Ground problems when performing outside using battery power (No Mains available)

[omega_deano]

Hey guys, I was wondering if you might be able to help trouble shoot this in advance in case I run into problems.

So, we are doing some live performance videos outside in a couple of weeks. They will involve a guitar, laptop, interface, a mic and a few pedals. The whole thing will be powered off an anker power station battery bank. The L/R lines will then be going into a battery powered portable PA speaker.

So as you can see, this setup is completely floating in terms of a ground connection. I know from experience that plugging into a battery powered guitar amp is a complete noise fest, so I am wondering if we are going to run into similar problems here? I know there are some solutions to ground problems with floating setups when near to mains I.e the groundology plug etc but in this situation, there is no mains power at all.

As we will be making live recordings from the performances, I would like them to be as clean as possible, so if there is anything I can get, or do to help with any potential noise, it would be worth it!

Many thanks in advance!

Dean

[Wonks]

You could get one of these https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_groundbox.htm (or make your own version if you are into DIY), get a nice long metal spike, hit it into the ground, and connect a wire between it and the ground box. Wet the ground around the spike if it's not damp already.

It's basically how you ground a generator. It may not be 100% perfect, but it's better than nothing.

[resistorman]

We have regular synth jams outdoors with battery powered gear and no problems, even when 6 or so of us connect to a common (battery powered) mixer. We're not in a RF rich environment, near AC lines or TV / radio transmitters though. I have more issues with USB powered devices making ground loops, but that happens even in the studio.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Much depends on the gear involved. As with Resistorman, I've often used battery powered gear on location without any troubles at all... but I've also had problems at other times, most often when guitars were involved!

Wonks' grounding spike is a valid solution and will probably help a lot if you do run into troubles.

[omega_deano]

Nice one, cheers guys! Wonk that is a good idea. I was wondering about doing something like that. I guess where that doesn’t work, is if we’re on the middle of town, and we’re surrounded by concrete!

Yes my main concern really is noise from the guitar, as I recon the rest of the bits will ok. I think I’ll see how we go, and hopefully there won’t be too much noise about!

Thanks for the tip on the Harley Benton box tho Wonks! Might have to grab one of those anyway!