Electrical Noise Considerations; Causes And Cures - Baldor 22H series Installation & Operating Manual

Section 1
General Information

Electrical Noise Considerations

Causes and Cures

Relay and Contactor Coils Among the most common sources of noise are the ever–present coils of contactors and
MN722
All electronic devices including the Series 22H Control are vulnerable to significant
electronic interference signals (commonly called "Electrical Noise"). At the lowest level,
noise can cause intermittent operating errors or faults. From a circuit standpoint, 5 or 10
millivolts of noise may cause detrimental operation. For example, analog speed and
torque inputs are often scaled at 5 to 10 VDC maximum with a typical resolution of one
part in 1,000. Thus noise of only 5 mV represents a substantial error.
At the extreme level, significant noise can cause damage to the drive. Therefore, it is
advisable to prevent noise generation and to follow wiring practices that prevent noise
generated by other devices from reaching sensitive circuits. In a control, such circuits
include inputs for speed, torque, control logic, and speed and position feedback, plus
outputs to some indicators and computers.
Unwanted electrical noise can be produced by many sources. Depending upon the
source, various methods can be used to reduce the effects of this noise and to reduce the
coupling to sensitive circuits. All methods are less costly when designed into a system
initially than if added after installation.
Figure 5-1 shows an oscilloscope trace of noise induced (as the coil circuit is opened) in
a 1–ft. wire located next to a lead for a Size 2 contactor coil. Scope input impedance is
10K for all scope traces. Maximum peak voltage is over 40V. Unless well filtered this is
often enough noise to ruin the output of a productive machine.
Figure 5-1 Electrical Noise Display
relays. When these highly inductive coil circuits are opened, transient conditions often
generate spikes of several hundred volts in the control circuit. These spikes can induce
several volts of noise in an adjacent wire that runs parallel to a control–circuit wire.
To suppress noise in these AC coils, add an R–C snubber across each relay and
contactor coil. A snubber consisting of a 33K
usually works well. The snubber reduces the rate of rise and peak voltage in the coil
when current flow is interrupted. This eliminates arcing and reduces the noise voltage
induced in adjacent wires. In our example, the noise was reduced from over 40 Vpeak to
about 16 Vpeak as shown in Figure 5-2.
Figure 5-2 R-C Snubber Circuit
resistor in series with a 0.47
Troubleshooting 5-15
m
F capacitor