Electric Shielding

Author: N.H. Crowhurst

The third kind of shielding is a protection against electric induction, commonly called electrostatic induction. (Electrostatic induction is really a misnomer; this induction is better called electric induction, because it depends upon the continuous fluctuation of the charges induced.)

Electric shielding

Electric shielding consists of interposing a grounded shield between the interfering voltage and the low-level circuit that might pick up the electric field. The voltage induced is immediately carried off to ground, and the electric field is prevented from reaching the circuit that is shielded. Unlike either form of protection against magnetic fields, shielding against electric fields can be almost 100% effective. All that is necessary is to insure that no path is left through which the electric field can pass. For this reason, much more attention is given to the prevention of induction by magnetic fields.