Isn't that only an issue with legacy systems that bring the ground between components on the data cable such as a serial port connection?Originally Posted by gar
Isn't that only an issue with legacy systems that bring the ground between components on the data cable such as a serial port connection?
120710-0950 EDT
iwire:
USB is not normally an isolated connection.
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Thanks I did not know that.
I can't think of a typical application of a USB cable that would be tied to the building EGC on each end.
120710-1033 EDT
iwire:
Consider this:
From a main or sub-panel run two different 20 A circuits to a room with a computer and a printer. The printer is on one circuit and the computer is on the other circuit. For simplicity consider a main panel with the power company transformer at the main panel.
This means neutral, EGC, and the transformer center tap are all at almost exactly the same voltage even under very heavy fault conditions.
With no faults or leakage current to the EGCs in the computer room the difference in voltage between the two EGCs is essentially zero. Assume all the wires in the two circuits are the same size. Thus, the same resistance for each wire.
On one of the circuits apply a bolted (very low resistance) fault between the hot wire and its EGC.
What is an approximate peak voltage between the two EGCs?
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What is the source of that voltage? 0.7 volts implies a significant current flow on the EGC.
Don, Illinois
"It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority." B Franklin
120710-1324 EDT
don:
I do not know, but switching power supplies are a possibility. Also maybe my fluorescent lamp noise filters.
The Fluke 27 is fairly good up to about 30 kHz. A Simpson 260 is much better, maybe to 500 kHz. When you get to the higher frequencies the impedance is much higher than at 60 Hz. Data flow to a printer by a parallel port might be in the 100 kHz range, and a USB is probably at least 1 MHz.
Use of an Ethernet connection to a printer is better because it provides DC isolation.
When we discuss power line shorts to the EGC then it is 60 Hz, but if it originates from lightning, we are in the MHz range.
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Isn't USB limited to fairly short distance? In most cases a computer and a USB device will be very close in proximity and the chance of being connected to same AC circuit is usually pretty high. There would likley be more noticeable problems if one were able to run hundreds of feet of USB from the computer to the other device.
120712-0953 EDT
kwired:
Yes USB is a short range interface and for many devices the AC connections will be from the same circuit, and likely from the same socket strip.
The original post was relative to multiple branch circuits to the same computer room.
Also a large laser printer might be put on its own circuit even though it is a few feet from the computer.
All my printers and plotters use parallel or serial connections. One printer is 25 ft from one computer and I use an extension cord from the computer to the printer so as to share the same EGC.
A number of years ago I had a plotter with an RS232 connection to a computer with about a 50 ft spacing between them. One night with no equipment turned on and a nearby lightning strike the RS232 components at both ends were destroyed. Nothing else in the building was damaged.
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Actually the OP is about multiwire branch circuits - so you are likely looking at a single equipment grounding conductor vs multiple EGC's in the OP situation. I think the only issue with that would be if the shared neutral introduces any problems, other than the possiblilty of an open neutral problem I think harmonics on the neutral is the only other thing that needs looked into, the potential of problems (if there is any problem) with equipment grounding are the same in either case. Just my thoughts.
As I said, typical.
USB is usually used for short runs so the chances are low that the circuits would come from different panels / sources. But yes it could happen.
Printers are often two wire devices. But yes it could have an EGC. I have ho idea if that EGC is connected to a conductor in the incoming USB cable.
Has this proven to be the issue that serial port connections have had with current loops on the data ground signal?This means neutral, EGC, and the transformer center tap are all at almost exactly the same voltage even under very heavy fault conditions.
With no faults or leakage current to the EGCs in the computer room the difference in voltage between the two EGCs is essentially zero. Assume all the wires in the two circuits are the same size. Thus, the same resistance for each wire.
On one of the circuits apply a bolted (very low resistance) fault between the hot wire and its EGC.
What is an approximate peak voltage between the two EGCs?
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