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Grounding in
Instrumentation Systems
TI21W1 Version 1.1
© 2004

Standards
Certification
Education & Training
Publishing
Conferences & Exhibits

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 1
 Seminar Logistics

• Seminar materials
– Downloadable presentation
– Question and Answer session (audio and email)
– Survey
– Earn 1 Professional Development Hour (PDH)

• Seminar length
– 60 minute presentation
– Three 10-minute question and answer sessions

Audio Instructions

• As a participant, you are in a “listen-only” mode.

• You may ask questions via the internet, using your
keyboard, at any time during the presentation. However, the
presenter may decide to wait to answer your question until
the next Q&A Session.
• If you have audio difficulties, press *0.

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 2
 Audio Instructions for Q&A Sessions

• Questions may be asked via your telephone line.

• Press the *1 key on your telephone key-pad.
• If there are no other callers on the line, the operator will
announce your name and affiliation to the audience and
then ask for your question.
• If other participants are asking questions, you will be placed
into a queue until you are first in line.
• While in the queue, you will be in a listen-only mode until the
operator indicates that your phone has been activated. The
operator will announce your name and affiliation and then
ask for your question.

Introduction of ISA Presenter

• ISA Presenter
– Larry Thompson, CAP
– ISA Adjunct instructor since 1984. B.A.A.S Tarleton State University.
Instructor for Texas State Technical College in Instrumentation (1977-
1979), Computer Networking and System Administration (1996-1999),
E-Commerce Technology (1999-2003). CCST Certificate, FCC
Radiotelephone License (General, formerly First Class). Served 20
years USAF primarily in Electronic Encryption Systems. Owned and
managed own services business since 1979.
– Designed, developed, taught and maintained industrial controls in many
varied applications.
– Author of ISA books: Industrial Data Communications and Basic
Electrics/Electronics for Control

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 3
 Introduction of Presenter

• Wayne Oswald recently retired after 35 years

with The Dow Chemical Company. He served
as Maintenance Process Leader for
Electrical/Instrumentation/Refrigeration
Services functions for Dow's Texas
Operations. Since retiring from Dow, Wayne
has taught Electrical Continuing Education
courses for Associated Builders and
Contractors and is currently serving as Project
Director for the Greater Houston Construction
Careers Initiative, involved in recruiting and
training entry level construction workers along
the Texas Gulf Coast.
• Wayne received his BS degree in Electrical
Engineering Technology from The University of
Houston. He serves as Chairman of the Texas
Skill Standards Board and is active in The
Associated Builders and Contractors and
Houston Business Roundtable organizations.

Key Benefits of Seminar

• Know the terminologies surrounding grounds and grounding

in Measurement and Control applications.
• Be familiar with the grounding philosophies employed in
Measurement and Control applications.
• Understand the concepts of shielding and noise reduction
as related to grounding.
• Be able to determine what is the best grounding and
shielding approach for different applications.

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 4
 Section 1: Electrical Grounds

• What is a ground
• What must be grounded
• What may not be grounded
• Intentional grounding systems
• Separately grounded systems

Grounds

Connection to earth or other large conducting mass

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 5
 How do we connect to the “ground” ?

Instrument Power/Signals Requiring Grounding

When supplying <50 V When supplying 50 – 1KV

230 50 VAC
VAC 50 VAC

Ungrounded

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 6
 Intentionally Grounded Systems

L1 L1 A
B
N
N
N L2

C
120 VAC 120/240 VAC
120/208 VAC
277/480 VAC

A A

B B
N

C
C

120/240 VAC 480 VAC

Intentionally Grounded Systems

Types of Grounding
A A
B

C B

Solidly Grounded C

Zig-Zag Grounded
A
B
N
N

A
C B

Resistance Grounded
C

Impedance Grounded

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 7
 Instrument Power/Signals Requiring Grounding (cont’d)
• Separately Derived AC Systems (NEC Article 250-20(d
– Commonly used in measurement and control circuits
• Direct-Current Circuits: (NEC Article 250-162)
– Commonly used in measurement and control circuits

Separately Derived System - Generator

Service Panel
Generator

Neutral

Transfer Switch

Feeder Neutral Equipment

Ground

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 8
 Separately Derived System – Transformer #1

DRY EQUIPMENT
TRANSFORMER GROUND

Ground at
NEUTRAL
Transformer
BUS

FIRST
DISCONNECT GROUNDING ELECTRODE

INSULATED
EQUIPMENT NEUTRAL
GROUND BUS BUS

Separately Derived Transformer System

Grounded at the Transformer

Separately Derived Ground – Transformer #2

GROUNDING
DRY EQUIPMENT
ELECTRODE
TRANSFORMER GROUND

Ground at
First Disconnect

FIRST
DISCONNECT

NEUTRAL
EQUIPMENT BUS
GROUND BUS

Separately Derived Transformer System

Grounded at First Disconnect

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 9
 Instrument Power/Signals NOT Requiring Grounding

NEUTRAL
BUS

Review of Key Points

• What is a ground?
• What must be grounded?
• What may not be grounded?
• Intentional grounding systems
• Separately grounded systems

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 10
 Live Question and Answer Session

• During Q&A, questions may be asked via your telephone line.

• Press the *1 key on your telephone key-pad.
• If there are no other callers on the line, the operator will
announce your name and affiliation to the audience and then
ask for your question.
• If other participants are asking questions, you will be placed into
a queue until you are first in line.
• While in the queue, you will be in a listen-only mode until the
operator indicates that your phone has been activated. The
operator will announce your name and affiliation and then ask
for your question.

Section 2: Types of Grounding Systems

• Ground Considerations
• Single Point Ground (DC to Low Frequency Signals)
• Low Frequency Multi-Point
• High Frequency Single Point Ground
• High Frequency/Low Frequency Model
• Series Ground

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 11
 Ground Potential Difference

Power & Instrument

Safety Ground Ground

Different Earth
Ground Connections
(typ) Mirror Earth Current

Assume zero reference point 1 Ohm

Ig
10,000 E = IR = 10,000 x 1 =10,000 V
Amps

LF Single Point Ground Model

POWER & INSTRUMENT COMPUTER INTRINSIC

SAFETY GROUND GROUND SAFETY
GROUND GROUND

Equivalent
Line
Resistance

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 12
 Low Frequency Multi-Point Ground

HF Single Single Point Ground Model

POWER & INSTRUMENT COMPUTER INTRINSIC

SAFETY GROUND GROUND SAFETY
GROUND GROUND

Equivalent Line
Inductances

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 13
 HF/LF Ground Model

POWER & INSTRUMENT COMPUTER INTRINSIC

SAFETY GROUND GROUND SAFETY
GROUND GROUND

Short as Possible
Low Inductive
Connection
(TYP)

SRG SRG

Isolated Ground System(IG)

Source CB Panel Equipment

Load
Phase

Neutral
N N N
Isolated
Ground
IG IG
Safety Ground
G G

Conduit

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 14
 Simple Illustration of Instrument Grounding System

Intrinsic Safety Instrument Ground

Ground System System

Instrument Ground

90 V 150 kA SG
Spark Gap
Single Point of Connection

Service Entrance Ground

Power & Safety Grounds Power & Safety Grounds

Example DCS Type Grounding

Computer Power Panel DCS Power Panel
A A
B B
C C
N N
EG EG

DCS IS Barrier
COMPUTER
H H
N N
G G
High Frequency
Ground
G

SIGNAL REFERENCE ELECTRONIC INTRINSIC SAFETY

GRID(SRG) REFERENCE GROUND
GROUND(ERG)

Master Reference
Ground
NEC required Connection

SAFETY GROUND
GRID

Earth Ground

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 15
 Example Plant Grid

Structural
To Tank
Steel Farm
Bond(Typ) and Flare

Power Triad(Typ)
Instrument
Triad

Instrument
Grounds
Equipment Control MCC
Room Room

Building Steel
MCC Grounds(Typ)
Bond(Typ)

Example Plant Ground Grid

Review of Key Points

• Ground Considerations
• Single Point Ground (DC to Low Frequency Signals)
• Low Frequency Multi-Point
• High Frequency Single Point Ground
• High Frequency/Low Frequency Model
• Series Ground

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 16
 Live Question and Answer Session

• During Q&A, questions may be asked via your telephone line.

• Press the *1 key on your telephone key-pad.
• If there are no other callers on the line, the operator will
announce your name and affiliation to the audience and then
ask for your question.
• If other participants are asking questions, you will be placed into
a queue until you are first in line.
• While in the queue, you will be in a listen-only mode until the
operator indicates that your phone has been activated. The
operator will announce your name and affiliation and then ask
for your question.

Section 3: Shielding/Noise Reduction

• Field definitions
• Electrostatic Shielding
• Electromagnetic Shielding
• Shielding Applications

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 17
 Field Definitions

Electrostatic Shield Model

CIRCUIT #1 -
SOURCE

C1-S2
V1 C1-G
CIRCUIT #2 -
C1-2 RECEPTOR
Path

C2-S ld
Shie
S-G
C2S-G
C2-G

Vnoise

Electrostatic Shield Model

(Capacitive)

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 18
 Noise in a 4-20 mA Loop

DC Signal + NM + CM
Receiver
Instrument
DC + +
+24 VDC P/S

Transmitter
DC +

4-20 mA

P/S
Twisted Pair
DC + +
Both Normal and Common Mode Noise
Reduced by Common Mode Rejection
of Input Differential Amplifier
CM Reduced by Twisted Pair

Noise in a 4-20 mA Loop

4-20 mA Instrument Cable Shield

F
TX FTB MTB
Shield
DCS
- - -
Tape Back
S S -
Twisted Pair
24 VDC
P/S

4-20 mA Instrument Loop Shield

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 19
 Magnetic Coupling Model

CIRCUIT #1
SOURCE

CIRCUIT #2
RECEPTOR

V1

Signal Circuits Grounded at Both Ends

System #1 System #2

Shield grounded at one end

opens exposure to magnetic
fields when the signal circuit is
System #1 grounded at both ends. System #2

Shield grounded at both ends

reduces exposure to magnetic
fields when the circuit is grounded
at both ends.

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 20
 Common Mode Chokes
System #1 System #2
Balun

Vg
System #1 System #2

Magnetic Core

Vg

Ferrite Beads

System #1 System #2
Good for >1 MHz(typ)

Vnm

Vcm Vcm

Symbol

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 21
 Differential Amplifier

System #1 System #2

CMRR
Vnm

Differential Amp
Vcm Vcm

A differential amplifier will pass normal

mode noise but will reject common
mode noise based on its common
mode reduction ratio (CMRR).

Balanced Signal Lines

Unbalanced Circuit
System #1 System #2
Rs

RS-232 Vs Vn RL

Vg

Balanced Circuit
System #1 System #2
Rs
Noise cancels due it appearing
Vn RL on both circuit legs but the
RS-422/485 Rs Vn RL
balanced receiver only responding
to the difference between the legs.

Vg

Balanced and Unbalanced Lines

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 22
 Review of Key Points

• Field definitions
• Electrostatic Shielding
• Electromagnetic Shielding
• Shielding Applications

How Many People are at Your Site?

• Poll Slide
• Click on the appropriate number indicating the number of
people that are at your site.

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 23
 Live Question and Answer Session

• During Q&A, questions may be asked via your telephone line.

• Press the *1 key on your telephone key-pad.
• If there are no other callers on the line, the operator will
announce your name and affiliation to the audience and then
ask for your question.
• If other participants are asking questions, you will be placed into
a queue until you are first in line.
• While in the queue, you will be in a listen-only mode until the
operator indicates that your phone has been activated. The
operator will announce your name and affiliation and then ask
for your question.

Related Courses from ISA

• Grounding and Noise Considerations for Control Equipment

and Computers (TI21)
• Understanding Electrical Systems (TI15)
• Industrial Electronics (TI20)
• Electrical Noise Reduction in Instrumentation Systems
(TI21W2)

• All ISA courses are available any time as on-site training

• For more information: www.isa.org/training or (919) 549-8411

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 24
 Other Related Resources from ISA

• Electrical Instruments in Hazardous Locations, 4th Edition

by E.C. Magison from ISA Press
• The ANSI/ISA12 series of standards and technical reports
on electrical instruments & apparatus
• ISA Membership connects you to people and ideas in
automation and control
– Just $85 per year, plus $9 for each division

• For more information: www.isa.org/shopISA or (919) 549-8411

ISA Certifications

• Certified Automation Professionals ® (CAP ® )

– www.isa.org/CAP
• Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®)
– www.isa.org/CCST

• Please visit us online for more information on any of these

programs, or call (919) 549-8411.

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 25
 Seminar Survey

• Web-based Seminar Surveys are tools to help ISA maintain

the quality of our training programs.
• Please complete the following four slides of the survey and
fax to ISA when it is complete.

Please fax completed survey pages to (919) 549-8288.

Seminar Survey (cont’d)

Date of Web-Seminar ___________________________

Please mark only one circle for each question.
Scale Definition: P-Poor; F-Fair; G-Good; VG-Very Good; E-Excellent

P F G VG E
1. Seminar objectives were clear and
attainable with the allotted time.
2. Pre-program seminar description
was accurate.
3. How was registration process?
4. How was the audio quality?

Please fax completed survey pages to (919) 549-8288.

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 26
 Seminar Survey (cont’d)

Name of Presenter: _____________________

P F G VG E
5. Demonstrated practical
knowledge about the subject.
6. Provided clear answers to
questions/comments.

7. How many people listened at your site?

1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21+

Please fax completed survey pages to (919) 549-8288.

Seminar Survey (cont’d)

8. Would you participate in another

virtual seminar? Yes No
9. Did the web component add
to the value of the virtual seminar? Yes No
10. Did the seminar satisfy your
professional objectives? Yes No

11. How did you hear about this seminar?

_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

Please fax completed survey pages to (919) 549-8288.

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 27
 Seminar Survey (cont’d)

12. List other topics you would like to view as a web

seminar, along with your overall impression of the
program.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
13. May we quote your comments?
Yes No

Name of Participant (optional) ____________________

Name of Your Company __________________________

Please fax completed survey pages to (919) 549-8288.

© 2004, ISA
TI21W1 (1.1) 28