rad0 <rad0@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> I'm making a cable using flat ribbon cable and I'm going to
> ground every other wire on my circuit board, to take care of
> noise. I've chosen cable with the extra wires needed.  The other
> end will be a .1 female header.  On the plug end, do you need to
> hook the ends of the grounded wires together, or should I just
> snip them and not worry?

It depends. What kind of signals are we talking about?

If the grounds provide the return path for signal currents (i.e.,
unbalanced circuits), you'd better hook them up. Otherwise, you'll
be forcing those currents to find some other path, increasing your
EMC problems.

On the other hand, if the grounds are providing electrostatic shielding
only (e.g., for balanced signals), AND you don't need these connections
to tie the grounds of the two systems together, you MAY want to leave
them open at one end in order to avoid ground loops.

-- Dave Tweed

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