nanog mailing list archives
RE: Presumed RF Interference
From: "Scott Morris" <swm () emanon com>
Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2006 20:14:18 -0500
The isolated grounds are definitely a recommended idea for telco/server rooms... Perhaps an array of them depending on the size power feed we're talking about. I'm assuming it's a sizeable UPS that runs your telco and data equipment (or small server room). The irritation, if you haven't done this step already, is that adding a TRUE isolated ground after you've already built your building and room is not exactly a cheap thing to do. Especially in nice metal framed buildings that like to have a tendency of becoming the nearest path ground themselves. But I agree that it's certainly something as a worthwhile "first path" to look into! Scott PS. I agree it's not good business practice to kill your clients! -----Original Message----- From: owner-nanog () merit edu [mailto:owner-nanog () merit edu] On Behalf Of Steven M. Bellovin Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 6:21 PM To: wb8foz () nrk com Cc: nanog () merit edu Subject: Re: Presumed RF Interference On Sun, 5 Mar 2006 18:00:36 -0500 (EST) David Lesher <wb8foz () nrk com> wrote:
Cut the ground wire in your power cords but ground the equipment directly to a metal frame.I would NEVER tell a client to do this. That could easily kill someone.
Correct. The safety purpose of the ground cord is to cause a short circuit in case line voltage energizes the case, in which case the breaker will trip. If you cut that wire, the metal frame frame can become hot; unless it's firmly grounded itself, there will be a potential between it and ground. Along comes the next well-grounded person to touch it -- poof! Even if the frame were grounded properly, that's a local ground, which may differ in potential from the breaker box's ground. The neutral wire in the circuit is tied to ground at the breaker box, which means there could be a potential difference between it and the frame. That also creates a potential shock hazard, though presumably not that great. What might be useful -- ask an EE, not me -- is a circuit with an isolated ground. In that case, the ground wire from the power plug is routed all the way back to the breaker panel, and isn't connected to, say, the local electrical box that the cord is plugged into. I've seen computer equipment wired that way in the past.
Current thread:
- Presumed RF Interference Jon R. Kibler (Mar 05)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference David Lesher (Mar 05)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Peter Dambier (Mar 05)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference David Lesher (Mar 05)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Steven M. Bellovin (Mar 05)
- RE: Presumed RF Interference Scott Morris (Mar 05)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Robert Boyle (Mar 05)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Steven M. Bellovin (Mar 05)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Peter Dambier (Mar 05)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference David Lesher (Mar 05)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Martin Hannigan (Mar 05)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Matthew Sullivan (Mar 06)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Steven M. Bellovin (Mar 06)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference ww (Mar 06)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Ian Mason (Mar 07)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Andrew C Burnette (Mar 08)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Randy Bush (Mar 06)
- Re: Presumed RF Interference Peter Dambier (Mar 06)