CTI TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Number 15: A publication of the Cable Tray Institute

Cable Tray Grounding: Power, Instrumentation, and

Telecommunications
Richard J. Buschart, Former Technical Director-Cable Tray Institute
Grounding has always been a controversial topic. But, with the growth of digital high
frequency systems the issues are more complex. Grounding means connected to earth or
a conducting body that acts in place of earth. Some international standards refer to
grounding as earthing. Bonding is the interconnection of metal parts to establish electrical
continuity. These definitions are NEC terminology and apply to power system grounding.
The purpose of grounding is:

Fire Protection
Electrical Shock Protection
Electrical system ground fault protection
Lighting protection-building and electrical system
Electrical Noise and EMI protection
Voltage Stabilization

Power System Grounding

Power circuit grounding of cable trays is explained in CTI Technical Bulletins, Titles No. 8,
11, and 12, and the National Electrical Code Sections 318-3- and 318-7. It is also
covered in NEMA Standard VE-2.
The purpose of power grounding (Article 250) is to minimize the damage from wiring or
equipment ground fault. Cable tray systems are in the path of ground fault currents. Cable
tray systems are bonded together through their bolting, connectors splice plates, clamps,
and bonding jumpers where there are gaps in the cable tray system. Cable tray systems
are not required to be mechanically continuous, but shall be electrically continuous.
Cable trays are also bonded to conduit, cable channel or other wiring drops. They must
also be bonded back to the power source. All bonding jumpers must be sized (as a
minimum) to meet the requirements of equipment grounding conductors. Both side rails of
the tray must be bonded together to the next section. Cable trays can be used as the only
equipment grounding conductor (EGC), but they must meet certain criteria (only in
qualifying facilities, minimum cross-sectional areas, U.L. classified as to suitability, etc., see
NEC 318-7).

There are other alternatives-use EGCs in the cable (U.L. listed cable can be supplied with
EGCs in certain conductor sizes) or a separate EGC in the cable tray that bonds the cable
tray sections together and can also be used to tap EGCs to individual drop-outs from the
CT. These two alternatives can be used for non-metallic cable trays. Cables with
equipment ground conductors within the cable are an accepted practice in industry. They
provide a two-point connection from the power source to the load, however, any conduit,
cable tray, or raceway must still be bonded back to the power source.
Some companies do not accept conduit as an EGC.
The EGC system is a critical safety system. Therefore, it is prudent to treat the cable tray
system as an equipment grounding conductor in parallel with the ground conductors in the
cables or an individual ground conductor.
Cable Tray Grounding-Signal and Communication Circuits
Where cable tray systems contain only signal and communication circuits that operate at
low energy levels, power grounding per NEC Section 318-7 is not appropriate, but cable
tray grounding for lightning protection, noise, and electromagnetic interference is necessary.
For telecommunications circuits TIA/EIA standard 607, Commercial Building Grounding and
Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications, provides grounding for these systems.
Voltage disturbances, lightning induced voltages, and radiated EMI are the concern.
Lightning protection is a concern if cable trays are located on the top of buildings, in an
outdoor exposed area, or in the path of lightning currents. An overhead cable system can
provide protection. NFPA780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems
1997 Edition, provides the criteria for building lightning protection.
Cable tray designs are also available that are EMI/RFI shielded. The tray is totally enclosed
and the gaskets and covers are constructed and tested to meet EMI standards for the
protection of the sensitive circuits in the cable tray against external electric and magnetic
fields. Solid bottom cable trays also provide some degree shielding as do cable tray covers.
Steel provides effective shielding at frequencies up to approximately 100 kilohertz however
at higher frequencies, in the megahertz range, aluminum or copper shielding is more
effective.
Cross Talk
Cable tray systems that contain signal and communication circuits should be grounded and,
in some situations, shielded from external electrical and magnetic disturbances. In addition
to these concepts, the CTI has received a number of questions concerning the coupling of
electrical noise from power wiring into sensitive circuits because the wiring is within the
same cable tray or close to the cable tray. The key question is how far apart does the
power and signal cables have to be. The most desirable design is to separate power and
signal cables in separate cable trays, or to separate wiring systems by a barrier.
The sensitivity of signal systems depends on a number of complex factors. Including
electronic circuitry involved, isolation or coupling to ground, filtering, the signal type and
logic, type of signal cable (untwisted pair, twisted pair, shielded twisted pair, coaxial cable
double-shielded coaxial cable) and characteristic impedance of the circuit and cable. Some
systems are quite tolerant to external noise. For instance, 4 to 20MA instrument signal
systems and telecommunication circuits do quite well with respect to noise.

Some companies and organizations have published their own recommended practices and
they should be followed. The national standard that includes separation distances is the
Institute of Electrical Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Standard 518, IEEE Guide for the
Installation of Electronic Equipment to Minimize Electrical Noise Inputs to External Sources.
The cable spacing criteria found in this standard is large, based on industry experience.
Many systems work quite well with lesser distances. Much depends on the particular
installation. Typical spacing of cables in trays used in various industry standards varies
from two inches to four feet. In some situations, two inches is probably adequate.
AC Drives
There have been a number of noise problems (and other problems) with the application of
the newer IGBT AC Pulse Width Modulated Adjustable Speed Motor Drives. The new IGBT
Drives produce fact rise time pulses that produce high voltage, high frequency pulses in the
power wiring from the Inverter electronics to the motor. (The IGBT is a new type of power
semiconductor.) This power wiring is essentially a radiator of high frequency power.
The noise frequency can be as high as 30MHZ. A number of IEEE papers have been
presented on this topic. In particular, they provide detailed studies analysis and noise
measurements using different types of motor power cable types. The conclusion is that one
can manage this concern by proper grounding and power cable selection. At these
frequencies, based on tests, the power cable should be shielded with a metal armor or foil
either copper or aluminum. These studies and technical papers indicate that:
1. Shielded cable-either type TC or MC should be used
2. Nonferrous metal, such as aluminum, becomes the metal of choice at high
frequencies for the cable shield
3. Additional high frequency bonding is required
Conclusion
Cable tray systems have been used extensively to support sensitive electronic circuitry. For
many circuits shielding and separation requirements are minimal. Proper attention to the
following can manage noise and EMI concerns:

Signal cable
Grounding of signal circuits and cable shields
Cable selection
Cable tray grounding

A PUBLICATION OF THE CABLE TRAY INSTITUTE

1300 North 17th Street, Suite 1752, Rosslyn, Virginia 22209
www.cabletrays.com