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[Lyle Williams]

Why are most TVs ungrounded these days?

Figure 8 power leads seem to be very common, so sets find ground via signal cables.

[Steve M Smith]

I can't recall ever seeing a TV with a ground connection (UK).


Steve.

[Tim Weaver]

Since they are made of plastic, the path to ground is highly unlikely to go through a human on its way out.

Cable boxes don't sue for wrongful death. So who cares if the safety ground goes out through signal cables. We can save $0.08 per unit.

[John Roberts {JR}]

As long as the mains wiring is double insulated there is little need for grounded chassis. Since TV frame rate is at or near mains frequency, mains frequency noise injected into grounds could cause visible interference.

I can't recall ever seeing a grounded line cord on TV receiver, but I do remember hot chassis TV sets from back in the day.

JR

[Lyle Williams]

Hum wise, it seems like a questionable design decision.

[John Rutirasiri]

Hum wise, it seems like a questionable design decision.

In the "old days" (as if 5 years was eons ago), plasma TV sets would employ ground on the power cord because of the flyback transformers and high voltage needed to drive the plasma screen, and back panel of the TVs being made of metal to support the weight of the screen.  (I've had more than a fair share of ground loop issue with Panasonic plasmas hooked up to sound systems.)

In the early days of LCD TVs, the backlighting was CCFL tubes, which also employed flybacks.

These days it's all LCD TV's using LED backlighting (so-called "LED TVs").  The outer case is all plastic with maybe metal inner frame for structure and wall mount.  Current draw is 1A - 2A versus 5A-7A for plasma.

John R.

[Dennis Wiggins]

As long as the mains wiring is double insulated there is little need for grounded chassis. Since TV frame rate is at or near mains frequency, mains frequency noise injected into grounds could cause visible interference.

I can't recall ever seeing a grounded line cord on TV receiver, but I do remember hot chassis TV sets from back in the day.

JR

Ahh... the origin of the "cheater cord".

http://amradio.mailman.qth.narkive.com/mrdokYAm/what-is-the-origin-of-the-name-cheater-cord

I, too, was a curious teenager..   

-Dennis