The post AutoQuiz: Which Type of Electrical Wires Would Normally Be Shielded in Control Systems? first appeared on the ISA Interchange blog site.
This automation industry quiz question comes from the ISA Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) program. Certified Control System Technicians calibrate, document, troubleshoot, and repair/replace instrumentation for systems that measure and control level, temperature, pressure, flow, and other process variables. Click this link for more information about the CCST program.
a) power wires
b) signal wires
c) ground wires
d) control wires
e) none of the above
Answer A is not correct. Power wiring requires the power source to be referenced to a common point (ground), but does not require the conductors themselves be shielded. Power wiring is not typically adversely affected by other inductive or EMF forces.
Answer C is not correct because ground wires are connected to earth potential and would not benefit from further shielding of the wire.
Answer D is not correct because control wiring (typically 120VAC or 24VDC) typically conveys on/off (high/low signal level) information, which does not require shielding. However, one conductor of the control wiring is usually referenced to a common or reference potential.
The correct answer is B, signal wires. In control systems, signal wires are comprised of analog device wiring (such 4-20 mA), reference signals (typically 1-5 VDC or 0-10VDC), and communication signals (low-level VDC or mA). All signal wires carry information over two or more wires in which the voltage level or current levels are varied to represent the information that is being conveyed. The cable shield, connected to an isolated zero potential, is required to prevent nearby inductive loads and EMF fields from altering the low-level voltage or current levels in the signal wiring.
Reference: Goettsche, L.D. (Editor), Maintenance of Instruments and Systems, 2nd Edition
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