Perimeter frame earth track on PCBs

Aug 22, 2006 1 Replies

On quite a few industrial grade PCBs which are mounted in plastic enclosures, I saw these frame earth tracks going a long the perimeter of the PCB. They typically are on both sides of the PCBs, form a loop, top and bottom track are connected with plenty of vias and are connected to the protective earth terminal of the enclosure. The circuit ground (GND) is typically connected via a 1MOhm/10nF to this track.



The purpose seems to be an EMI shield.



Is this a useful thing and recommended to do on a 2-layer PCB?



As the track forms a loop I am concerned that it could be EMI wise counter productive.


Ricky


I suspect that it is not so much an EMI thing as an ESD / safe handling area thing.

JosephKK Gegen dummheit kampfen die Gotter Selbst, vergebens.   --Schiller

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