Post on 20-Mar-2017
transcript
Power and Grounding
Presenter• Tom Kehr, CTS-D, CTS-I, ISF-C, LEED Green
Associate, Network+
• Since 1986, Tom has been involved in either designing, installing, operating or purchasing audiovisual systems.
• Tom has also been heavily involved in church audio, leading ministry teams and training volunteers in both permanent and portable venues. In addition, he owned a regional sound reinforcement company for over 16 years.
• Prior to joining InfoComm, Tom was a senior designer for a large Washington, D.C. area firm. He is a member of Syn-Aud-Con and AES and is a licensed amateur radio operator.
Agenda• To recognize best practices for power
and grounding systems for AV systems
• To be able to discuss why these are best practices
Outline• Current pathways• System Grounding• Equipment Grounding• Ground Faults• Rack Grounding• What to specify• Ground Loops• Noise Defense
Authority Having Jurisdiction• Enforces codes and
regulations (Required)
• We can also apply:– Standards
• Industry• Client
– Best Practices
Avoid Ambiguous Terms• Dedicated power• Dedicated ground• Clean power• Dirty power• Quiet ground• Low or high voltage• Technical power• Technical ground
Use Electrician (NEC) Terms• Panelboard• Individual branch circuit• Auxiliary Ground• Isolated Ground
Panelboard• Main service
panelboard• Sub-panelboard
Circuit Theory• Electricity seeks to go to ground
Circuit Theory• “Electrical current is the unseen
movement of electrons that flow from the power source through the electrical circuit of the appliance or equipment and then return to the power source. The complete path the electrons take is called the electrical circuit.” – Mike Holt, “Basic Electrical Theory”
Electrical Circuit
Electrical Circuit
Circuit Theory• All of the electrons
leaving the source of power go through each component in the circuit and return to the source
Electricity Goes To Ground?• Let’s explore
Complete The Circuit
• Why have ground?
Circuit Theory• Electricity always takes the path of
least resistance
Circuit Theory• While more current
will flow through the path of lesser resistance, current will take any and all available pathways
• Path could be an unintentional path– Safety
100,
000
Ω
1,00
0 Ω
10 Ω
I = V / R1.2 mA = 120 / 100,000120 mA = 120 / 1,00012 A = 120 / 10
System Grounding• The Grounded Conductor is frequently the Neutral and it
is the return path back to the electrical source
Lightning/Surges On Power Line
System Grounding• Lightning, line surges and
unintentional contact with higher voltage lines
• Reduce fires• Protects the electrical
system
Equipment Grounding• NEC: Non-current-carrying conductive materials … shall be
connected to earth
Ground Fault• Current path during a ground-fault• Connection to earth is not involved
Ground Fault• Interruption of
Ground-Fault Current Path– Improper use of
Grounding Adapter
• Not a “Ground Lift Adapter”
– Not to be used to solve hum and buzz problems
Circuit Theory• While the majority of
the current will flow through the path of lesser resistance, current will take any and all available pathways
• Path could be an unintentional path– Safety
100,
000
Ω
1,00
0 Ω
10 Ω
I = V / R1.2 mA = 120 / 100,000120 mA = 120 / 1,00012 A = 120 / 10
• Common ground stud for all gearGrounding Racks
Grounding Racks
Grounding Racks
Grounding Racks
Review -• Current seeks to return to the source• It will take any and all pathways• System Grounding
– One of the current carrying conductors• Equipment Grounding
– Non-current carrying conductive materials• Current pathway for a Ground Fault
– Do not use Grounding Adapters• Proper Rack Grounding
Auxiliary Ground• Auxiliary Equipment
Grounding Conductor– Insures low
impedance equipment ground
– Avoids depending upon conduit installation
Auxiliary vs. Isolated Ground
Specify -• Branch circuits
for “Audiovisual Use Only” with auxiliary equipment grounding conductor
Ground Loops• A ground loop is a continuous conductive loop
– Formed by using the Equipment Grounding (safety) Conductors of any two electronic devices and the cable shield connecting those two devices
– Formed by the shields of two interconnecting cables between any two electronic devices
– Normal, common– Not always problematic
Ground Loops
Ground Loops
Noise Defense - Shielding• Shield
–Metallic partition–Works bidirectionally
• Contains• Keeps out
–50 / 60 Hz–Nearfield
Noise Defense - Shielding• Magnetic Fields
– Uses any magnetically permeable material to absorb and conduct magnetic lines of flux
• Magnetically permeable materials include:– Iron, steel, nickel alloys
• Iron, steel, nickel alloys vary in their permeability– “Permeability” – Ability to conduct magnetic
fields
Noise Defense - Shielding• Electric Fields
– Uses any electrically conductive material to absorb and conduct electrical lines of force
• Electrically conductive materials include:– Gold, silver, copper, aluminum, etc.
• Gold, silver, copper, aluminum, etc. vary in their conductivity– “Conductivity” – Ability to conduct an electrical
current– Conductivity is the opposite of resistance
Shielding
Shielding
Noise Defense• Balanced Interfaces
• CMR Specifications– Lab measurement vs. “real world”– Component tolerances create slight impedance
imbalances– CMR specifications should be in accordance
with IEC Standard 60268-3
Noise Defense
Differential-Mode Signal Common-Mode Noise Common-Mode Noise with Differential-Mode Signal
Review -• Specify
– Individual branch circuits with auxiliary equipment grounding conductors
• Ground loops– Normal, expected– Not all are problematic
• Noise Defense– Shielding - What works and what doesn’t at 60 Hz– Specify steel conduit– Use balanced interfaces with quantifiable CMRR
specifications
What We Have Covered:• Current pathways• System Grounding• Equipment Grounding• Ground Faults• Rack Grounding• What to specify• Ground Loops• Noise Defense
Questions?