What is the Shielded Cable?

A wire wrapped with a conductor outside the conductor is called a shielded cable. The wrapped conductor is called a shielding layer, which is usually a braided copper mesh or copper foil (aluminum). The shielding layer needs to be grounded, and external interference signals can be guided into the earth by this layer.

Function: Prevent interference signals from entering the inner layer and conductor interference while reducing the loss of transmission signals.

Structure:

1. Ordinary

Insulation layer + shielding layer + wire

2. Advanced

Insulation layer + shielding layer + signal wire + shielding layer ground wire

Note: When selecting a shielded wire, the insulation layer of the shielded ground conductor has a conductive function and can be connected to the shielding layer (has a certain resistance).

The shielded wiring system originated in Europe. It adds a metal shielding layer to the outside of the ordinary unshielded wiring system. It uses the reflection, absorption and skin effect of the metal shielding layer to prevent electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic radiation. The shielding system comprehensively utilizes The balancing principle of the twisted pair and the shielding effect of the shielding layer have very good electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) characteristics.

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) means that electronic equipment or network systems have a certain ability to resist electromagnetic interference and cannot produce excessive electromagnetic radiation.

That is to say, the equipment or network system is required to be able to work normally in a relatively harsh electromagnetic environment. And at the same time, it cannot radiate excessive electromagnetic waves and interfere with the normal operation of other surrounding equipment and networks.

The main reason why shielded cables resist external interference is that the integrity of signal transmission can be guaranteed to a certain extent through the shielding system. Shielded cabling systems can prevent transmitted data from being affected by external electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is mainly low-frequency interference, and motors, fluorescent lamps and power lines are common sources of electromagnetic interference. Radio frequency interference (RFI) is high-frequency interference, mainly wireless frequency interference, including radio, television broadcasts, radar and other wireless communications.

For resisting electromagnetic interference, braided shielding is most effective, that is, metal mesh shielding because of its low critical resistance.

When addressing radio frequency interference, the most effective approach involves a metal foil layer for shielding. This choice is driven by the capability of metal foil to permit the unimpeded passage of high-frequency signals, owing to the gaps in the metal mesh shield.

For mixed interference fields of high and low frequencies, a combined shielding method of metal foil layer and metal mesh should be used, that is, a double-layer shielded cable in the form of S/FTP. This can make the metal mesh shielding suitable for interference in the low frequency range, and the metal foil shielding Suitable for interference in the high frequency range.

One end of the shielded wire is grounded and the other end is left floating.

When the signal line transmission distance is relatively long, the potential of the two ground points may be different due to the different ground resistance at both ends or the current flowing in the PEN line. At this time, if both ends are grounded, current will flow in the shielding layer, which will interfere with the signal. Therefore, in this case, one point is generally grounded and the other end is suspended in the air to avoid such interference.

The shielding effect is better when both ends are grounded, but the signal distortion will increase.

The function of the shielded wire is to isolate the electromagnetic field noise source from sensitive equipment and cut off the propagation path of the noise source.

Shielding is divided into active shielding and passive shielding. The purpose of active shielding is to prevent the noise source from radiating outward and to shield the noise source. The purpose of passive shielding is to prevent sensitive equipment from being interfered by noise sources and is a shield for sensitive equipment.

The shielding layer of shielded cables is mainly made of non-magnetic materials. Such as copper and aluminum, and its thickness is very thin, which is much less than the frequency of use of metal materials. The effect of the shielding layer is not mainly caused by the reflection and absorption of the electric field and magnetic field by the metal body itself, but by the grounding of the shielding layer.

Different forms of grounding will directly affect the shielding effect. The grounding methods for electric field and magnetic field shielding layers are different. Can be ungrounded, single-ended grounded or double-ended grounded.

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