Floating the shield is a method used with shielded cable. Grounding is performed on which end of the shield?

Floating the shield is a method used with shielded cable. Grounding is performed on which end of the shield?

• A. Both ends
• B. None
• C. Grounded at the shield connection
• D. One end of the shield is grounded

Answer: (D)

When shielding is used, the goal is to divert interference away without creating loops that carry noise around the system. Floating the shield means it isn’t tied to ground along its length. Grounding the shield at only one end provides a single reference point for stray currents to drain away, while avoiding a ground loop that can occur if both ends are grounded. If the shield were connected at both ends, slight differences in ground potential could drive currents along the shield itself, which can introduce noise into the signal path. So, the best practice in this setup is to ground one end of the shield.

When shielding is used, the goal is to divert interference away without creating loops that carry noise around the system. Floating the shield means it isn’t tied to ground along its length. Grounding the shield at only one end provides a single reference point for stray currents to drain away, while avoiding a ground loop that can occur if both ends are grounded. If the shield were connected at both ends, slight differences in ground potential could drive currents along the shield itself, which can introduce noise into the signal path. So, the best practice in this setup is to ground one end of the shield.