TN-7

Driving Long Cables

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DRIVING LONG CABLES When driving long cables, Equation 1 shows that as the
length of cable, peak voltage output or maximum frequency
Operation over long cables may affect the frequency
of interest increases, a greater constant current will be
response of ICP® accelerometers, and introduce low
required to drive the signal.
frequency noise and high frequency distortion when an
insufficient current is available to drive cable capacitance. The cable driving nomograph provides a simple, graphical
method for obtaining the expected maximum frequency
Unlike charge mode systems, where the system noise is a
capability of an ICP® measurement system. The maximum
function of cable length, ICP® sensors provide a high
peak signal voltage amplitude, cable capacitance and
voltage, low impedance output well-suited for driving long
supplied constant current must be known or presumed.
cables through harsh environments. While there is virtually
no increase in noise with ICP® sensors, the capacitive For example, when running a 100 ft. (30.5 m.) cable with a
loading of the cable may distort or filter higher frequency capacitance of 30 pF/ft, the total capacitance is 3000 pF.
signals depending on the supply current and the output This value can be found along the diagonal cable capaci-
impedance of the sensor. tance lines. Assuming the sensor operates at a maximum
output range of 5 volts and the constant current available
Generally, this signal distortion is not a problem with lower
from the power supply is 2 mA, the ratio on the vertical
frequency testing within a range up to 1,000 Hz. However,
axis can be calculated to equal 5. The intersection of the
for higher frequency vibration, shock or transient testing
total cable capacitance and this ratio result in a maximum
over cables longer than 500 ft. , the possibility of signal
frequency of approximately 10.2 kHz.
distortion exists.
The nomograph does not indicate whether the frequency
The maximum frequency that can be transmitted over
amplitude response at a point is flat, rising or falling. For
a given cable length is a function of both the cable capac-
precautionary reasons, it is good general practice to
itance and the ratio of the peak signal voltage to the
increase the constant current (if possible) to the sensor
current available from the signal conditioner according to:
(within its maximum limit) so that the frequency deter-
109 mined from the nomograph is approximately 1.5 to 2
f(max) = times greater than the maximum frequency of interest.
πCV / (Ic-1)
2π
Note that higher current levels will deplete battery-pow-
where: ered signal conditioners at a faster rate.
f(max) = maximum frequency (hertz) Also, any current not used by the cable goes directly to
C = cable capacitance (picofarads) power the internal electronics and will create heat. This may
V = maximum peak output from sensor (volts) cause the sensor to exceed its maximum temperature speci-
Ic = constant current from signal conditioner (mA) fication. For this reason, do not supply excessive current over
10 9 = scaling factor to equate units short cable runs or when testing at elevated temperatures.
Note that in this equation, 1 mA is subtracted from
the total current supplied to sensor (Ic). This is done to
compensate for powering the internal electronics.
79,577 159,155 318,310 530,516 795,775 1,591,549 3,183,099 5,305,165 7,957,747
7,958 15,915 31,831 53,052 79,577 159,155 318,310 530,516 795,775
796 1,592 3,183 5,305 7,958 15,915 31,831 53,052 79,577
80 159 318 531 796 1,592 3,183 5,305 7,958

10.00

1.00

V / (Ic-1)

0.10

Cable Capacitance
0.01
1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000
Frequency (Hz)
 3425 Walden Avenue, Depew, NY 14043 USA
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TN_07_0422