industrial signalling and noise immunity

- J
- jack007
  
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posted
16 years ago

Tue, May 15, 2007 11:29 PM

I deal with alot of industrial 4-20mA. the cabling from tranducer/ transmitter to output is is always twisted pair, shield c/w a drain wire.

twisted pair is so induced current signals (from magnetic fields) cancel, correct?
shielding (foil etc), acts a faraday cage to the wiring within essentially 'shielding' the charges in the signal wire copper from outside e-fields influence, correct?
what is the drain wire for?
would there be negative outcome with using an overall shielded triad cable c/w drain wire, isolating one wire, in the stead of the twisted pair (ie if the contractor accidently pulled triad and not twisted pair)?

- J
- jack007
  
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posted
16 years ago

Wed, May 16, 2007 12:03 AM

Sorry for 1) i should say it is differential and cancels

- F
- Floyd L. Davidson
  
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posted
16 years ago

Wed, May 16, 2007 3:02 AM

The signal is differential, the noise is common mode and cancels.

Using a twisted pair (fed with a balanced circuit) improves noise reduction compared to non-twisted pair due to greater common mode rejection.

If the contractor "accidentally" pulled non-twisted when twisted was specified, the contractor should be required to correct the problem by pulling twisted pair. If that is not what was specified, consider a new contract to get the job done correctly. There is no substitute.