Isolated Earth Ground
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Transcript Isolated Earth Ground
Data Quality and
Grounding Considerations in
a Mixed-Use Facility
Marcus O Durham, PhD, PE
THEWAY Corp / U Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Robert A Durham, PE
D2 Tech Solutions, Inc.
Tulsa, OK
Abstract
Facilities:
Problems:
Issues:
Systems:
Attention:
depend heavily on networks
signal quality & noise
electrical safety & code
eleven different grounds
bonding, isolate earth & power
Gordian Knot
All for one
Power co, Telco, Computer group
Install for parochial interest
Interferes w/ sensitive network
Traditional power & personnel safety
Computer & Communication
Lower levels & higher freq
Grounding – Do Not connect all together
Types of Ground Terms
Grounding metal path, call ground metal & earth
Grounded current carrying
neutral, common
Shielding
metal around signal
intercept noise
Bonding
possible energized
between metal
Transient
equal potential grid
lightning, etc
Application
Requirements of systems quite different
Systems
power, comm, data, EMI &
RFI
Ground
convenient common pt
Bonding
eliminate potential
Arrangement limit circulating currents
Susceptible & Cause
Most susceptible systems are often cause
• Switched mode power supply (SMPS)
• On sensitive electronics
Non-linear load causes harmonics
Neutral noise & poor power quality
Fix
• 12 pulse
• Isolation transformer
National Electric Code
“ The purpose of this Code is the practical
safeguarding of persons and property from
hazards arising from the use of electricity.”
Article 90
National Electric Code
Article 250
>25 pages
Other pages
grounding
neutral, transients, specifics
National Electric Code
Concern
Allows 25 Ω power ground
On 120 volt circuit
I = 120 V / 25 Ω = 4.8 A
Will not trip 20A
Shock at 6 mA
Target 1 Ω
July
August
Single point
Accessible
Insulated from other metal
Bond back to here
Reference point for all systems
Reference
Eleven Grounding Systems
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Building structural steel
Electrical enclosure grounding conductor
Transformer wye common
Neutral at main
Transient protection gnd
Telephone reference gnd
Data (dc) power common
Back-up battery common
Shielding
Isolated (ac) power gnd
Network equi-potential reference gnd
Ground Design
11 Unique points
Shows complexity of EE – bond & isolate
All insulated to prevent shorting
except enclosure
Conductor size
fault current
inductance w/ transient freq
Conduit bonds & isolation
Bond non-electrical metal w/in 6’
EE
Neutral
White, current carrying
Ground at main disconnect ONLY
Isolate at sub-panels
• if not, circulating current in ground
Harmonic analysis
• affects size of neutral
• may need filter or isolation xformer
Transformer
main
distribution
Hot
H
Neutral
N
Ground
G
wye bond
single point
Communications
Includes instrumentation & networks
More sensitive to noise, transients, shifts
Both analog & digital
Isolated from power ground
Special considerations
• cable tray & racks
• isolated earth
• isolated power
Ground Noise
Much of noise introduced from ground
System imbalance contributes
Harmonics travel through grounding
conductors
Isolated ground reduces noise
Uncontrolled Ground Paths
3 sources of electrical connection
• ac power
• cable tray
• building metal – not grounding conductor
Separate grounds
All wire insulated
Equipment Room Grounding
Star design radial
For small close
One-point
Bus bar, visible, insulated
Rat race ring
For larger area
Equi-potential
Ground 2+ locations
More Robust
Isolated insulated conductors around room
Connect to isolated triad @ 2 pts
One rack – single ground conductor
RACK 1
RACK 2
POWER
SUPPLY
24 VDC
+ 24
- COM
CHASSIS
CHASSIS
RADIO 1
TELE 1
RADIO 2
TELE 2
RADIO
TERMINATION
CONNECTION
GROUND ROD
SURGE PROTECTOR
TELEPHONE
TERMINATION
Racks and Raceways
1. Insulated conductor
2. Conductor along each tray
3. Connect each rack – 2 locations
Remove paint
Fix connector & bolt
4. Each chassis bond to rack
Jumper or strip
5. Crimp connectors & reinsulate
6. NEVER allow wire to touch metal
Isolated Earth Ground
Triad earth w/ 3 rods
Space 2.2 * length
6’ separation from metal
Connect w/ uninsulated copper
Exothermic weld connections
ACME
CONCRETE
Ring Bus
Isolated Earth Ground
Run #1 corner to equipment room
Run another different route
Run #3 corner to reference ground
remove if interference per NEC
Green insulated wire
Continuous - no underground splice
Bends – minimize Z
> 8” radius
Minimize # to reduce L
Buffer dissimilar metals to reduce R
Isolated Power
Not always req’d
All electrical power & ground isolate from
external metal
1:1 transformer
Connect w/ pvc – provides isolation
No building ground here
New distribution panel on insulated sheet
Transient protection
Use isolated ground
Receptacles w/in racks
PVC
Main
Power H
Power N
Ground
PVC
Isolated
Distribution
Power H
Power N
Ground
Cathodic Protection
CP applied to some metal in earth
Provides low Z Path to earth
Cannot bond to other metal
– would short CP
– If necessary to bond, use resistor
• prevents use as fault path
• better than open circuit
Has inherent personnel protection
Conclusions
Effective data quality & grounding considers
neutral
power
bonding
shielding
transient
Ground path < 1Ω
Conclusions
Special consideration
grounding enclosure – rack
equi-potential earth ground
consider isolated electrical
Analog & digital separate
Conclusions
Reference ground for interconnection of
structure
enclosure
wye
neutral
transient
telephone
data
battery
shielding
isolated
equi-potential
QUESTIONS
?