In an ideal control system, where should the grounding occur?

In an ideal control system, grounding should occur at a single location near the control room or panel to ensure a common reference point for electrical signals. This practice minimizes ground loops and reduces the potential for noise and interference in the system. By having a centralized grounding point, various components of the control system can share a common voltage reference, which helps to achieve consistent and accurate readings from all field instruments.

Centralized grounding also simplifies maintenance and troubleshooting, as technicians can focus on one main grounding point rather than dealing with multiple grounding locations that may introduce variability and complexity. This method helps maintain the integrity of the control system by optimizing the signal quality and ensuring that any potential difference between any two points in the system remains minimal.

Other options suggest grounding at every field-mounted instrument or at regular intervals within the loop, which can lead to issues such as ground loops and increased susceptibility to noise and interference due to varying ground potentials. Thus, the most effective grounding strategy for an ideal control system is to consolidate the grounding to a single location near the control room or panel.