Hi, I agree. It's not a good idea to use the SSL metal front patchbay for the purposes of linking rooms together due to possible different grounding schemes if nothing else. Perhaps try an isolated patch like Mosses and Mitchell who also make the bantam jacks for SSL.
You could try a 1/4" GPO isolated patch (M & M again or others) and these are going quite cheaply on eBay these days as Broadcasters switch to digital systems and don't need them. These 1/4" versions have bigger contact areas than Bantams and there is probably not much difference in the price for a secondhand GPO patchbay and an XLR panel these days.
Also, for the same amount of positions, XLR's take up a lot more rack space than bantams or 1u 1/4" patchbays. For 224 holes, you would need 7 of 2 x 16 hole 2u XLR panels using 14u (nearly 25" or 620mm).
If you used 1u 2 x 24 or 26 hole GPO patchbays, you only use 5u (223mm as 1u equals 1.75").
You also have the option of linking some of the screens if required to go to a main technical ground point provided your grounding system is carefully thought out between the rooms.
If you need XLR panels, XLR panel connectors, GPO patchbays or patchcords, I have some used ones available, most of which are on my website shown below.
Hope this helps a bit and regards from Jim Lassen (
www.profcon.co.uk). Also on
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