Difference between revisions of "Unbalanced"
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
The term "<nowiki>Unbalanced</nowiki>" is used to describe connections that are not "[[balanced]]" and employ a conductor held at "signal ground" potential to act as a "signal return." | The term "<nowiki>Unbalanced</nowiki>" is used to describe connections that are not "[[balanced]]" and employ a conductor held at "signal ground" potential to act as a "signal return." | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Basics== | ||
| + | Any circuit must have a "path" for the current flowing in it to both "go to" the receiving device (or "load") and "return from" it. In the case of an unbalanced connection; even though the return conductor may be "held at ground potential" by being connected to the signal ground; it still can act as a return path for the signal ''current''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | By definition; this means that the signal ground of both the sending and receiving device must be connected together via the unbalanced connection; and this can lead to issues caused by other "interference" currents also flowing on this path. This is why [[balanced]] connections are used in audio as a means of eliminating this source of interference. | ||
[[Category:Terminology]] | [[Category:Terminology]] | ||
[[Category:Analog interconnects]] | [[Category:Analog interconnects]] | ||
[[Category:Digital interconnects]] | [[Category:Digital interconnects]] | ||
Revision as of 12:09, 6 March 2012
Overview
The term "Unbalanced" is used to describe connections that are not "balanced" and employ a conductor held at "signal ground" potential to act as a "signal return."
Basics
Any circuit must have a "path" for the current flowing in it to both "go to" the receiving device (or "load") and "return from" it. In the case of an unbalanced connection; even though the return conductor may be "held at ground potential" by being connected to the signal ground; it still can act as a return path for the signal current.
By definition; this means that the signal ground of both the sending and receiving device must be connected together via the unbalanced connection; and this can lead to issues caused by other "interference" currents also flowing on this path. This is why balanced connections are used in audio as a means of eliminating this source of interference.