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Agenda

Reference Documents
Earthing Issue & the Problems
Earthing Principle as per standards
Earthing of Telecom Installations
Earthing Methods
using Single Point Earthing
Recommendations & Suggestions
R. Saji Kumar
DGM (IT)
O/o The Chief General Manager
Trivandrum

Reference Documents
Reference Documents
• ITU-
ITU-T K.27
– Bonding configurations and Earthing inside a Earthing Issue & the Problems
Telecommunication Building.
• T & D Circle Engineering Instructions Earthing Principle as per standards
– I 001 dt 24.09.1998 and 30.04.2005 Earthing Methods
• M/s Ericsson
– Guidelines on Earthing of Telecom Installations Recommendations & Suggestions
• M/s Lucent
– 5ESS Installations using Single Point Grounding.
• M/s Nortel
– Grounding instructions for the GSM Mobile
equipments.

Earthing Issue .. .. How many earths?


• How many earths ……
• Lightning
– Failure of Power plants
• Civil • MDF
– Failure of BTS Equipment (WLL & GSM)
• Electrical • Equipment
• Exchange failure
– OCB & E10B are less • Engine • WLL
– 5ESS & AXE are very high even if we follow same standards….
– Do these designs bad ?? • Air conditioning • IMPCS
• Towers increased failures
• Interconnection • Lightning spike • Etc….
– Good or Bad ??
– More failures or less failures ?? • Tower
– Interconnection of Tower Earth to Exchange Earth ??
– Connecting MDF to Equipment Earth ??
• Equi Potential Bonding ??

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Earthing Principle
Reference Documents External Lightning  Earthing Network
Earthing Issue & the Problems Building safety  Common Bonding Network
Earthing Principle as per standards
Internal Grounding  Bonding Network
Earthing Methods Single Point Connection (SPC) Bar
Recommendations & Suggestions Mesh Bonding Network
Isolated Bonding Network

Earthing Network Earthing Network


• Earth electrodes
• Its interconnections i.e. the Ring Earth
Main Earthing Terminal
• Equi Potential Bonding Conductor
• Main Earthing Terminal

Equi
Potential
Bonding
Earth
Electrode

Common Bonding Network Common Bonding Network


• CBN is the interconnected network of
– The structured steel or reinforcing rods
Common Bonding
Network – Metallic plumbing
– Body of the water pipes entering the building
Tower – A/C power conduits
– Cable supports, trays, racks, raceways etc.
Cable
sheath – Any other metallic parts used for the non electrical functions in
LPS the building
– Air conditioning system Earthing terminal
A/c PE
– Engine Alternator Earthing
– Lighting System
Main Earthing
Terminal • This forms a mesh topology
• The above elements of the CBN will have multiple
connections to the Main Earthing Terminal.

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Common Bonding Network Bonding Network
• A set of equipment racks say switching equipment of a
Cable supports Air
vendor (System block) which are bonded together is
and Trays Conditioning called Bonding Network.
– Say a CDOT exchange equipment and a 5ESS exchange
Grills, Gates Engine installed on the same building form two bonding networks.
etc Alternator
• The bonding networks types
Structured
Lighting System – Mesh Bonding Network
Steel – Isolated Bonding Network.
Common Bonding • The exchange can have some equipment following the
Network Mesh BN architecture and some other equipment
following the Isolated BN architecture.
• This purely depends on the technology adopted by the
Main Earthing Terminal vendor

Single Point Connection (SPC) Terminal Mesh Bonding Network

• SPC Terminal is the Bonding Network Point • Here the Cabinets and Racks can have
where various Bonding Networks are connected. multiple connections to the Common
Bonding Network i.e. Main Earthing
• The single point connection Terminal will be
located in the power room or the MDF room.
Terminal.
• The SPC Terminal will have a single connection • Equipment frames can be tightly coupled
to the Isolated Bonding Network without any isolation to the Building
infrastructure.
• The DC power return and the Power Plant will
be connected to the SPC Terminal. • The racks shall have unrestricted
fastening to the floor and walls such that
stray capacitance won’t develop.

Isolated Bonding Network Isolated Bonding Network


Lightning
• A bonding network having single point of
SPC Bar
connection to the Common Bonding Network is
called the Isolated Bonding Network. Single connection to SPC
• A set of equipment racks (System Block) can (Could be through
Battery Return also)
form an Isolated Bonding Network.
• Each IBN will have a connection to the Earth
via the SPC. IBN Connected to
• The components of the IBN will be isolated from CBN
the Earth in all the places except at the single
interconnection point.
• The antistatic flooring Earthing arrangement
also shall follows the isolation.
Isolation

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Isolated Bonding Network Isolated Bonding Network

• The various cabinets whose frames are bonded


MDF Equipment DC Return together on a mesh shape form the IBN.
Frames
• Single Point Connection bar
– Earthing bar in which various isolated bonding
networks will have a Single Point Connection to the
Earthing Network
Single Point Connection (SPC) Terminal
• The IBN will have Single Point Connection to
the Common Bonding Network at the SPC Bar.
Common Bonding
Network
• In all other places it is isolated from the CBN.
CBN.
• If multiple systems are installed on the same
Multiple Mesh building, then each system will form
Connectivity
Main Earthing Terminal independent IBN’s

Isolated Bonding Network IBN Separation

• Components of two IBN’s or an IBN and • The IBN parts shall be minimum 2 meters away
another Mesh BN shall not touch each from another IBN or Mesh BN or the SPC
other. Terminal.
• The 2 meter is kept for personnel safety.
• Equipments of AXE, 5ESS, Nortel,
• The IBN equipments shall be separated from the
UTStarcom etc follow IBN architecture. Air Conditioning ducts, Cable Racks, conduit,
• The IBN will have a Bonding Mat or Grid ceiling supports, other IBN equipments etc.
or Earth Plate supplied by the equipment • If the 2 meter separation is not feasible, insulating
screens are to be provided to prevent people
supplier. touching the equipments belonging to different
IBN’s or the IBN and the CBN simultaneously.

Isolation IBN - Bonding Mat


• Isolation is required to be maintained in case of IBN
• The Bonding Mat will have connectivity to Equipment
type installations. frames
• The cabinets, the Earth Mat, the antistatic flooring etc • It may be ensured that the Equipment Frames, MDF,
forming part of the IBN are to be isolated from the
Power Plant or DC Power return is no way directly
building ceiling, walls and pillars. connected to the Main Earthing Terminal.
• The power and equipment cabinets are to be isolated.
• It may also be ensured that the above equipment Frames
• While installing the various equipment Cabinets, shall not touch parts of the Common Bonding Network.
Frames, Runways etc, care shall be taken to see that • This ensures that the telecom equipments within the
various installation materials supplied along with the Single Point Connection Boundary are connected to the
equipment for insulation are used correctly. SPC Terminal and subsequently to the Earth through
• Bakelite Panels, Insulating Bushes etc are used for only one point.
isolation

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IBN - Frames Interconnection Agenda
Reference Documents
• The equipment racks shall be
Earthing Issue & the Problems
interconnected by low impedance leads or
Earthing Principle as per standards
copper bars
• Various equipment frames will have a Earthing Methods
mesh connectivity Recommendations & Suggestions
• Indoor cabling shall follow the shortest
path.
• Cables shall not be run near the earth
conductors especially on vertical runs.

Earthing Methods Earth Electrodes


Earth Electrodes External Cable
Earth Resistance MDF • The dimensions of the Pit & Electrodes
Interconnections Cable Trays shall be as per the EI.
Equi-
Equi-Potential Bonding DC Power Feed
• Chemical treatment of earth using salts, etc.
Tower Earth Building
is not recommended
Tower Lightning Earth Engine Alternator
Warning Lamp Air conditioning
• The distance between adjacent earth
Wave guides Earthing Lighting
electrodes shall be preferably double the
Lightning Protection Earth Plate Arrangement
length of the electrode
System Sequence of connections • Earth Electrodes may be provided around
AC Power input the building

Earth Electrodes Earth Resistance

• Minimum number of Earth Electrodes depends • The earth resistance should be <= 0.5 ohm.
upon the Earth Resistance required as well as • In exceptional cases earth resistance is allowed
the Quantum of equipments being installed. up to 1.0 ohms.
• If space permits Plate Earthing may be done for • For the purpose of measurement of earth
each one of the Earth Pits. resistance ring earth may be broken from loop.
• Plate Earthing is the most recommended Choice.
• A water pipe shall be taken around all the pits • However various manufacturers
with arrangement for watering the pits in dry recommendations accepts an Earth Resistance
season upto 5 ohms and in certain cases 10 ohms

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Interconnections Interconnections
• Usage of Short and thick wires • GI strip to GI strip connection
• No sharp bends or twists in the interconnections. – GI nuts and bolts with lead strip 1 to 3 mm thick in between.
• Sharp bends or twists can cause high inductance • GI strip to Copper strip connection
effect. – Brass lug and nuts & bolts covered to make it moisture proof.
• Bending should be done with minimum one • Copper to copper connection
metre radius. – Insulation tape & should be water tight strip
– Lugs outside the building.
• Earthing conductors should not pass through
any metallic conduit or pipe as this will increase • Connections 19mm x 6 mm copper strip is used inside the
surge impedance. building.
• Indoor terminations shall use Crimping
• Earth conductor should not be encircled with
metal clamps while taking it along the wall. This • Outdoor terminations shall use welding.
is essential to eliminate the high inductive
reactance.

Buildings with Space Limitations Ring Earth and Equi-


Equi-Potential Bonding

• Plate Earth is mandatory if space is not


available for Ring Earth
• Layout & connections shall be as per EI
• GBT - Ring earth around the Tower is
mandatory.
• RTT - Separate plate earth can be adopted
which is interconnected to Exchange Earth
at the Plate Earth Pit

Ring Earth and Equi-


Equi-Potential Bonding Main Earthing Terminal
• Equi Potential Bonding will keep the electrodes
• Location
at substantial equal potential. – External wall of the building or
• Copper strip of diameter 19mm x 6 mm is most – On one of the Earth Electrodes near the external cable entrance
– Close to the a/c power cable and telecommunication cable
preferred for the high lightning affected areas entrance facilities.
for the Equi Potential Bonding. – I.e. the a/c power cable entrance shall be through the cable duct
itself.
• Ring Earthing system shall be connected to the
• Connected to the earth electrodes via the shortest path.
Main Earthing Terminal through an isolation
• The connecting rods shall be taken through straight
spark plug paths and there shall not be any twisting.
• This shall be protected from corrosion by way of proper
casing or vulcanized rubber insulation.

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Main Earthing Terminal Tower Earth – GBT
• A copper or GI strip of 50 x 3 mm and sufficient length
• GBT shall have Separate Ring Earth around the Tower
for welding various interconnections shall be used with set of Earth Pits.
• The following are connected to the Main Earthing
• Each leg of the tower should be separately connected by
Terminal
50x3mm. G.I. strips above the ground level of each leg
– Lightning Protection System
and other end is connected to the ring earth.
– A/C Power distribution Protection Earthing i.e. the Cable shield
of the A/C power cable • The connection of G.I. Strip to the tower leg is done by
– Sheath of the External cables tower bolts & nuts with lead sheaths in between.
– Tower Earth • There should be no sharp bends in the down lead.
– The Common Bonding Network • The Tower Ring Earth will be connected to Exchange
– Single Point Connection Bar Ring Earth through the Equi Potential Bar
• All the lightning inductions outside the building should
be grounded before entering the building.
building.

Tower Earth – RTT Tower Lightning Earth


• Certain Earth Pits near the Point where the Earth strip
is brought down may be earmarked for the Tower. • There is no need to separately run the copper
• This however will be part of the Exchange Ring Earth strip from lightning spike to ring earth.
• GI strip down leads should be brought down along • The lightning spike should be properly
outside of the building. connected with tower itself which works as down
• Plate Earth
conductor.
– Buildings with Space Limitations
– GI strip down leads should be connected to plate earth. • However, in order to ensure good conductivity,
– There shall be a separate Plate Earth for the Tower. it is specified that no structural member should
– The different Plate earths shall be interconnected for Equi-
potential bonding. be painted over before assembly.
• The Tower Earthing wires in no case shall be taken • In case of separate lightning Earth strip, it shall
inside the building be connected to the Tower Ring Earth

Tower Lightning Spike – Zone of Protection Warning Lamp Earthing


• Zone of protection is 45 degree angle,
angle, with a • The sheath of the cable for warning light on
base radius equal to the height of lightning spike tower, if armoured, should be separately
• The object near to the base of a tall conductor connected to the tower at the top end, and to the
ring earth at the bottom end by GI strips.
are less likely to be struck by lightning.
• The power supply taken for the aviation lamps
• In extreme cases, in order to bring the antenna shall be taken through 1:1 isolation
structure under protection zone the height of the transformers.
transformers.
lightning spike is to be raised by 4 to 5 metres by • Lightning arresters are also to be provided in
putting an additional GI pipe of 10 cm diameter. both the limbs of the cable for tower warning
lamp.
• The other limb of the arrester is to be connected
to the ring earth

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Wave Guide and Feeder Cable Earthing Lightning Protection System

• All wave guides should be individually earthed, at the • LPS consists of


top and at the bottom of the tower and at in-
in-between – Air Termination Network
intervals, by Earthing kits as recommended/specified by • This is basically a mesh conductor on the roofs and outside
walls of the buildings.
the manufacturer. • A closer mesh is required in areas more prone to lightning
• All wave guide terminations are individually to be – Down conductors
gripped by a copper strip clamp and through copper • There should be several down conductors Equi-spaced
conductor is communed at a GI strip (50X3mm.) which around the structure to share the lightning current.
is run separately to the ring earth • More number of down conductors with reduce the side
flashes.
• Suitable Earth Bars as recommended by the
manufacturers may be used in these locations. • The metal work within the structure shall be
bonded to the LPS
• Such Earth Bars may be connected to the Ring Earth.
• This shall not be taken inside the building
• The Lightning Protection System will be
connected to the Main Earthing Terminal.

Lightning Protection System AC Power Input Side Earthing


• The AC power feed follows the TN-
TN-S structure of the IEC
– The neutral and the protective conductors shall be separate.
• The 3-
3-phase network within the telecom building will
Lightning
Spike – Air have 5 wires i.e. L1, L2, L3, N and PE.
Termination Down
Network Conductor • PE stands for the Protective Earth for protection against
s
electric shock by electrically connecting all exposed
conductive parts, extraneous conductive parts and
neutral i.e. the cable shield.
Telecom • The PE (Cable Shield) of the A/C power feed shall be
Building
connected to the Main Earthing Terminal.
Ring Earth

AC Power Input Side Earthing Protective Measures on AC Power Input

• The neutral of the Electricity Board Power


• Over voltage protection is required at the
Supply should be connected to separate
power entrance facility if the power lines
electrical earth.
are exposed to lightning.
• The A/C Neutral Earth and the Transformer
• Class B & C protection shall be provided
Earth should be minimum 20 m away from
for the power line
the ring earth.
• For HT supply 11KV lightning arresters
shall be ensured for all the three phases

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External Cable Entry and Earthing Protection for OH Telephone Lines

• All the external cables including the power cables shall • As far as possible OH lines may be avoided for
be taken inside the building close to the Main Earthing providing Telephone connection inside the
terminal. telecom building.
• The egress points of all the conductors leaving the • If OH lines are used, GD tubes are to be used in
building including the AC power entrance, Telecom both limbs of the lines entering the building and
cables, Earthing conductors etc shall be close together. the GD tube is to be connected to the Main
• Telecommunication cables and unshielded power cables Earthing Plate. (This shall not be part of the
shall have a minimum of 10 cm separation. MDF)
• The cable sheath shall be invariably connected to the • If the distance of the open wire is more than 300
Main Earthing Plate close to the cable entrance point meters, GD tubes are to be provided in the Post
also and are to be connected to the earth very
close to the post.

Pillar and Cable Earth MDF Earthing


• Earth continuity with proper gauge wire • The body of the MDF shall be connected to the
SPC Bar
shall be ensured for the cable joints.
• The external cable sheath shall be connected to
• All the pillars shall be connected to earth. the Main Earthing Terminal.
• Cable sheath, Pillar Body and Tag Block • Hence there is no direct connection of MDF to
the Main Earthing Plate or the external cable
frame in the Pillars shall be connected to sheath.
earth • MDF Tag blocks shall be installed with earth
strips and the earth strips shall not be deformed.
• IPM’s shall be provided in the MDF for all the
lines irrespective of working line or not.

Cable Trays and Run ways DC power feed


• The DC return
• The run ways forming part of different – Isolated DC return
bonding networks shall be isolated. – Common DC return
• This will be specified by the equipment supplier.
– E.g. if 5ESS and AXE are installed in the same
• In case of Common DC return, The DC power
building, both cable trays shall be isolated feed return conductor will be connected to the
Single Point Connection Bar.
• In case of Isolated DC return, an isolated DC
return shall come from the Power Plat itself and
shall get connected to the IBN Earthing Mat.
The DC return should not be connected to the
cabinets

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DC power feed Structured Steel and Metallic Parts of
Building and Surroundings
• AXE switching systems an Earth Collection Bar
is provided (Equivalent to IBN Earthing Mat) • Following are to be connected to the Main
where DC return shall be connected.
• M/s Ericsson clearly advices not to connect DC
Earthing Terminal through GI strips.
return to the Cabinets. – External tube light fixtures
• Nortel - The Battery return is to be connected to – Steel window frames
the SPC Terminal.
– Fencing wire
• Nortel specifies for isolation of Battery Return
from Frame Ground and Logical Ground. – Gates
• The Battery Return cable shall be more than or – Any other metallic substances
equal to the size of the largest power feeder
cable

Engine Alternator Air Conditioning System


• The Air Conditioning System Earthing
• The frame of Engine alternator is to be Terminal is to be connected to the Main
connected to the Main Earthing Terminal. Earthing Terminal
• The neutral of the alternator should not be
connected to ring earth near the engine.
• This should be extended to the power
board and then connected to the Main
Earthing Terminal

Lighting System Earth Plate Arrangement


• The distribution box frame is to be connected to • Main Earthing Terminal
the Main Earthing Terminal.
• It shall be ensured that neutral of the switches • Single Point Connection Terminal
are not connected to the frame of the power • Floor Ground Bar (FGB)
board.
• Neutral shall be insulated from the switch and
• Vertical Ground Riser (VGR)
the distribution box frame.
• For LT side in the building 650V lightning
arrestors are to be provided.
• Additional lightning arrestors are also required
to be provided in the neutral.

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Earth Plate Arrangement Earth Plate Arrangement
• Main Earthing Terminal • Floor Ground Bar (FGB)
– This is a copper bar provided in each floor of the
– It is positioned outside the building. building.
– In case of rented accommodations also (Say – This is provided in case of multi storied buildings.
telecom equipments including Power plant,
– Various IBN’s will be extended to the FGB
MDF are in a floor other than Ground) the
Main Earthing Terminal will be in the – If the floor area in single storied buildings is large,
Ground. then more than one FGB can be provided on the
same floor.
• Single Point Connection Terminal – The location of the equipment connected to the FGB
– SPC Terminal is positioned in the Power i.e. the IBN shall be within 200 feet x 200 feet square
Room or the MDF Room. area. (61 meter x 61 meter)

Earth Plate Arrangement Sequence of connections to Earth Plate

• Vertical Ground Riser (VGR)


– Required for multi storied buildings. • Logical Sequence
– Extends ground potential to various floors of – Surge Producers
the building. – Surge Absorbers
– VGR will be connected to FGB of various – Common Bonding Network
floors.
– Isolated Bonding Network
– VGR is connected to SPC Terminal in the
ground floor.
– The size of the conductor (Cross section
Area) shall be higher than the conductor used
for power distribution

Sequence of connections to Earth Plate Sequence of connections to Earth Plate


• Sequence of Surge Producers
– Interior Radio Equipment like BTS • Sequence of Surge Absorbers
– Cable Entrance Connection – Building Ground System
– MDF – Water Pipe
– Engine Alternator Frame – Building Steel
– Vertical Ground Riser

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Sequence of connections to Earth Plate Agenda
Reference Documents
Earthing Issue & the Problems
• Sequence of CBN
Earthing Principle as per standards
– CBN Power Plant Battery Return
Earthing Methods
– CBN Frames
• Sequence of Isolated BN Recommendations & Suggestions
– IBN Power Plant Battery Return Resolving the Problem
– IBN Bonding Mat
Earthing as an Equipment
– Logic Returns
Acceptance Testing
Recommendations

Problems Resolved !! Problems Resolved !!


• Failure of Power Plants • Failure of Exchange Equipment (5ESS and
– Earthing of the Shield of Power Cable to the AXE-
AXE-10)
Main Earthing Terminal – Ring Earth in the Exchange as per the EI
– Provision of Class B and Class C Protection at – Single Point Earthing and Isolation
the Power input side arrangements are to be done as recommended
by the manufacturers
– Provision of protective devices on the MDF
– MDF Earth Strips mounting as per standards
– DC Power feed to the equipments as per
manufactures recommendations.

Problems Resolved !! Problems Resolved !!


• Failure of BTS Equipments • Failure due to Towers
– Ring Earth in the Exchange as per the EI – Ring Earth for the Tower as per the EI
– Use of Isolation transformer for the Warning Light Power
– Single Point Earthing and Isolation feed as per EI.
arrangements are to be done as recommended
– Earthing of down conductors as per EI
by the manufacturers
– Wave guide Earthing as per the EI
– The Internal Grounding Bar or the Grounding – Usage of Earthing Plates supplied by the manufacturers.
Mat supplied by the manufacturer shall be used – External and Internal Earthing Plate Principle has to be
adopted and the manufacturers instructions are to be
interpreted accordingly
– External inductions shall not be taken inside the building

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Problems Resolved !! Problems Resolved !!
• Failure due to Tower and Exchange earth • Failure due to MDF and Exchange Earth
Interconnection Interconnection
– Exchange and Tower shall have the Ring Earth – External cables sheath is connected to the Main
as per the EI Earthing Terminal
– The interconnection shall be as per the EI. – MDF is connected to the Single Point
– Equi Potential Bonding is a must. Connection Bar.
– Connections should be at the Earth Pit and not – The equipments are connected to the Earth Mat
in the Earthing Plate and follow Single Point Earthing
– The Tower / Wave Guide Earthing should have – Cable Runway is isolated
been done as per standards. – There is no direct connection between these.

Earthing as an equipment Equipment installation


• The installation team shall consider earth • LPS shall be installed if required.
installation as a separate activity • The Earthing network with earth electrodes,
interconnections, Equi potential bonding, Main
• Acceptance Testing shall be done first for Earthing Terminal, Watering Arrangement etc
the earth. shall be installed
• The earth shall be handed over to the • This shall take into consideration all the present
telecom building in-
in-charge with the and future requirements by various units
complete layout diagram including switching, transmission, WLL, IMPCS,
Engine Alternator, A/C plant, Lighting etc.
• All other installation activities shall start
after this

Equipment installation Acceptance Testing


• Common Bonding Network shall be • Now A/T is limited to Earth Resistance
installed. • Prepare a complete check list
• SPC Terminal, FGB and VGR for • Verify
interconnection of various telecom
– Installation based on standards
equipments shall also be provided.
– Earth resistance
• All other subsequent equipment
installations shall use this earth equipment
and shall be connected to its various points
based on the standards.

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Earth Maintenance Recommendations
• This is very important. • Earthing Network
• Whenever new equipment is connected it shall – Ring Earth / Plate Earth with Equi Potential
be ensured that it is as per the Earthing Bonding as Recommended in the EI
standards.
• Periodic Measurement of Earth Resistance • External Components
• Chart indicating the Earth values and date of – Earthing of the Tower as per the EI.
measurement shall be displayed – Earthing of the wave guides as per the EI and
• The earth pits shall be periodically watered to manufacturers instructions.
ensure proper earth values. Gardening the area – Earthing of External Cable Shields
and periodic watering of the plants is a
suggested option

Recommendations Recommendations
• Building Parts
• Exchange Equipment
– Bonding of the Building Structured Steel and other
components of CBN – Single Point Earthing Requirements for
– Lightning Protection System for all departmental equipments as recommended by the
buildings manufacturers.
– Earth Plate Arrangements in the Building – Isolation requirements as recommended by the
– Sequence of Connections as suggested here. (Nortel) manufacturers.
– Protection for the AC Power input side – DC Power feed requirements as recommended
• Installation and Testing by the manufacturers.
– Installation and A/T of the Earthing
– Audit of the Existing Installations

Thank You

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