Electronic – arduino – How to connect a signal shield to minimise noise from close proximity AC

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In my proposed application, I will have approximately 30 RS-485 nodes configured in 3 chains spaced ~1m apart. There is a need to pass through 240v L-N-E, +5v, A, B, GND in each node. The physical layout is shown below, as well as an example of the cable.

I am worried about the interference on my signal lines. There will be approx ~1.6A Triac switched current on each chain.

How do I connect the the signal shield to offer the best protection?

diagram

cable

Best Answer

Is there an equivalent to this cable where the data member is a "star quad" cable? A differential signalling standard on correctly wired "star quad" cable is more resistant to interference.

Star quad cable has 4 conductors in a circle (I numbered them clockwise below)
1 2
4 3
Use 1 and 3 in parallel for one leg, and 2 and 4 for the other. This gives much better noise cancellation than a regular twisted pair.

The downside of star quad is a much higher capacitance between legs, but over short (1m) runs that won't be such a problem.

edit : this tight twist is what I think of as star quad; though ordinary quad used the same way will also provide reasonably good immunity to interference. Image from the Canford catalogue.

Star Quad cable