AC Electrical System & Sensitive Electronic Equipment

Sensitive electronic systems and equipment should have an electronics grade electrical distribution system unlike standard electrical distribution system for proper equipment and systems operation. he ma!or differences bet"een a standard electrical distribution system and an electronics grade electrical distribution system is the panels# "iring of the panels and branch circuits. $t is common practice and meets the %EC &%ational Electric Code' to have shared neutrals in a standard electrical distribution system. Such a system "ill be a three "ire topology( phase neutral & ground for a )*+ volt branch circuit. he ground in a standard electrical distribution system is a combination of case ground and electrical ground &the ground of the panel# conduit and electrical outlet are common'. $n a standard electrical distribution system the belo" conditions are common. he primary neutral conductor and the neutral lug are si,ed per the %EC &not oversi,ed'. he neutral conductors in branch circuits are often shared &common or used by more than one )*+ volt branch circuit'. he ground of the circuits and case ground &conduit & panel' are common &bonded' and not isolated. &older systems relied on conduit for ground or had no ground' Circuit breakers are most often builder-s grade snap in and seldom bolt in breakers. Electrical outlets "ill be builder-s grade three "ire outlets &phase neutral & ground'. Electronics grade po"er distribution panels have a number of primary differences from a standard electrical distribution panel. An electronics grade po"er distribution panel and "iring system "ill al"ays have the belo" configuration. he primary neutral conductor and the neutral lug are oversi,ed# &si,ed t"o times %EC requirements'# to deal "ith harmonic currents generated by s"itch mode po"er supplies. he neutral conductors in branch circuits are home runs &never shared or used by more than one circuit'. .anel grounding and conduit ground is case ground and a separate isolated ground buss bar "ill be installed. his isolated ground buss bar "ill be connected directly &and only' to the service entrance ground buss bar "ith a stranded and insulated copper conductor si,ed appropriately for the distance involved. Circuit breakers are electronics grade bolt in breakers. /nly $solated 0round outlets "ill be used &phase# neutral# ground & case ground'.

he reasons for installation of an electronics grade po"er distribution system are numerous. A fe" key points are1 he ability to handle high harmonic voltage and currents. Separation of case and equipment ground to eliminate noise and provide an effective lo" resistance path for equipment shielding. Elimination of circuit failure from loose snap in breakers. Elimination of shared circuit equipment problems &unbalance loads "ith shared neutrals'. 2eduction of Common 3ode voltage. &bet"een neutral & ground' $solation of sensitive equipment from inductive loads &AC systems# copy machines# lights# etc.' 2eduction or elimination of common mode noise &neutral to ground voltages at high frequency' A detailed description of an electronics grade electrical distribution panel "ill not add to this information. $f you are not familiar "ith these panels# contact a po"er quality professional or your consulting electrical engineer for assistance. hey are readily available and the additional cost &small' is "ell "orth the investment. At the branch circuit level# electronic grade distribution systems do not have shared neutrals and employ a four "ire topology. &.hase# neutral# case ground & isolated ground' he phase &hot' "ire "ill most commonly be black# red or blue. he neutral "ill be "hite or yello". he case ground "ire "ill be bare copper. &See note belo"' he isolated ground "ire normally be "ill be insulated green or insulated green "ire "ith a trace stripe &yello" and pink are the most common'. Note: It is important to note dissimilar metals will electrolyze is a problem common to electrical distribution systems. The result will be corrosion (high resistance) and can lead to both equipment problems and li e sa ety problems such as ires. !al"anized conduit connected to copper is but one e#ample. In the case o dissimilar metals the wire should be tinned or nic$el chrome coated wire. o understand the importance of an electronics grade electrical distribution system for sensitive electronics you should consider ho" microprocessor equipment operates and "hat it is looking for. /ne of the most frequent problems are common mode events &neutral to ground' and can cause significant disruption to the operation of microprocessor based equipment. 3odern logic circuits do not en!oy the electrical isolation that "as part of the older linear po"er supply technology. he microprocessor circuits are constantly measuring logic voltages against the ,ero voltage reference or safety ground. he microprocessor-s decisions are the result of discrimination of one rapid voltage transition from another# ultra4clean and quiet electrical safety
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grounds are essential. he microprocessor e5pects to see less than .6 volts of neutral to ground voltage. $f the microprocessor sees more than .6 volts it "ill cause system lockups# communication errors# reduce operating throughput# unreliable data# fragment hard drives and operational problems that can not be duplicated or e5plained. $f high enough# neutral to ground voltages "ill damage equipment.
%eutral 0round 7ront 8ie" of )*+ 8AC Electrical /utlet .hase $n an isolated ground outlet the case ground "ire &usually bare copper' is not connected to the ground pin. Case ground is connected to the outlet frame Conduit and outlet bo5 only. Continuity can not be measured bet"een the ground pin and conduit# outlet bo5 or the outlet frame.

$n ne" construction or during remodeling pro!ect it is often easy and cost effective to install electronics grade electrical distribution panels and isolated ground circuits. he cost in e5isting construction can be prohibitive and point of use products are available for those instances. &2eference1 $solation .o"er Conditioners'