There is a noticeable knowledge gap in the industry when discussing electrical noise. The challenge is that many people don’t recognize electrical noise or understand why the issue might be occurring. This is a common problem, even among professionals in the industrial automation field.
Electrical noise can be anywhere, from the Wi-Fi cutting out at your house when the microwave turns on, to sensors having sudden and unexplained readings such as momentary triggers or spikes in an industrial setting.
As electrical installations are the backbone of any industrial system, proper integration and maintenance are vital to avoiding this electrical noise. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) guidelines were created to ensure proper installation but are often overlooked or misunderstood when buried in fine print or displayed in complicated graphics.
One proven solution is to utilize EMI filters. They can help mitigate the issue by preventing electrical noise from entering your system. This essentially provides a controlled path for it to travel, keeping it from causing interference or damage and ensuring your systems are reliable and problem-free long term.
Preventative maintenance is also key as a regular assessment of the quality of your electrical system will provide an understanding of where issues may arise. A basic performance check will determine if the system is operating adequately. However, this approach often misses intermittent problems that the untrained eye will not recognize as electrical noise. A better tactic is using multi-meters and oscilloscopes for spot-checking, providing a more detailed understanding of your system’s electrical integrity and allowing for identification of specific problem areas.
The best and most comprehensive evaluation, however, comes from consulting services like Valin for thorough testing, as we offer the most accurate assessment of your installation’s performance such as detailed reports for improving performance and compliance that will help long term.
Once one can recognize the issue of electrical noise, strategies for management and prevention can be addressed. It never hurts to consult with a company whose experts have ample experience in the field.
For the full breakdown and technical details on electrical noise, see the article we had published in Processing Magazine.