BTS Site Description Grounding System

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BTS Site Description Grounding System


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Overview

The purpose of grounding system on radio cellular (BTS) sites is to
dissipate the surge energy by the shortest possible path inflicting as little
damage as possible. Several sub-systems, both interior and exterior, of
conductors leading under the ground usually achieve it.

This minimizes personnel safety hazards as well as noise currents, which
may affect the operation of sensitive switching and computer equipment.

The maximum allowed ground system resistance is 5. This resistance
must be measured with the appropriate devices.


Grounding system:




























BTS Site Description Grounding System


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External Ground Sub-system

External Ground Sub-system is made up of:

External Ground Ring

It is bare tinned copper strip 30x2mm buried minimum 60cm beneath
the surface encircling the radio room (shelter).

A distance of minimum 60cm should be kept between the External
Ground Ring and the shelter base.

External ground ring can be simplified to an L or C shape if the
resistance of the grounding system is less than 5.

Tower Ground Ring

It is a bare tinned copper strip 30x2mm buried minimum 60cm beneath
the surface encircling the tower foundation.

It is connected to the foundation reinforcement bars at four positions.
The Tower Ground Ring is connected to the External Ground Ring
using Cad welding.

Tower Ground Bar

Consists of a copper bar 300x32x2mm with pre-drilled holes situated at
the bottom of the tower beside the opposite tower leg to the radio room
or shelter.

Ground Rod

It is a bare copper-clad steel stake (min. 2m long, 15mm) driven
vertically into the ground.

They are then connected to the Tower Ground Ring and the External
Ground Ring in order to reduce the resistance of the grounding
system. These connections are to be made by Cad welding.

All Ground rods are to be mechanically driven in the ground using a
special tool and not to be placed into the pre-drilled holes. Rod tops
have to be minimum 55cm below the ground.





BTS Site Description Grounding System


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Upper External Ground Bar

It is a bare copper bar with pre-drilled holes situated below the wave-
guide entry window (Wall feed through). It is connected to the wave-
guide entry window (if metallic) and Lower External Ground Bar.

Lower External Ground Bar

It is a bare copper bar with pre-drilled holes situated below the Upper
External Ground Bar. It is connected to the External Ground Ring.


Lightning Rod

It is a 1.5m long stake on the top of the tower. It must be prolonged if
necessary following the rule of a clearance of 1m between the top of
antennas and the theoretical protection cone (peak angle 120).

Grounding system of typical tower cell site side view






















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Main Tower Ground Conductor

It is a copper strip 30x2mm descending down the tower leg from the
lightning rod leading to the ground by the shortest theoretical path.

There will be one Main Tower Ground Conductor for each tower along
the opposite tower leg from the radio room and the feeders. The Main
Tower Ground Conductor will be fixed to the tower leg using clamps
(spaced every half meter).

A ground rod shall be provided at the connection point of the main
ground conductor to the tower ground ring.

Upper Tower Ground Ring

It is a bare copper strip 30x2mm encircling the tower below the
antennas enabling the antenna ground kits to be connected it. The
Upper Tower Ground Ring is connected to the Main Tower Ground
Conductor.

Lower Feeder Ground Bar

It is a bare copper bar 30x2mm with pre-drilled holes. This must be
installed approximately 1m above from the cable bends. The Lower
Feeder Ground Bar must be connected to the Tower Ground Bar using
a copper strip 30x2mm.

WARNING
Consult the local utility (electric, gas, telephone, and water) companies to
determine the location of any underground facilities prior to digging.
MobiNil is not responsible for failure in doing so which can result in
expensive damage to those systems as well as injury or death to
personnel.












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Internal Ground Sub-system

Internal Ground Sub-system is made up of:

Internal Ground Ring

It is a bare continuous copper belt 30x2mm encircling all the
equipment in the radio room or shelter.

It is mounted on the radio room walls. Usually, it is fitted approximately
40cm above the floor. It should be isolated from the radio room walls if
metallic (e.g. in the shelter).

The following must be connected to the Internal Ground Ring:

All radio equipment.
AC and its pipes.
Metal door and door frame.
Cable trays (minimum two connections).
Metal battery racks.
Other significant metallic objects within 2m distance of any other
grounded object.
Master Ground Bar (at both ends).



All connections to the Internal Ground Ring are to be done using
crossover clamps containing four screws (one in each corner).

IMPORTANT NOTE
The main ac disconnect panel must not be connected to the Internal
Ground Ring.

Master Ground Bar

Is a large copper bar 400x100x5mm with pre-drilled holes for mounting
lugs. Master Ground Bar is situated on the wall of the radio room
(shelter) approximately 40cm about the floor in order to be connected
to the Internal Ground Ring by the shortest possible path.

It is critical that all separate grounding systems at a site are electrically




BTS Site Description Grounding System


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connected or joined together in order to eliminate potential differences
between the systems. For this reason it is required that any ac neutral
and the telephone grounding systems are connected to the Master
Ground Bar. However, all equipment inside the radio room and the
Internal Ground Ring are connected to the Master Ground Bar.

A PVC tube must isolate the connection through the shelter wall,
between the Master Ground Bar and Lower External Ground Bar.

Multi-Grounded Neutral

Is the third wire of a single-phase ac drop, or the fourth wire of a three-
phase ac service drop. It is critical that all have a separate grounding
linked together in order to eliminate potential differences between the
systems.

Commercial power

It is the responsibility of the subcontractor, who guarantees the proper
external grounding of the Multi-Grounded Neutral by the commercial
power authority. The subcontractor will install a separate grounding
system within the entry to MobiNils facilities.


Cable trays

All cable trays are to be connected together using green/yellow
isolated wire with two-hole lugs at both ends. All paint, grease or dirt
around the connection area has to be removed, and a split-ring washer
is to be used to ensure good long-lasting and conductive surface
contact.












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Antennas

All antennas are to be grounded to the provided Ground bar (whether
on the towers or roofs) using ground kits. MobiNil supplies the ground
kits along with the antennas.

Roof-mounted antennas

All roof-mounted antennas must be grounded at the bottom of the
masts by connecting it to the Mast Ground Bar.

Grounding system for antenna - side view (scale 1:25)



Tower-mounted antennas

All tower-mounted antennas must be grounded to the Upper Tower
Ground Ring.






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Antenna supporting structures on the rooftops (masts)

The antenna supporting structures on the roofs will have lightning rods
and a mast conductor leading to the Mast Ground Bar. Taking in
account the exceptional conditions in Egypt, the lightning rod can be
omitted in Cairo and Upper Egypt area. However, for high or dominant
buildings, the lightning rod is required.

Feeders

All feeders are to be connected to the ground system using the
appropriate ground kits supplied by the feeders manufacturer. MobiNil
supplies these ground kits with the feeders.


Roof-mounted feeders

All roof-mounted feeders must be grounded at two points:

From the bottom of the masts to the Mast ground bar.
Before entering the radio room (shelter) to the Upper external ground
bar.



Tower-mounted feeders

All tower-mounted feeders must be grounded at three points:

Close to the antennas at the Upper Tower Ground Ring position
At the position of the Lower Feeder Ground Bar
Before entering the radio room (shelter) at the Upper External
Ground Bar.



Turn-off

The turn-off (measuring bar) is called a point where the buried part of
the grounding sub-system can be disconnected in order to measure
and test the resistance.





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Generator

The grounding sub-system for generator must be connected to the
External Ground Ring and the Tower Ground Ring.

Fuel storage tanks

Fuel storage tanks whether above or below the ground are to be
connected to the grounding.


Grounding continuity

Grounding continuity shall be assured by the following measures:

Secure connections

All connections shall be firm and tight contact. Screws, clamps, sleeve
connectors, and all hardware pertaining to the bonding of various
elements of the grounding network.

Split ring washers and crossover clamp connectors shall be used.


Secure conductivity

Anti-corrosive grounding elements shall be used. Galvanized hardware
for all connections.

Connections to be realized before any paintwork are done.


Secure grounding through loops

Grounding shall never be established from one piece of equipment to
another. Although all equipment should be kept at the same potential
through bonding, connections to the grounding loop of all equipment is
necessary.