PSA: Took me 4 hours to fix a bad ground loop in an apartment complex

Was installing cable in a 6-floor complex last Thursday and spent half the day chasing static noise. Turned out a previous installer had twisted the ground wire around a drywall screw instead of using a proper bonding block. 4 hours of my life I'll never get back. Has anyone else run into lazy workarounds like that? What's the worst shortcut you've found from another installer?

2 comments

2 Comments

robinson.matthew3h ago

Yeah, @terryrobinson nailed it, check your bonding before you button up anything.

terryrobinson4h ago

Man, that's brutal. A drywall screw grounding block is just asking for noise issues down the line. Pro tip I've learned the hard way: always use a proper bonding block with a solid copper wire to the building's ground rod or cold water pipe. Also check the ground continuity with a multimeter before you button everything up. Saves you from chasing ghosts later. The worst I saw was a guy using a coaxial cable as a ground strap. Huge no-no, lol.