Training manual TSD

Concepts on Lightning arrestor

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 What is Lightning?
Lightning is the visible discharge of static electricity within a cloud, between
clouds, or between the earth and a cloud. Scientists still do not fully understand
what causes lightning, but most experts believe that different kinds of ice
interact in a cloud. Updrafts in the clouds separate charges, so that positive
charges flow towards the top of the cloud and the negative charges flow to the
bottom of the cloud. When the negative charge moves downwards, a ”stepped
leader” is created. The leader rushes towards the earth in 150-foot discrete
steps, producing an ionized path in the air. The major part of the lightning
discharge current is carried in the return stroke, which flows along the ionized
path
NOTE A stepped leader of a lightning strike is the initial leader of a lightning
discharge; an intermittently advancing column of high ionization and charge
which establishes the channel for a first return stroke. The peculiar
characteristic of this type of leader is its step-wise growth at intervals of
approximately fifty to one hundred microseconds. The velocity of growth during
the brief intervals of advance, each only about one microsecond in duration, is
quite high (approximately 5 x 107 m/s), but the long stationary phases reduce its
effective speed to approximately 5 x 105 m/s.

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 Lightning Protection Systems (LPS)

A Lighting Protection System (LPS) provides

a means by which a lightning discharge may
enter or leave earth without passing through
and damaging personnel, electrical
equipment, and non-conducting structures
such as buildings. A Lightning Protection
System does not prevent lightning from
striking; it provides a means for controlling it
and prevents damage by providing a low
resistance path for the discharge of the
lightning energy.

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 Three types of Lightning Protection architecture

IF type system, where the Indoor/Outdoor units are

connected via coaxial cables, that carry the IF
signals and DC supply voltages.
Subscriber Indoor Units connected to outdoor
antennas.
Base band type system, where Indoor/Outdoor
connections are via shielded CAT5 cables that carry
the base band signals and a DC supply voltage.
The Lightning Protection System comprises
grounding methods and Transient suppression
techniques (TVS). A grounding system constitutes a
part of the safety network adapted to the electricity
laws of the country, the terrain conditions, and the
accepted and relevant standards for the country.

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 Lightning Protection Principles
Lightning protection for Outdoor Units (ODU) installed outdoors
on towers or poles, is provided by insuring minimum pickup of
lightning induced transients, and by the suppression of transient
voltages at the input and output terminals of both the Indoor and
Outdoor units. Minimizing the pickup of induced voltages is
achieved by the isolation of the Outdoor Units and cables from
the lightning down current, and by the use of shielded cables
with peripheral shield grounding. The outdoor Radio Units and
Antennas are connected mechanically to the tower or pole,
which is in turn grounded by the requirements of most safety
standards, therefore the Outdoor Units are grounded too.

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 Theoretically it is desirable to isolate the outdoor units from the tower
that may carry the lightning down current, however in real life when the
outdoor units are installed on conducting towers this is impractical, as
any isolation will be rendered useless in rain time. Therefore the
Outdoor Units, and the associated shield/signal grounds of the IF/RF
cables, should be grounded to the tower or pole which in turn grounded
by the requirements of most safety standards. In order to limit the
amount of lightning current flowing on the shields of the IF cables, only
one grounding point for the shields to the tower or pole is allowed. This
is the point where the Outdoor Units are grounded to the mast. In this
way, the current from the lightning to the earth will prefer the down
conductor from the lightning rod or the structure of the tower or pole,
rather than the path along the shield, thus protecting the equipment. In
this way, the current from the lightning to the earth will prefer the down
conductor from the lightning rod or the structure of the tower or pole,
rather than the path along the shield, thus protecting the equipment. In
addition, the IF Cable shields must be grounded (at the other end) to
the entry panel at the facility building. To further protect the IF cables
from lightning-induced voltages, the cables must be installed inside the
tower or pole whenever possible, and must be isolated from the tower
or pole structure and the down conductor. This insures some degree of
shielding of the IF cables from the effects of electromagnetic fields
associated with lightning strikes, and provides protection against direct
strikes to the cables.

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 LPS Components
The components of a typical Lightning
Protection System (LPS) are as follows:
Air Terminal
Down Conductor
Outdoor Units Grounding
Earth Termination System
Lightning Protectors

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 Air Terminal
The Air Terminal is the part of the LPS that is intended to
intercept lightning flashes. The Air Terminal intercepts the
downward-moving stepped leader of the lightning strike, by
launching an upward-going attachment spark. Once the
attachment is achieved, the bulk of the lightning current follows
the ionized path. In this way, an Air Terminal diverts the
lightning away from personnel and electronic equipment. If an
Air Terminal is not installed at the highest point of the tower or
pole, the radio element connected to the highest point, usually
the antenna, is the most likely attachment point. The Air
Terminal must be constructed of steel with a pointed tip.
Referring to Figure 1 below, the height (“H”) of the Air Terminal
tip above the highest element on the tower or pole, typically the
antenna, must be at least twice the distance (“2 x d”) between
the outer surface of the antenna and the tower or pole. This will
ensure a "protection cone" of 60º around the tower or pole. In
areas of high lightning activity, the length (“H”) should be
increased to up to 5 times the distance.

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 Figure 1: Air Terminal and Position Relative to Topmost Elements
The Air Terminal must be welded to the mast structure and connected to a
Down Conductor.

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 Down Conductor

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 The Down-Conductor is that part of the external
Lightning Protection System (LPS) that conducts
lightning current from the Air Terminal system to the
Earth Termination system (see Figure 2).
The Down Conductor must be installed straight and
vertically in order to provide the shortest and most
direct path to earth. The formation of bends must be
avoided. The following table defines the minimum
dimensions for down conductors according to IEC
1024-1:

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 Down Conductor Minimum Dimensions

Material Down Conductor(mm²)

Cu 16
Al 25
Fe 30

Some equipments recommend that the Down-

Conductor be at least 50 mm2 or AWG 0 in all cases.

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 Outdoor Units’ Grounding
The grounding of the Down Conductor to earth must
be of ground resistance no higher than 5 Ω. This is
achieved by using Earth Terminations and wherever
possible, grounding to the steel re-enforcement bars
of the concrete base of the tower.
For standard communication sites where the mast
(tower) is grounded, a standard Air Termination
lightening rod is installed, coaxial (IF/RF) cables are
grounded at the facility entrance, and the resistance
between the Air Terminal and the Earth Termination
is less than 5 Ohms: there is no need to ground the
outdoor units (although such grounding will increase
the level of protection).

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 Lightning Protectors (Surge Arrestors)
Lightning Protectors provide an additional protection to the
equipment embedded protectors, in places where lightning
occurs with a high probability.
Electrical surges are composed of two elements: voltage and
quantity of charge.
A very high voltage surge can damage electronic equipment by
breaking down the insulating medium between the circuit
elements, or between the circuit elements and ground. The
current from the charge and/or the current from the power
source, determine the amount of damage. In order to protect an
electronic circuit from damage, a Lightning Protector (or Surge
Arrestor) must conduct sufficient charge from the surge in order
to lower the surge voltage to a safe level. It must also conduct
fast enough in order to prevent the circuit insulation from
breaking down.
Electrical circuits can withstand a high voltage for a short time
period. The shorter the time period, the higher the voltage that
can be withstood without causing damage.

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 If, for example, a 50,000-volt surge is applied to a 220-volt piece of electrical
equipment that has a surge arrestor is connected in parallel, the Surge Arrestor
will bleed charge out of the circuit, reducing the surge voltage. When the charge
decreases to zero, the surge voltage also decreases to zero. If the process
occurs quickly enough, the equipment is protected.
The speed at which a Surge Arrestor can remove a surge from an electrical
circuit depends on the following factors: the magnitude of the voltage, the
quantity of the charge, the response speed, and the conductivity of the Surge
Arrestor. A Surge Arrestor with high conductivity handles a surge faster than one
with low conductivity. If two Surge Arrestors have exactly the same conductivity,
the Surge Arrestor with the highest response speed eliminates the surge from a
circuit more quickly.
The Clamping Voltage for a Surge Arrestor varies according to the amount of
current conducted, the internal resistance of the Surge Arrestor, the response
speed of the Surge Arrestor, and the point in time at which the Clamping Voltage
is measured. Whenever a Clamping Voltage is specified, the current being
clamped must also be specified, for example, 500 volts at 1000 amps. For a
negligible current, such as one milliamp, any Clamping Voltage can be achieved.
However, there is no protection afforded.
Surge Arrestors with a high conductivity (low internal resistance) can conduct
surges from a circuit more rapidly. The same applies to Surge Arrestors having
a high Current Rating. The quicker a surge is removed, the more likely it is that
the equipment will be protected. To summarize, any reference to Clamping
Voltage must always include the amount of current being clamped, and the
clamping time.

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 Installation Practices for an IF Type System

Figure 3

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 Figure shows radio equipment installed on a
tower.
The Air Terminal connects to a Down-
Conductor that runs to an Earth Termination
at the foot of the tower.
The ground system must be maintained and
checked periodically in accordance with local
regulations.
The Antenna and Radio Units (two sectors
are shown in Figure) are attached to the
tower with mounting brackets. The Radio
Units are connected to the Antennas via RF
Cables. The IF Cables from the Radio Units
(to the Indoor Units), run down the tower
through Mounting Blocks, as shown in figure.

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 figure4

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 Referring to Figure 3, and Figure 4, the Radio Units’
(ODU) ground cables are connected to a Metal
Grounding Plate using Cable Terminals. The Metal
Grounding Plate is connected (welded) to the tower.
The Air Terminal Down Conductor is clamped to the
cable that runs down from the Metal Grounding Plate.
At the entry point to the facility building, the IF Cable
shields are physically attached to another Metal
Grounding Plate (with feed through panel mount
coaxial connectors for each cable- see Figure 5
below). The building’s Metal Grounding Plate is
grounded separately from the tower. This ensures
that the lightning current from the tower is diverted
from the building. Figure 5: Metal Grounding Plate
and Cable Entry to Facility Building

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 At the entry point to the facility building, the IF
Cable shields are physically attached to
another Metal Grounding Plate (with feed
through panel mount coaxial connectors for
each cable- see Figure 5 below). The
building’s Metal Grounding Plate is grounded
separately from the tower. This ensures that
the lightning current from the tower is diverted
from the building.

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 Figure 5

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 Figure 6
Lightning arrestor for poles

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 In figure 6, an Air Terminal must provide a 60˚ protection cone, in the
same manner as for the tower scenario described earlier. The Antenna
and Radio Unit (ODU) are attached to the tower with mounting
brackets. The Radio Unit is connected to the Antenna via an RF Cable.
The IF Cable from the Radio Unit (to an Indoor Unit) runs down the
pole via Cable Hangers, and enters the building via a Metal Grounding
Plate grounded at the building wall.
The IF Cable shields are physically attached to the building’s Metal
Grounding Plate, with feed through panel mount coaxial connectors for
each cable. The building’s Metal Grounding Plate is grounded
separately from the pole. This ensures that the lightning current from
the pole is diverted from the building. The Radio Unit’s ground cable is
attached to a Metal Grounding Plate (welded to the pole) using Cable
Terminals. The Radio Unit’s ground cable, pole and the Air Terminal all
run to Earth Terminations.

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 Lightning Protectors for an IF-Type System

Figure 7 shows radio equipment installed on a tower, with

external Lightning Protectors (Surge Arrestors) installed.
Lightning Protectors are installed on the IF Cables at close
proximity to the Radio Units. The IF Cables run through the
Metal Grounding Plate (isolated). The Lightning Protectors’
ground leads are connected to the Metal Grounding Plate using
Cable Terminals.

At the facility building entrance, Lightning Protectors are

installed on the IF Cables close to the Metal Grounding Plate
apertures. The Lightning Protector ground lead is connected to
an Earth Termination via another Metal Grounding Plate and
cable terminals (see Figure 8)

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 Figure 7

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 Figure 8

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 Subscriber Unit Grounding and Lightning
Protection
The internal grounding system at a site is based on first grounding all
the indoor units to the internal grounding system, and then to the site
grounding system.
Figure 9 shows an integrated Radio and Antenna Subscriber Unit
(ODU) installed on a pole at a Subscriber location. An Air Terminal is
installed at the top of the pole. The Air Terminal must be placed such
that a 60°protection cone exists around the pole, and must run to an
Earth Termination via a Down-Conductor. The integrated Radio Unit
and Antenna is attached to the pole with amounting adapter. The IF
Cable enters the building via a Metal Plate Adapter (bulkhead
connector) with coaxial connectors, and terminates at an Indoor Unit. At
the building’s cable entry point, the Metal Plate Adapter secures the
connection of the IF Cable shield to the building Earth Termination.
Lightning Protectors (Surge Arrestors) are attached to the IF Cable in
the proximity of the integrated Radio Unit and Antenna (ODU), and also
close to the building’s cable entry point. The Lightning Protector ground
lead at the Radio Unit and Antenna end and the Radio Unit and
Antenna ground cable, are both connected to a Metal Grounding Plate
(using Cable terminals). The Metal Grounding Plate runs to an Earth
Termination via a ground cable.

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 Figure 9

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 Indoor Unit Protection Practices

Figure 10 shows an Antenna installed on a pole at a

Subscriber location. An Air Terminal is installed at the
top of the pole. The Air Terminal must be placed such
that a 60° protection cone exists around the pole, and
must run to an Earth Termination via a Down-
Conductor. The RF Cable from the Antenna is
connected to the indoor Subscriber Unit via a
grounded Metal Plate Adapter (bulkhead connector)
located at the entrance to the building. The
Subscriber Unit is also connected to a PC via CAT5
Ethernet cable. The Metal Plate Adapter secures the
connection of the RF Cable shield to the building
Earth Termination. The Antenna ground also runs to
an Earth Termination.
Figure 10: Indoor Unit Protection.

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 Figure 10

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 Base band Protection Practices
Figure 11 shows a Radio Unit and Antenna (ODU) installed on a
pole at a Subscriber location. An Air Terminal is installed at the
top of the pole. The Air Terminal must be placed such that a 60°
protection cone exists around the pole, and run to at an Earth
Termination via a Down Conductor. The CAT5 Base band
shielded outdoor cable consists of twisted pair wires for Ethernet
data and another pair of wires for the DC supply. The Base
band Cable connects to the indoor unit via an grounded External
Lightning Protector Box (recommended for high Keraunic
areas). The External Lightning Box is connected to an Earth
Termination via a Down-Conductor
The Radio Unit’s ground cable and an optional Lightning
Protector ground lead are attached to a Metal Grounding Plate
using Cable Terminals. The Metal Grounding Plate runs to an
Earth Termination.

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 Figure 11

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 Make sure that the lightening Protector case
is grounded to the Chassis of the Radio Unit
box, without any paint on the mating surface
of the box. On the facility entrance, the
protector ground must be connected entry
plate. Use a ground strip for this purpose.
To ensure your Grounding system is properly
installed and in working order, consult an
Electrician to verify that the outdoor
grounding point and the indoor AC outlet
ground.

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 Thank You
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