Facility Ground-System Design:Grounding Signal Cables and Analyzing Noise Currents.
Grounding Signal Cables Proper ground-system installation is the key to minimizing noise currents on signal-carrying cables. Audio, video, and data lines are often subject to ac power noise currents and RFI. The longer the cable run, the more susceptible it is to disturbances. Unless care is taken in the layout and installation of such cables, unac- ceptable performance of the overall system can result. Analyzing Noise Currents Figure 20.32 shows a basic source and load connection. No grounds are present, and both the source and the load float. This is the optimum condition for equipment interconnection. Either the source or the load can be tied to ground with no problems, provided only one ground connection exists. Unbalanced sys- tems are created when each piece of equipment has one of its connections tied to ground, as shown in Figure 20.33. This con- dition occurs if the source and load equipment have unbalanced (single-ended) inputs and outputs. This type of equipment uti- liz...