The Circuit Designer's Companion - diagramas.diagram...

Grounding and wiring 5LNEPSUVB+PSB0V(B)VA+PSA0V(A)PCB3PCB2OutputsChassis groundPCB1InputsFigure 1.2 Typical intra-unit wiring schemebe a metal stud dedicated to the purpose. Such connections are the mains safety earth(about which more later), the 0V power rail, and any possible screening and filteringconnections that may be required in the power supply itself, such as an electrostaticscreen in the transformer. (The topic of power supply design is itself dealt with in muchgreater detail in Chapter 7).The purpose of a single-point chassis ground is to prevent circulating currents in thechassis. † If multiple ground points are used, even if there is another return path for thecurrent to take, a proportion of it will flow in the chassis (Figure 1.3); the proportion isdetermined by the ratio of impedances which depends on frequency. Such currents arevery hard to predict and may be affected by changes in construction, so that they cangive quite unexpected and annoying effects: it is not unknown for hours to be devotedto tracking down an oscillation or interference problem, only to find that it disappearswhen an inoffensive-looking screw is tightened against the chassis plate. Joints in thechassis are affected by corrosion, so that the unit performance may degrade with time,and they are affected by surface oxidation of the chassis material. If you use multi-pointchassis grounding then it is necessary to be much more careful about the electricalconstruction of the chassis.expected return currentchassis ground pointundesired chassis return currentFigure 1.3 Return current paths with multiple ground points† But, when RF shielding and/or a low-inductance ground is required, multiple ground pointsmay be essential. This is covered in Chapter 8.