What the thread found

• When a camera setup uses two batteries for 24-volt power combined with 12-volt accessories, a ground loop short circuit can occur if the negative terminal of one battery becomes connected to the positive terminal of the other through the accessory, and this combined voltage then connects to ground elsewhere in the system.
• Using three separate batteries—two for 24-volt camera power and a dedicated third for 12-volt accessories only—can prevent ground loop issues, though proper grounding practices must still be observed.
• A 24-to-12 volt DC converter designed for marine applications can replace the need for multiple batteries when powering both voltage levels, provided the converter's ground is properly isolated or reconnected to the main system ground.
• If using two batteries to supply both 24-volt and 12-volt equipment simultaneously, all power outlets must connect to the same single ground point (the negative pole of the battery chain) to avoid ground loops, though this creates unbalanced current draw.
• When using multiple batteries with a 12/24-volt selector switch, high-power diodes must be installed to prevent batteries from charging or discharging each other.
• A loose or improper power cable connection can cause symptoms similar to ground loop problems if the system previously worked correctly.

Depends on

• The ground loop hypothesis assumes the PRO 1 sled uses two batteries configured for 24-volt output with 12-volt accessories also connected.
• Solutions were not tested on the specific configuration mentioned; the actual cause in this case remains undiagnosed.
• The advice applies generally to mixed-voltage camera power systems rather than being verified for this particular sled model.

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