Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)

IBEX 2011
Speakers:

David Gratton- Martek-Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Lindstrom- Westport Shipyard, WA

Property of the NMEA. Shall not

be copied or re-distributed.
 Seminar Overview

EMI Troubleshooting
EMI Prevention with Proper Cabling & Terminations
Lightning Protection
Corrosion
Grounding

Property of the NMEA. Shall not

be copied or re-distributed.
 Electromagnetic Interference

Unwanted Periodic Signal/Energy

One persons signal is another persons EMI.

Interrupts, Obstructs,
Degrades, or Limits
Equipment Performance

Property of the NMEA. Shall not

be copied or re-distributed.
 Electromagnetic Interference

Radiated Emissions RF Energy That Reaches

Susceptible Equipment via Broadcast

Conducted Emissions RF Energy That Reaches

Susceptible Equipment via Common Connections

Property of the NMEA. Shall not

be copied or re-distributed.
 EMI Propagation
Radiated Emissions
Signals/Energy that Reaches Susceptible
Equipment via Broadcast
Radiated Power Decreases by Distance Squared

Conducted Emissions
Signals/Energy that Reaches Susceptible
Equipment via Common Connections

Combined Modes
Signals/Energy that Propagates via Cable
Connections that then Become Signal Radiators
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be copied or re-distributed.
 EMI Sources
AC Units
Alternators
Battery Chargers
Blower fans
Engines
Generators
Inverters
Propeller Shafts
Radars
Property of the NMEA. Shall not
Wiring be copied or re-distributed.
 EMI Recipients

Electronic Compasses
AV Systems
Multifunction Displays
Just about any Electronic Device

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be copied or re-distributed.
 Identifying EMI Sources

Trial-and-Error Process of Elimination

Turn off All Equipment Except for Affected Device
Turn on a Device and Check for Symptoms
Repeat Until Interference Symptoms Return
Additional Testing May Be Required to
Determine If Interference Is Radiated or
Conducted
Interference May Be Radiated from Cables
Connected to Interference Source

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be copied or re-distributed.
 Avoiding EMI Problems
Layout and Space Planning
Identify Potential EMI Radiation Sources
Identify Potential EMI Conducted Sources
Avoid Potential Hot Spots

Rudder Feedback
Signal
Auto-
pilot Parallel cable runs
are not desirable

RF Transmission
Line
VHF
PropertyRadio
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be copied or re-distributed.
 Mitigation Is Application
Dependent
Internal High
Frequency
DC Power Signal
Supply
Leads

Signal Output
RF Output Stage
AC/RF
to Antenna
Output
(AC Signal
Wave Form)
Property of the NMEA. Shall not
be copied or re-distributed.
 Mitigation for Unintended
Signals
Objective: Block the Signal
Prevent Signal Transmission on Cables
Prevent Signal Transmission through Enclosure
Shielded Enclosure with Attached Ground
Input and Output Cables
Active Filters- usually BandPass or Notch
Ferrites
Best Practice is to attempt to solve problems
within the offender rather than the offended.

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be copied or re-distributed.
 Ferrites as an EMI
Suppressor
Ferrites Composed of Ferrous Oxide and One
or More Powdered Metals
Composite Material Resists Imposed EMI
Fields by Suppressing Electron Movement
Variable Sensitivity to Frequency
Lower Frequencies Pass without Significant Loss
Above Resonant Frequency Signal Becomes
Coupled to Ferrite, Causing a High Impedance
Increasing Turns Increases Effectiveness

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be copied or re-distributed.
Ferrite Geometry

Property of the NMEA. Shall not

be copied or re-distributed.
 Mitigation for Signal Cables

Objective: Preserve Signal on Cable; Prevent

Radiation to Other Cables and Devices
Balanced Signals Cancel Radiation
Shielding Captures Radiation and Diverts
Signal to Ground (not applicable to coax).
Find it with troubleshooting
Type Coverage Conductivity Flexibility
Foil 100% poor poor
Braid 85-95 % good good
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be copied or re-distributed.
 Eliminating Interference:
Power cables
Shielded Cables Connect One End of Shield to
RF Ground
Grounding Connect Case to RF Ground
Better to Connect Sources Case
Less Desirable to Connect Affected Devices Case

Filters Install in Power Leads of offender first

Ferrites Effective for Conducted and Radiated
Noise

Property of the NMEA. Shall not

be copied or re-distributed.
 Other Mitigation

Relocate Cable Runs

Relocate Equipment Displays
Relocate Antennas
Consider Antenna Radiation Patterns
Consider Cable Lengths
Avoid Multiples of Wave Length with power &
data cables
This is not an issue with coax cables

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be copied or re-distributed.
 Signal Loss Calculations

Total Loss = Cable Loss

+ Connector Losses

Cable Loss = Loss in dB per 100 ft. (Depends on Type)

x Cable Length / 100

Connector Loss = Number of Connectors

x 0.5 dB

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be copied or re-distributed.
 Connector Selection

Connector Maximum Impedance Permitted Uses

Type Frequency
UHF (PL-259) 300 MHz 50-Ohm VHF, SSB, DGPS, Stereo
BNC 4.0 GHz 50-Ohm VHF, SSB, DGPS, Cell, GPS
TNC 2.5 GHz 50-Ohm VHF, SSB, DGPS, Cell, GPS,
MINI-M
N 11.0 GHz 50-Ohm VHF, SSB, DGPS, Cell, GPS
F 2.0 GHz 75-Ohm TV, GPS
Mini UHF 2.5 GHz 50-Ohm Cell
SMA 12.0 GHz 50-Ohm SAT Phone
SMB 4.0 GHz 50-Ohm
FME 200 MHz 50-Ohm VHF, SSB
Property of the NMEA. Shall not
be copied or re-distributed.
 Cable Bend Radius

Cable Type Bend Radius

(inches)
RG58U 2.0
RG8X 2.4
RG8U 4.5
RG213 5.0
LMR240 0.75
LMR400 5.0

Better to route coax cables using gentle S-curves (green)

than tight right-angle turns (yellow) when possible.
 Coax Cables
Attenuation
Transmission Losses (dB per ft.)
Connector Losses (dB)
Impedance Mismatch (Avoidable) 50 - 75
Also affected by installation
Cable Length
Minimum Length Necessary (Most systems have no
tuned length)
Equipment Connections
Match Application and Cable Type
Extensions beware of the allowed loss
 Cable Selection

RG58U RG8X RG8U RG213 LMR240 LMR400

Nominal 3/ "
16
1/ "
4
13/ "
32
13/ "
32
1/ "
4
13/
32
O.D.
Conductor 20 16 13 13 15 9
(AWG)
Impedance 50 50 52 50 50 50
(Ohms)

Impedance Match within 2 Ohms

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be copied or re-distributed.
 Shielding Connections of Power

Shields Connected to RF Ground System

Effectiveness Dependent on Low Impedance
to Ground
Best Ground Path for High Frequency EMI
signals is via Copper Foil
#8 AWG Stranded Copper Wire Acceptable

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be copied or re-distributed.
 Lightning Strikes- GOOD LUCK!
Refer to ABYC TE-4 Lightning Protection for more information

Direct Strike Direct Hit on a Part of the

Vessel, Such as an Antenna or Mast.
Conductive Strike Strike on a Utility Line
and Conducted Aboard Through the AC
Power Cord
Inductive Strike Nearby Strike Causing a
Large Magnetic Field, Which in Turn Induces
a Voltage in the Vessels Wiring
There is no sure way to prevent damage from
any type of strike.
 Lightning Protection:
Two schools of thought
Refer to ABYC TE-4 Lightning Protection for more information

Conductive and Inductive

Commercially Available Surge Protection Products
Direct Strikes
Air Terminals Connected to Properly Sized
Conductors, with Relatively Straight Paths to
Ground
Towers Grounded Port and Starboard

Property of the NMEA. Shall not

be copied or re-distributed.
 Corrosion
Refer to ABYC E-11 AC & DC Electrical Systems on Boats for more information
Electrolysis Chemical and/or Electrochemical
Change Due to Electric Current
Galvanic Corrosion Corrosion from Electric
Current Flow between Connected but Dissimilar
Metals in the Same Electrolyte
 Other Corrosion Sources
Refer to ABYC E-11 AC & DC Electrical Systems on Boats for more information

Stray Current Corrosion Electric Current Flow Caused

by an Outside Source. (In a Marina).

Velocity Corrosion Electric Current Flow Caused by

Strong Water Currents

Selective Corrosion Electric Current Flow Caused by

Areas with Different Composition within the Same Alloy

Oxygen Starvation Electric Current Flow Caused by

Trapped Electrolytes Making Adjacent Surfaces More
Positive to the Remaining Metal Surface
 To Bond or Not to Bond
Age Old Debate!
Refer to ABYC E-2 Cathodic Protection for more information

Decision Is Vessel Dependent

Bonding Is Fairly Common in the Industry

Aluminum Is Less Noble Than Almost

Everything Else
Always Isolate From Bonding System And/or
Bond by Itself to a Sacrificial Anode Selected
Especially for Aluminum
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be copied or re-distributed.
 DC Common Grounding
System
Refer to ABYC E-11 AC & DC
Electrical Systems on Boats for
more information
Shorts Stray Potentials to
Ground
May Provide Cathodic
Protection
Usually Main Connection
between Vessel and Earth
Ground

Property of the NMEA. Shall not

be copied or re-distributed.
 Grounding System Interconnect
Refer to ABYC E-11 AC & DC Electrical Systems on Boats for more information
Objective: Single Point with No Current Flow
Practical: Few Interconnections with No Common Currents
 Vessel Grounding Systems
Refer to ABYC E-11 AC & DC Electrical Systems on Boats for more information
System Type When Required

DC Ground or Negative Reference All Vessels with DC Systems

AC Neutral Reference Vessels with AC Shore Power,

Generator, or Inverter Installed
AC Grounding (Safety) Safety

RF Ground Performance Vessels with Electronics Equipment

Installed
Single Side Band (SSB) Performance Vessels with SSB Transceiver
Ground Installed
DC Grounding Reference

Lightning Ground Safety

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be copied or re-distributed.