Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) - Best Practices
- Use shielded cables for electronic equipment power.
- If possible use pre-Certified modules and power supplies.
- LBNL Electrical Safety Manual 6.3.2 instructs to get a QEW or Facilities Electricians support depending on the scope of grounding/bonding work.
- Consider use of isolated ground receptacles if power lines are the cause of the problem.
- Use well designed cables: The wire gauge, outer casing material, flex ratings, dielectric material, impedance and terminations as well as shielding all play a role in minimizing noise issues.
- Use common-mode chokes on motor leads: Cables longer than 25 m (82 ft) may need motor common-mode chokes. These filters block high-frequency noise common to two or more conductors while allowing the desired signals to pass through.
- Use filters close to the power modules or other sources of noise and/or use ferrite beads on cables. If using ferrites, select the reject band to cover the spectrum of noise / interfering signals.
- Separate power and signal cables: Bundle and route signal cables separately from power cables. Run cables in separate conduits, use a barrier or maintain at least 100 mm (4") between signal and power bundles.
| - Keep conductors loop area as small as possible to reduce the induction and radiation. Route signal forward and return paths as close together as possible to reduce these loop areas (e.g. twisted pair for low to moderate frequencies and coaxial cables or PCBA transmission lines for RF signals).
- Splice cables properly: If cables need to be divided, use connectors with metal backshells. Ensure that both shells connect along the full 360 degrees of the shields. No portion of the cabling should be unshielded. Never divide a cable across a terminal strip.
- Ensure good ground connection: Connect from the cabinet to proper earth ground. Ground leads should be selected according to NEC table 250.122.
- Ensure good shield connections: For cables entering a cabinet, connect shields on all 360 degrees of the cable. Never connect a simple “pigtail.”
- Use differential inputs for analog signals: Use twisted-pair, shielded signal lines for low to moderate frequency sensitive analog signals, and coaxial shielded and properly terminated transmission lines for RF signals, and connect shields to grounds on both ends.
- Analog signal shielded cable is always connected to earth ground on one end and not earth grounded on the other side. Connecting both sides of the shield to earth ground causes a ground loop, which leads to more interference (shield becomes an antenna).
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