Integrating Electronic Equipment and Power into Rack Enclosures
Optimized Power Distribution and Grounding for Audio, Video and Electronic Systems

This paper was produced by Middle Atlantic Products and the following text is taken from the document's preface:

In providing this information, the intent is not to make audio/video system professionals into electricians. They do however need a basic understanding of proper design and installation of power distribution and grounding to avoid potential noise and safety problems.

In order to get a good understanding of how some potential power and grounding problems present themselves, basic knowledge of power distribution is required. It is the intent of this document to provide this information.

Every state, city and municipality in the United States is responsible for its own safety standard for electrical installations. While some choose not to adopt any standard, most adopt and enact the widely-accepted National Electrical Code (NEC) or a version of the NEC enhanced to reflect the needs of their respective jurisdictions. Each is at liberty to incorporate additional requirements or remove exceptions, as they see fit. The state of New Jersey, for example, replaced the term “authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)” with “electrical subcode official” before enacting the NEC standard. Always be sure to check the requirements of the local authority having jurisdiction. The information presented in this paper is based on the NEC as it is written. Some areas may have more rigid requirements; however, the NEC is generally the minimum requirement. The NEC is updated every three years. This document is based on the 2008 version.

The NEC is not intended to be used as a design specification or an instruction manual for untrained persons. Some experienced installers have problems adapting the NEC to specific installations. Much of the problem is due to the many exceptions to the rules. The fact is there are more exceptions than there are rules. In addition many rules refer to, and are superseded by, several other sections of the NEC. This document should help to clarify the intentions of the NEC as it relates to audio and video systems.

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