Whitepaper on Groundloops

& Induced Interference in

CCTV
Public Domain

Author : Jacques Botha

Manager : Technical Division

Norbain SA
Purpose of document

• To elaborate in a non-exhaustive manner on the most

common causes of unacceptable video with specific
reference to extraneous forces acting thereupon .
Observations
While on site I noted the following points:

• The DVR suffered multiple power failures. This is not

good for any DVR and eventually leads to hard disk
failure which was clearly evidenced in the scholarly
paper “Failure Trends in a Large Disk Drive Population”
(http://labs.google.com/papers/disk_failures.pdf)
released by Google.

• Windows ShutDown X/X/2008 XX:XX:XX PM

System Started at X/X/2008 XX:XX:XX PM
Abnormal Shutdown Detected X/X/2008 X:XX:XX PM
System Started at X/X/2008 X:XX:XX PM

• When looking at this log it is important to note the

slightly longer inscriptions such as:
Abnormal Shutdown Detected X/X/2008 X:XX:XX PM

• This line tells us that the machine suffered an abnormal

(and abrupt) shutdown. The other lines only attest to
normal System Startup (autonomous or user initiated)
 and normal Windows Shutdown (autonomous or user
initiated). The latter two lines are then also the only
two that we ever want to see in DVR logs. I suggest the
use of a UPS with the capability of shutting the DVR
down safely once it has detected loss of the mains
power. These UPS’s normally come with a serial cable
that can be connected between the DVR and UPS that
facilitates RS-232 communications. In my estimation
this is more important than ever if we consider that we
have very “dirty” and irregular power off the grid.
• The blowing of capture cards is certainly possible
through bad power but the foremost killer of capture
cards is of course bad video that can be caused by bad
connections or crimps, rogue voltages on the video lines
that are actively intrusive and possibly in excess of the
specified 1 Volt peak-to-peak standard. These rogue
voltages can be induced through Electromagnetic
Induction (refer Lenz’s Law, Faraday’s Paradox, Lorentz
Force and the common and very well known “ Fleming’s
Right Hand Rule” ). Lenz’s Law predicts the direction of
the induced electromotive force and the current
resulting from electromagnetic induction.
Sir John Ambrose Fleming’s Right Hand Rule

This rule probably illustrates the above principles in the

simplest fashion possible.
In layman’s terms it simply states that any current
bearing conductor will generate a magnetic field
perpendicular and directly proportional to the direction
of propagation of the current. This rule also holds true
for the inverse action, id est where a conductor is
brought close to a magnetic field and subsequently cuts
the magnetic flux field lines. As soon as this action takes
place a current is induced in the conductor. Where this
bit of physics applies in CCTV is of course the
information that we are interested in. If any RG type
cable (commonly referred to as Co-Axial cable, specified
for use in CCTV) runs parallel with a current bearing
conductor and it is within 500 millimetres you incur the
risk of inducing a current on this cable
The associated two photographs illustrate the
proximity of video to various other cables. Not only is
this not permissible it is most likely the reason for
video capture cards blowing on the Rediview.
The following picture shows a T-Piece connector in
circuit. This type of connector being “bare” makes it
easy to introduce a ground loop into the system as well
as altering the termination resistance which plays a role
in the reproduction of the video as well. (Again pay
attention to the haphazard way in which cables disperse
on site.)
This following picture points out two facts:
The first ellipse shows a BNC touching the steel girder.
(A nice place to introduce a ground loop into the circuit.)
Again there are a whole lot of cables wantonly running
hither and thither.
The second ellipse shows the camera body directly
touching the building superstructure. This is a common
mistake and easily rectified.

1. When a camera body touches the superstructure it

has a direct electrical connection to the building.
2. When lightning strikes the earth it introduces an
excess of electrons in the ground (i.e. power in the
ground). As we know nature always tries to establish
equilibrium and as such the power (approximately 1
to 5 Giga Watts, 1 000 000 000 Watts) will run
unchecked in the ground and attempt to disperse. If
it now encounters conductors or steel such as this
building superstructure it will create an earth
potential difference. This means that our camera (un-
insulated of the steel structure) will now not have a
decent earth as a reference for the video any more. A
voltage is induced directly on the earth or shield due
to the temporary imbalance. The shield of the RG-59
goes directly back to the DVR and into a capture card.
A spike of a magnitude greater than the expected 1 V
peak-to-peak has just been introduced on the system.
In closing I wish to include a photograph that was taken
of a HeiTel which is another one of my products. I
would like to use this picture as an exercise in
recognition of faults (both existing and future). With
this new knowledge, how many can you pick out?

1. BNC are crimped poorly. (This I admit might not be

clear here but on site inspection revealed this.)
2. Cables are not marked properly. (If another
technician has to take over this site it will take a lot of
time and hence money for him to simply figure out
the on-site configuration or gestalt ere making any
repairs or additions.)
3. The HeiTel is in a plastic “In-Tray” on the ground.
Unless I missed an important communication I do not
recall this being the correct standard.
4. Power and Video and other cables intertwine freely.
(Consider the rules of Induction etc.) These cables
need to be “combed”.
5. Rule of thumb: If it looks wrong, it probably is. This
picture evokes nightmares.
Conclusion & Suggestions
It would appear to me that XXXXXXX Security is new and
relatively inexperienced with regards to this discipline. This is
not a fatal flaw but instead should be viewed as an
opportunity to betterment. There is much to learn and I can
report that even though I have worked on Urban Surveillance
Projects, Casino’s , Mines, Military Projects, small systems,
big systems, simple and complex systems alike that I am still
learning every day. Once the basic principles are applied and
kept in mind throughout it becomes second nature. It is an
attainable goal! One piece of advice that I would like to
dispense to you would be to get a technician with good
standards and little tolerance. You could then make this
person a project manager of sorts. He/she would not
necessarily get involved in the installation but only
commissioning and hand-over. The idea is that such a person
would not want the installation crew to take shortcuts and
they would understand that they would have to hand-over
and maintain this system.

The following is a list of things I would suggest for this site:

• Install a UPS and connect all communications cables

etc.
• Fix cabling. Separate the power from the video and
remember to maintain 500 mm separation. Mark
cables. Eliminate excess cabling.

• Install all cameras on the superstructure and roof on

Perspex blocks that will physically isolate them.

• Re-crimp BNC connectors.

• Consider installing a VDA in order to “buffer” video

coming into DVR’s. This would also act as a patch panel
which would neaten and simplify.

• Cables that are exposed ere running into housings

should be put in sprag or spiral bind.

• Seal outdoor housings. Condensation can occur very

easily. Air inside the housing will cool down at night and
condense to water. No electronics like water. You
might also want to introduce some Silica Gel to all
housings.

• Night focus all cameras. I don’t think this was ever

done. A camera picture should be in focus day or night.

• Install the head-end equipment on shelves or in racks.

On the ground they will naturally suck in dust which
causes excessive heat and a myriad of other problems.
The equipment longevity most notably will be affected.
• Consider sending your technicians on training. I would
also like to show them what a system should be installed
like.

• Replace BNC T-Pieces with single channel Video

Distribution Amplifiers. In the event of you installing a
VDA at the head-end equipment this should not be
necessary.

• Move camera power supplies to within 5 metres of the

cameras they supply. This might mean that you will
need to install junction boxes at most cameras.

• Prevention is better (and cheaper) than cure.