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Deuce / Lafayette KT550 new chassis grounding scheme

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Posted on March 19, 2015 at 17:00:04
banpuku
Audiophile

Posts: 1008
Joined: January 19, 2006
 I am thinking of replacing my Lafayette KT550 (similar to the HK Deuce) chassis. The current chassis needs a lot of work aesthetically and I could use more space for larger caps.

I was wondering about the optimal grounding scheme for this new chassis. Should it have a ground plane covering the entire bottom surface area with copper plate? How,about a solid copper chassis to act ask the grounding plane and an RFi shield? Leave well enough alone?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Pat

 

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RE: Deuce / Lafayette KT550 new chassis grounding scheme, posted on March 19, 2015 at 19:53:36
Paul Joppa
Industry Professional

Posts: 7296
Location: Seattle, WA
Joined: April 23, 2001
 The gold standard for RF shielding is a complete enclosure (box with top and bottom plates) that is attached to signal ground at one and only one point.

That said, as long as the components are close to a conducting plane (top plate only) the conducting ground plane does much of what a complete enclosure does. I think of this as the silver standard ... or maybe nickel, depending on your priorities. :^)

The biggest problem with a complete enclosure is ventilation.

It's not a real answer but it is an input.

 

RE: Deuce / Lafayette KT550 new chassis grounding scheme, posted on March 19, 2015 at 22:34:07
xaudiomanx
Audiophile

Posts: 3647
Joined: August 16, 2004
 I am a favorite of "if it's not broke don't fix it." But that's also not to say a better way isn't possible. I am not all the knowledgeable of these questions about things as others are but I know what has and still does, work for me.

In grounding I use very small diameter copper plumbing pipe and make a nice and neat ground across my chassis using wire tie standoffs with wire ties to hold it off the chassis. I solder all my grounds to it in different spots of the pipe only and in one spot I solder a wire and tie it to chassis ground. Works every time!

But that's not to say a nice copper ground plane isn't the way to go either.

From what I read and talked with others, no matter what is used as a chassis(copper, aluminum, steel) as long as you don't tie grounds all over the chassis and tie the grounds to one point and tie that point to one point only on the chassis, all should be good.

 

RE: Deuce / Lafayette KT550 new chassis grounding scheme, posted on March 20, 2015 at 06:52:54
Triode_Kingdom
Audiophile

Posts: 10049
Location: Central Texas
Joined: September 24, 2006
 "I use very small diameter copper plumbing pipe and make a nice and neat ground across my chassis"

That's an excellent method. I also like tinned buss wire for this. Install two small terminal strips on either side wall and run the wire between them. Most of the grounds in the amplifier can then use this ground. A number of manufacturers did this in the '50s and '60s with good results.


 

RE: Deuce / Lafayette KT550 new chassis grounding scheme, posted on March 20, 2015 at 16:53:06
DAK
Audiophile

Posts: 2712
Location: PACIFIC
Joined: August 8, 2010
 If you are doing your own chassis work, I would go with an aluminum chassis with a ground bus. You can also get the aluminum plated with copper, at least I understand that you can do that, for extra protection. Aluminum is easier to work than steel if you need to drill holes for your sockets and transformers, etc. I am using solid 10 gauge copper for the ground bus which is grounded to the power trans mounting stud. My amps have been dead quiet with that scheme. The only thing is you need a large tip hot iron to work with that size wire. I bend it to go to the power supply caps and it is stiff enough to hold its shape. You can use single solder lugs to mount it off the chassis. good luck with your project, Dak

 

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