PCB grounding? Chassis or cable return to DC supply.

Thread Starter

Trevred

Joined Jul 26, 2017
3
When an rf pcb board is bolted to the radio chassis, is this a satisfactory return path to the DC supply, or should the pcb be insulated from the chassis and cables used for the return path.
Confused re grounding!
Trev
 

nsaspook

Joined Aug 27, 2009
13,086
Generally the radio chassis should be more of a shield/ground plane not a DC current carrying conductor so a return wire (with low resistance) to the DC power supply (where the return terminal(s) on the power supply might also be connect to the chassis) is suggested. RF board mounting point grounding is a circuit design decision but for most circuits your want the RF/signal ground at some point to be at equal signal ground potential to the chassis with a low impedance connection.

https://www.analog.com/en/analog-dialogue/articles/staying-well-grounded.html
 
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