The effect of Lightning strikes is now a major HSE and of enormous financial concern to many organizations. Having direct and indirect consequences. Telecom cell site are vulnerable because of their usual isolated locations where a strike can damage or cause expensive downtime, ultimately leading to revenue loss.
According to the British standard, BS EN 62305, there is high probability of lightning affecting electronic equipment inside the building and facility than the building and structure itself.
Therefore a well protected telecom cell site should have
- Structural (direct) lightning protection.
- Electronic system (surge) protection or indirect.
Structural (direct) lightning protection
The key elements of a structural lightning protection are Air termination network, Down conductor, Earthing network and Bonding.
In a telecommunication facility, with metal mast as a down conductor, an installation will still require an air termination network, effective earthing for both electrical equipment as well as for the lightning protection system and bonding of all metalworks on or around the structure to avoid side flashing.
Electronic system (surge) protection
Transient overvoltages (surge) are large, very brief and potentially destructive increase in voltage.
They can be caused by the secondary effects of a lightning strike as well as the electrical switching of large inductive loads.
Effective protection can be achieved by fitting transient overvoltage (surge) protectors on all incoming and outgoing electrically conductive lines.
Quality surge protectors are designed to reduce transients to an acceptable level whist allowing normal operations to continue uninterrupted.
They are usually maintenance free, have long life and stand repeated exposure to transient overvoltages.
Loss of such electronic systems can cripple industrial, commercial and government concerns and in a matter of months they may be out of business.
Whatever elements, air termination, down conductor networks, earthing and bonding systems or transient overvoltage protection your facility may require.
FullSpectrum Energy, with over 2 decades of hands on industry experience and expertise are uniquely positioned to advice, design, procure, install and offer bespoke solutions to meet your individual needs.
With the wide variations in base station design and configuration, we suggest you contact us with your specification, so we can design a protection scheme specific to your installation.
Contact us
Victor Oyedu, FNSE, FNIEEE, CPQ.
Power Quality and Energy Management Specialist.
Publisher at Afrienergyonline.com & CEO, FullSpectrum Energy Solutions Limited, Nigeria
