To reduce interference arising from common-impedance paths, the following procedures should be followed. First, all low-level analog signal grounds should be kept separate (i.e., disconnected from ) power grounds and digital signal grounds until the analog, digital, and power ground are finally all tied to the single designated point on the system earth ground conductor (see, for example, fig. 16.9) . Second, if a common-impedance ground path must be utilized by more than one component of a measurement system, the impedance of the common path should be kept as small as possible. Third, the connection of all the ground leads of a measurement system should, whenever possible, be made at a designated single point where the common impedance of the system ground path to earth ground has the smallest value. This last statement implies that a better system ground path than that afforded by the power-line ground (i.e., the third wire ) should be utilized in systems where sensitive measurements are being made. the third wire of the power-line is often inadequate as a system ground for two reasons. The power-line ground wire is usually of small diameter, and it is run all over a building before it is finally connected to a water pipe or other earth-grounding point.Thus the third-wire becomes an example of the previously described (and unwanted) common-impedance ground path (of relatively high impedance ) for the components connected to it.Therefore, when designing systems that measure low-level signals, it is good practice not to rely on the grounding systems of a building, but to establish a separate, low-impedance path to ground which is independent of the power-system ground. If this new ground path is used, however, care must be taken to ensure that instruments are not inadvertently reconnected to the power-line ground through the third prong of the power plug. Use of 3 to 2 wire plug adapters and isolation transformers allows disconnection of the third prong of the instrument power cord from the power system ground. Failure to observe this precaution will lead to the establishment of ground loops that will lead to a myriad of additional measurement problems for the experimenter.