GC Controller Ground

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EDlTOR
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 2:35 am

GC Controller Ground

Post by EDlTOR » Tue Jun 28, 2016 3:16 pm

Why are controller pins 3 & 4 (ground) and shield all connected? I just checked the controller input ports on the Gamecube and found that controller pins 3 & 4 (both ground) and shield are all connected to each other. I guess my question is, why use two pins and shield for ground if they are all connected as soon as the controller mates with the cube? Couldn't they have just used one or even just shield? Sorry if this is a dumb question (I am rather new to these things).
novenary
Posts: 1754
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:50 am

Re: GC Controller Ground

Post by novenary » Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:39 pm

The more wires (or the bigger the wires), the better your grounding is. Usually cables use at least one ground wire + the shielding which is physically separate in the cable itself but often the same on the device.
EDlTOR
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Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 2:35 am

Re: GC Controller Ground

Post by EDlTOR » Thu Jun 30, 2016 3:37 pm

That makes sense. I get why they would use a ground wire and shield, but I don't understand why they would combine them all cubeside. Maybe because the cube doesn't have a chassis ground?
novenary
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Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:50 am

Re: GC Controller Ground

Post by novenary » Thu Jun 30, 2016 8:35 pm

Shielding is always grounded in devices. That's what the earth prong is for in power sockets. The GC doesn't have an earth prong because AC/DC conversion is done in the power brick which only has plastic casing.
EDlTOR
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 2:35 am

Re: GC Controller Ground

Post by EDlTOR » Fri Jul 01, 2016 3:42 pm

Indeed it is. I guess my mind is still in pro audio mode, where every unit has the shield wired to chassis ground and nothing else. Thanks Streetwalker!
novenary
Posts: 1754
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:50 am

Re: GC Controller Ground

Post by novenary » Fri Jul 01, 2016 9:43 pm

You're welcome. And yeah, analog cables in general are built like that.
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