User's Manual

Trailblazer Installation and User Manual version 1.02 4
2 Pretest and System Planning
2.1 Site Requirements and System Planning
2.1.1 Grounding
A ground is a low impedance electrical connection to earth that is used to
dissipate energy. Grounding your Trailblazer is very important for safety reasons
as well as to protect your system from damage due to lightning and static charge
build up. Since lightning strikes and surges follow the path of least resistance, all
ground wires must be as short and straight as possible and not be coiled or
looped. Choose the largest diameter ground wire your ground connectors will
accept for good electrical conductivity.
Recommended grounds are: the utility company ground, a ground rod, well
casings, and cold water pipes that are of continuous metal. A note of caution:
sometimes the metal-cold water pipes are repaired and/or extended with PVC
piping hidden behind drywall. The introduction of PVC material disrupts the
material’s conductivity and thus renders it unacceptable as a ground.
Unacceptable grounds are: sprinkler pipes, PVC pipes, conduit, buried wire,
and any ground that cannot be verified.
2.1.2 Lightning Protection
Lightning protection with a poor ground is the same as having no
protection at all!
Lightning is one of the most dangerous and unfortunately most frequently
encountered natural hazards to your Trailblazer. Ensure that your system is
adequately protected. A good connection to ground is indispensable for your
lightning protection to work correctly and thus preventing lighting and surge
damage to your Trailblazer. The Trailblazer system is equipped with on-board
secondary active lightning protection only. The lightning protection is only
effective when the system is powered up. If you power down your Trailblazer,
disconnect the antennas and phone lines to prevent damage from lightning
strikes. Install primary lightning protection with a good ground on all RF,
data/voice line connections that have even a moderate outdoor line build out. A
good rule of thumb is that all lines entering or exiting a building need protection.
Both ends of the cables between buildings must be protected! See section 5.2 for
detailed specifications and usage information on primary lightning protection
available from Carlson Wireless.