TT Platter grounding?

[Canyoncruz]

To a TT expert,

I am building a TT , The platter is made from Aluminum with a Delrin pad. The bearing is an air bearing which means the spindle is floating with not electrical contact.

My question is this: even though the plinth and tonearm are grounded, does the platter also have to be grounded?

I have everything disassembled as I am currently building and cannot test.

Thanks in advanced
,

CC

 

[Laika2]

Buy a cheap mat and see if static goes down. Records are often covered in static from non equipment issues such as lack of humidity or simply removing the record from a sleeve, even a good anti static sleeve. Better to zap the album with a anti static device like a zerostat then try to ground a platter. You can hit the platter with a zerostat also.

 

[markstein]

Wet cleaning your records (especially new ones) removes static, much better than a zerostat which did not work for me as it had too little of an effect.

 

[markstein]

I can recommend the Humminguru Ultrasonic cleaner, using distilled water, some drops of Tetenal to remove water surface tension and maybe also isopropanol alcohol.

 

[Thomas_A]

To a TT expert,

I am building a TT , The platter is made from Aluminum with a Delrin pad. The bearing is an air bearing which means the spindle is floating with not electrical contact.

My question is this: even though the plinth and tonearm are grounded, does the platter also have to be grounded?

I have everything disassembled as I am currently building and cannot test.

Thanks in advanced
,

CC

If there is something electric in the plinth below platter you might try some shield around it. Your plinth has a shield so it is probably ok.

 

[Laika2]

Wet cleaning your records (especially new ones) removes static, much better than a zerostat which did not work for me as it had too little of an effect.

I actually use this works great, totally destats, thin piece of paper test passes, will not stick to the record. Also is not rechargeable which I like, dead, throw on batteries instead of waiting for it to charge. I only mention the zerostate due to a much lower price and it confusing. The nose on the end of the gun is removed for destat its a protective cover, many don't remove it. Also you have to pull and let go very slow on the trigger, like a 4 second pull and a 4 second release, they worked OK for me, passed the paper test but often you had to hit the LP more than once.

This works great.

Amazon.com: Furutech Destat III Removes Static-Charge & Dust in One 15-Second Treatment! : Electronics

Buy Furutech Destat III Removes Static-Charge & Dust in One 15-Second Treatment!: Cleaning - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Also a humidifier fixed the rest of the problem of static building back up during play if you have a sealed room that can fill fairly fast, I turn it on and fire it up to 40% and the room is no longer summer dry static filled, humidity in itself kills static.

 

[Laika2]

Here you got, this is great Science.

And the Hummingbird.

About the same, they work very well. Only difference to me is removable vs rechargeable batteries and the fact the Destat III can be used for static buildup when playing without removing or stopping the record. Just hit it for 15 seconds holding it about 6 inches above the lp while playing.

 

[DVDdoug]

does the platter also have to be grounded?

Probably not. If it was a problem a manufacturer going to all the trouble of using an air bearing should figured-out a solution.

You could just keep a wire to ground handy and touch it to the platter to discharge it before playing. If have enough charge to get a spark, that would surprise me. Of course that won't work for the vinyl record or if the Delrin mat if they have charge.

 

[Laika2]

Well, it seems someone should thank a poster that helped or tried to help if for no reason there than they were spent their valuable time trying to help.... but it looks like a hit and run so I will just thank everyone here.

THANKS TO ALL

 

[Canyoncruz]

Well, it seems someone should thank a poster that helped or tried to help if for no reason there than they were spent their valuable time trying to help.... but it looks like a hit and run so I will just thank everyone here.

THANKS TO ALL

Laika2,
You're right. I just had a knee replacement and am not online much lately. Also looped by pain med.s so here it goes:

Thank you so much everyone.

One question. How about a copper brush from the grounded plinth to the bottom on the platter? Just barely rubbing against it for contact but not to impart a load.?

 

[Canyoncruz]

Probably not. If it was a problem a manufacturer going to all the trouble of using an air bearing should figured-out a solution.

You could just keep a wire to ground handy and touch it to the platter to discharge it before playing. If have enough charge to get a spark, that would surprise me. Of course that won't work for the vinyl record or if the Delrin mat if they have charge.

I am the manufacturer? A project. I am thinking a copper brush fastened to the plinth and rubbing against the underside of the platter

 

[Chrispy]

I actually use this works great, totally destats, thin piece of paper test passes, will not stick to the record. Also is not rechargeable which I like, dead, throw on batteries instead of waiting for it to charge. I only mention the zerostate due to a much lower price and it confusing. The nose on the end of the gun is removed for destat its a protective cover, many don't remove it. Also you have to pull and let go very slow on the trigger, like a 4 second pull and a 4 second release, they worked OK for me, passed the paper test but often you had to hit the LP more than once.

This works great.

Amazon.com: Furutech Destat III Removes Static-Charge & Dust in One 15-Second Treatment! : Electronics

Buy Furutech Destat III Removes Static-Charge & Dust in One 15-Second Treatment!: Cleaning - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Also a humidifier fixed the rest of the problem of static building back up during play if you have a sealed room that can fill fairly fast, I turn it on and fire it up to 40% and the room is no longer summer dry static filled, humidity in itself kills static.

$371 about right for the usual nonsense from Furutech....

 

[egellings]

I have a small carbon fiber brush by Decca, and it has a little round spot that you touch when using it, and the charge on the record gets conducted to that spot by the carbon fibers. I have a small goundplate sitting next to the TT which is earthed through a 1 megohm resistor. I touch both the Decca ground spot and the ground plate at the same time when cleaning a record before play, and that carries the charge away. The 1 meg resistor prevents the unpleasant little jolt and a pop in the speakers that sometimes happens by limiting the current of the discharge.

 

[Canyoncruz]

I have a small carbon fiber brush by Decca, and it has a little round spot that you touch when using it, and the charge on the record gets conducted to that spot by the carbon fibers. I have a small goundplate sitting next to the TT which is earthed through a 1 megohm resistor. I touch both the Decca ground spot and the ground plate at the same time when cleaning a record before play, and that carries the charge away. The 1 meg resistor prevents the unpleasant little jolt and a pop in the speakers that sometimes happens by limiting the curcould stay in contat withthe platter (witbrush ball rent of the discharge.

Do you think this small ball brush could stay in contact with the under side of the platter (which is basically a belt driven flywheel with smooth under surface)? Does the brush sit on a beryllium copper frame? ?

Thanks,

CC