How to avoid Electrical Ground Loops

Ground loops (also referred to as 'noise') in an electrical system result from unwanted
current that flows in a conductor connecting two points that are supposed to be at the same
electrical potential, but aren't.When this condition occurs in instrumentation loops, adding
electrical current or voltage to, or subtracting it from, the instrument signal is
often detrimental to control system performance.

Depending on the nature of the noise, the performance and reliability of different system components
can be affected. For instance, traditional or classical 4-20 mA I/O products are immune from all but
high frequency noise, such as that produced by variable frequency drives and insulated gate bipolar
transistor (IGBT) power switching devices.

Contrary to popular belief, digital data signals used in fieldbus communication architectures are also
susceptible to electrical noise.

Minimising the influences of electrical noise on control system performance and reliability requires:
 Using isolated ac power sources;
 Establishing a single, common system ground point;
 Providing isolations for low-voltage signals (for example, thermocouples);
 Minimising undue influence resulting from stray magnetic fields; and
 Selecting appropriate cables and pathways, including adequate cable separation.

Single, common ground

Improper grounding practices, such as grounding cable shield wires at both ends or at the wrong end,
are well-documented sources of introducing electrical noise; but are a reoccurring problem in control
and instrumentation systems.

Cable shield wires should be grounded at one end, preferably at the power source end. The other end
should be taped and protected (see diagram).

'A' - is Stripped insulation length on grounded end of shiled wire.

'B' - is Wrapped insulation on -non-grounded end of shield wire.

On 'A' - Preffered length of non-insulated portion of shield wire is 25mm; 50mm may be used if
needed to reach terminations of the carrier shiled bar.

On 'B' - Shield wire bent back and taped (making sure that all strands are under the tape) so that no
portion of the wire can touch a signal, ground, or metal point.

Most faulty grounding system designs are the result of mixing power and grounding sub-systems (such
as ac, dc, shields, cabinets, etc.) and/or failing to establish a single, common separate (isolated)
ground point on the plant's ground grid system.

Power and grounding sub-systems should remain separated from one another until the last possible
and/or practical connection point. Then, and only then, should the sub-systems be joined. For
example, consider a grouping of four control and instrumentation cabinets. The groupings ac-, dc-,
shield-, and cabinet-grounds should remain separated throughout the cabinets and connected to an
isolated cabinet grouping ground bar.The insulated ground lead from the cabinet grouping ground bar
should be routed to a master ground bar then joined by other cabinet groupings. The insulated ground
lead from the master ground bar should be routed to an unshared (isolated) point on the plant ground
grid.

In large plants, connecting all master grounding points to the same point on the ground grid may not
be practical. Assuming the plant ground grid is properly designed, the difference in electrical potential
between grid connection points should be negligible, making it permissible to use different ground grid
connection points.

Left uncorrected, electrical ground loops can cause corrupt digital and analogue signals, and/or quick
or slow equipment damage. Finding and correcting the problems can be tedious and time consuming,
but there really aren't any alternatives.