Interference and Screening

Interference
Electrical measurements involve detection and measurement of
signals.

Many systems involve detection of low level signals

The instruments are in an environment which contains many sources

of electrical and magnetic energy.

These sources can produce undesired signals called interferences.

These undesired signals are amplified along with original signal and
cause errors in measurement.

The source of unwanted signals may be external.

 Interference
The measuring system involving instruments like voltmeters and
recorders which are sensitive to these signals must be designed
carefully.

Interference produces effects like noise, hiss, hum,or cross-talk.

There is a need to reduce effect of interference to such a degree, that

it is neither audible nor disturbing.

This is mainly achieved by different ways of screening.

 CLASSIFICATION
1.Capacitive Interference

2.Inductive Interference

3.Electromagnetic Interference

4.Ground Loop Interference

5.Conductively coupled Interference

Capacitive Interference
 Capacitive Interference
When two conductors are near each other they form a capacitive
effect and get electrically coupled with each other

The voltage change in one conductor affects the voltage change in

the other conductor.

Low level signal Transducers get affected due to interferences.

Capacitive Interference
 Capacitive Interference
Capacitive coupling can be reduced by:

the greatest possible distance between interfering circuits.

 the shortest possible conductors

avoiding parallel conduction of interfering signals.

 screening.
Screening
 Inductive Interference
If there is a closed path in the viscinity of a varying magnetic field
then emf gets induced and circulates current through the closed path

If such a closed path is a part of measurement system ,then such emf

induced and current affect the measurement system.

These are called inductive interference. Such magnetic fields are

called stray magnetic fields.

Electrodynamometer type instruments get affected because of stray

magnetic fields.
 Inductive Interference
The sources of Inductive Interference
1.Inductor and Power Transformer

2.Sudden change of current

3.Current surges

4.Large ground loop current.

 Inductive Interference
Inductive Interference can be reduced by:

Use of Ferromagnetic enclosures .

increasing the distance between conductors
mounting conductors close to conductive surfaces
 using short conductors
 avoiding parallel conductors
 screening
 using twisted cable
 Twisting of cables
When an interfering signal effects the twisted wires, it will produce in
both wires a signal with the same direction and (almost) same
intensity.

From the point of view of the signal's sink, these signals will have
opposing directions and will therefore cancel out.
 Electromagnetic Interference
Electromagnetic interference (or EMI, also called radio frequency
interference or RFI) is a disturbance that affects an electrical circuit due to
either electromagnetic conduction or electro magneticradiation
emitted from an external source.

Sources of radio frequency signals

1.Gas discharge in flouroscent lamps
2.Sparking in electric switches
3.High frequency oscillations in pulse circuits
4.Signals from radar and radio trnsmitters.

EMI may be the cause of capacitive and inductive interference.

Prevention:Shielding
 Conductively coupled
Interference
Electrical fluctuations in one device cause an interference in another device
connected to it in the same circuit.

Interference may be coupled through electrical conductors.

Sources
1.Presence of common ground path
2.Due to power transformers of measuring instruments
3.Wrong connections of power supply to load
 Ground Loop Interference
A ground/earth loop usually refers to a current, generally unwanted, in
a conductor connecting two points that are supposed to be at the
same potential, often ground, but are actually at different potentials.

Ground loops created by improperly designed or improperly installed

equipment are a major cause of noise and interference in audio and video
systems.

They can also create an electric shock hazard, since ostensibly "grounded"
parts of the equipment, which are often accessible to users, are not at
ground potential.

A common sign that a ground loop(s) exists, or that a ground is missing, is

the presence of induced power line (50 Hz) noise or hum in the circuit.
Ground Loop Interference
 Ground Loop Interference
Reduction of Ground Interference Signals

1.Single Point Grounding

2.Use of Differential input Amplifiers

3.Input Guarding

4.Use of doubly shielded cables.

 Ground Loop Interference
1.Single Point Grounding
 Ground Loop Interference

2.Use of Differential input Amplifiers

 Ground Loop Interference

3.Input Guarding

The complete measuring or input circuit unit of a differential

amplifier is placed inside a metallic guard called guard shield. The
guard shield is insulated from the rest of the system and ground.
Ground Loop Interference
4.Use of doubly shielded cables.