common grounds

[adil.hoxha]

How can I tell if my old Yamaha HTR-5170 has "common grounds"?
Reason - I am going to hook up a simple on/off switch for a set of speakers and figured I can just use a standard light switch (like a mute button on the wall) - but someone mentioned I should make sure my receiver has common grounds? Any way to tell (can't find anything in manual...)
Just don't want to fry my receiver.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I saw the thread title and expected something about people agreeing with each other.

 

[adil.hoxha]

Titles should be fun...

Anyone know how to tell about the common grounds thing?

Is the light switch for an on/off wall speaker switch a reasonable idea?
(Don't need the fancy volume, just want to be able to turn on/off a pair of "B" speakers from a wall mount.)

Welcome ideas...

 

[MDS]

I don't know about 'common grounds' but I suspect it refers to the typical three wire arrangement of hot, neutral, and common (ground). If the receiver has a three prong plug then it probably qualifies.

I think you'd be better off with a simple speaker selector that you can mount in the same place a normal light switch would go. I don't see what a ground, common or not, has to do with speakers.

 

[Haoleb]

I think what he has been told is that he needs to check and make sure that the negative speaker output is a common ground, or chassis ground. To measure this you need a multimeter, With the amplifier turned off measure for continuity between the negative speaker output and something metal on the chassis or the ground pin on the power cord if there is one. Or a grounding post on the back of the reciever.

I also am not sure what that has to do with switching the speakers on and off. And yes I also agree that you should just get a speaker selector switch or an inwall volume control which will have an off position. I dont see any problem with using a light switch however. You will want to wire it up in series with the positive speaker wire.

 

[dorokusai]

If you have a VOM(Voltmeter) and have continuity between your negative binding posts, it's common ground. It shouldn't matter whether its on or off, ground is ground.

Most modern gear is usually common ground, to include some dual mono designs.

A Voltmeter/Multimeter essential in my travels. One check for your head is worth the cost.

Mark
Polk Audio CS

 

[adil.hoxha]

Thanks for the ideas...the in-wall volume controls I've seen are $100ish and I don't even need volume - just on/off. All the speaker selectors I've seen are not wall mount or have many switches (I have just a standard j-box with one pair of speaker wires in and one set out). That's why I was wondering about the $3 light switch working for my situation - just didn't want to blow up anything or fry the receiver. It all seems quite confusing...I just want an on/off switch for a standard size j-box - any links to something audio specific?

Thanks for all the input

 

[MDS]

http://www.smarthome.com. There are many that are WAY less than $100. Their most popular model is $30 and the one I was thinking about for your application is a simple rocker switch that was only a few bucks.