https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookies Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • Microwave/RF
    • T&D World
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookies Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

Wireless Networks


Don’t mess with Mother Nature

Don’t mess with Mother Nature

A lightning strike is inevitable - here's what to do before it happens
  • Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
  • 1st December 2007

The issues surrounding lightning protection have changed little since Benjamin Franklin famously invented the lightning rod in 1752. While Franklin was looking to protect ordinary buildings from fire after lightning strikes, at 21st-century base transceiver station sites, the priority — apart from the obvious safety requirement — is to safeguard the sensitive electronic equipment housed in the site’s equipment building.

The consequences of a loss are not simply related to the cost of replacing the equipment, but also to the loss of service. When contemplating protection against these losses, the site’s transmission lines are a critical consideration, as they provide direct conductive paths from the top of the tower to the equipment below.

It is no surprise that electrical storms are so spectacular, as they are truly high-energy events. One-third of all recorded lightning strikes are rated between 20 and 100 kiloamps (kA). The effects of lightning have been well-researched and documented. It has been known to blast chunks of concrete from walls. Occasionally, a tower will be hit by lightning at its highest point — the antenna — which not only will “fry” the antenna but, without surge protection, can travel into the very expensive base station equipment housed in the equipment building.

Surge events are not only caused by hits to towers or antennas. At base transceiver station (BTS) sites, lightning strikes within a few hundred yards of a tower are just as dangerous as direct hits, as they may induce high-energy electromagnetic fields onto the feeder lines. The art then, is to design a system that protects the electronic equipment from a surge on the feeder lines, regardless of the source.

A properly grounded transmission system always will employ a minimum of three cable-grounding points. One is at the top of the main feeder line, within three feet of the top connector. The second is at the bottom of the tower-mounted section of the feeder line, and within three feet, but not on, the lateral bend away from the tower to the cable tray. The third is within three feet of the entry to either the radio cabinet or equipment building. Additional grounding points also must be added to the main vertical run of transmission line — one for each additional 200 feet of feeder cable.

The grounding kits used for this purpose can either clip onto the cable or be held in place with clamps and screws, depending on the requirements of the installation. Regardless of the method used, a good electrical connection is vital; otherwise the resistance between the ground wire and the feeder may limit the protection against a strike. Once correctly attached to the feeder, the grounding lead usually is connected directly to the tower metalwork or to a site grounding bus bar.

Fitting a grounding kit to a feeder line leads to a protection concern of a different kind — weatherproofing the grounding system. It is extremely important that the raw material in the cable is not exposed to the weather, as that could cause oxidation issues.

Further safeguarding of the sensitive electronics in the equipment room is provided by the insertion of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) protection devices close to the equipment, between the jumper cables and the feeder lines. Such devices often are quite compact — only slightly larger than the connectors. Together, the transmission line grounding kits and EMP protection devices minimize the risk of equipment damage after a lightning strike.

During normal operation, EMP devices — also referred to as surge protectors — do not influence the RF behavior of the antenna and cable systems; they activate only when there is a surge on the transmission line. Such devices fall into two broad categories: those that pass direct current (DC), and those that block it. The default choice is a DC-block device, but if power is required for tower-top components (such as boosters and amplifiers), a DC-pass device is selected.

Weatherproofing the EMP-protection devices is just as important as weatherproofing the feeder cable. All surge protectors that are mounted to the base of the tower, at the junctions, and at the jumper and feeder line exit and entry points should be weatherproofed.

Having selected the appropriate forms of protection to suit the base station’s configuration, designers need to consider the connections to the site’s grounding point. Every feeder run should have its own grounding. The grounding leads are connected to a bus bar at the base of the tower, which is connected in turn to a single ground rod, or a ground ring with multiple rods. The rods, which are generally 5 feet or more in length, are buried and disperse the energy into the ground.

A high-quality connection between the feeder’s outer conductor and the grounding kit is a basic requirement. High-speed fitting allows the installer to be productive, but this needs to be achieved without loss of quality, otherwise cable lifetimes can be reduced, or work may need to be redone.

Tools are available that make the grounding job both easy and fast. For instance, stripping tools are designed specifically to remove the jacket material for grounding so installers aren’t forced to use their knives to manually strip the cable off in the middle of the feeder run. This approach not only is quicker and cleaner, but it also takes the correct amount of material off without overstripping. Using these tools, installers don’t have to worry about scratching, denting or damaging the cable.

For the connectors and the EMP-protection devices, applying the correct torque at the fitting stage is important. Good mechanical connection and electrical contact are required, but they must be achieved without overtightening. Using a torque wrench will achieve the desired result.

Although lightning strikes at BTS sites always will occur, the combination of careful design, appropriate protection devices, good tooling and expert installation will minimize the risks. Proper grounding and surge protection are small investments compared to the system replacement cost following a lightning strike. When lightning does hit a tower, everything above the lightning protector usually will be “smoked” and replaced, but the big expensive racks of equipment down in the BTS will be protected.


Matt Gauvin is the area product manager for Transmission Lines North America at Radio Frequency Systems.

Tags: Antennas Base Stations content Tower & Site Wireless Networks

Most Recent


  • Verizon Frontline deploys 1,000 connectivity services for nationwide wildfire response efforts
    In response to almost 70 large fires that have burned 1,690,492 acres nationwide this year, the Verizon Frontline Response Team said it has deployed about 1,000 Verizon Frontline services to support wildland firefighters across 18 states. As of last week, the top five states for acres burned from wildfires include Alaska, New Mexico, Texas and Florida, according to […]
  • Don’t mess with Mother Nature
    Newscan: Verizon counts 5.1 million first-responder subs; AT&T has 3.7 million
    Web Roundup Items from other news organizations Verizon counts 5.1 million first-responder subs; AT&T has 3.7 million DHS researches overcoming occlusions in video surveillance for public safety Less-serious 911 calls put on standby due to Durham EMS staffing shortages Russian hackers get the headlines. But China is the bigger threat to many U.S. enterprises. One […]
  • Motorola Solutions logo
    Motorola Solutions seeks contempt finding, global injunction against Hytera for not paying royalty
    Motorola Solutions asked a federal judge to find Hytera Communications in contempt of court for refusing to make ordered royalty payment and to prohibit the China-based manufacturer from selling land-mobile-radio (LMR) equipment globally, according to a legal filing posted Wednesday. Hytera Communications did not make its first royalty payment as scheduled on July 31 to […]
  • Tepid demand, taxation fears drag at 2.5GHz spectrum auction for 5G
    There appears to be very little interest in the FCC’s newest auction of midband spectrum for 5G, based on the results of Monday’s second round of bidding. Gross proceeds in the auction – dubbed Auction 108 by the agency – so far total around $108 million. That figure is up just slightly from the $103 million […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • The battle over connected cars drags on
  • UK officials revamp ESN plans again, target Airwave-to-LTE transition for end of 2026
  • PSCR: Dereck Orr highlights features of June 21-24 virtual event
  • FirstNet buildout on pace for March 2023 completion, AT&T official says

Commentary


LTE and liability: Why the fire service must move forward with digital incident command

  • 2
6th May 2022

Partnership and collaboration must be the foundation for emergency communications

18th April 2022

FirstNet success means no hypothetical ‘shots’ need to be fired, Swenson says

22nd February 2022
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

Coalition expresses urgent need to NG911 funding, wants more than proposed $10 billion dlvr.it/SWL5VW

9th August 2022
UrgentComm

APCO releases NG911 guide, quickly clarifies stance on NENA’s i3 standard dlvr.it/SWKcCY

9th August 2022
UrgentComm

10 malicious code packages slither into PyPI registry dlvr.it/SWKHxl

9th August 2022
UrgentComm

Verizon Frontline deploys 1,000 connectivity services for nationwide wildfire response efforts dlvr.it/SWKGpW

9th August 2022
UrgentComm

Newscan: Verizon counts 5.1 million first-responder subs; AT&T has 3.7 million dlvr.it/SW84Gv

6th August 2022
UrgentComm

Taiwan crisis another blow to the supply chain dlvr.it/SW7GSs

5th August 2022
UrgentComm

Motorola Solutions seeks contempt finding, global injunction against Hytera for not paying royalty dlvr.it/SW6Ldm

5th August 2022
UrgentComm

Humanoid robot explores shipwrecks dlvr.it/SW36fy

4th August 2022

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X