturers ignore.

Shorts or hot wires cause electrical fires. Don't breakers deal with shorts?

Given your fear of electricity, you probably should use a 12 volt system.

I see no reason to continue this tangent off the original question.
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