Installation Guide

5. Place the two runs of No. 2 AWG BTCW used to bond the tower and equipment ground
rings in the same trench as the coax.
Warning! Be careful when installing the coax ground kits prior to equipment entry
to ensure that all ground leads use smooth, large bend radii as it will be very
difficult to ensure that the leads always travel downward.
Collector Sites with Indoor Itron TCU / CCU Equipment
When grounding equipment for collector sites where the Itron TCU / CCU equipment is located
indoors include the installation on an interior ground ring (halo) installed approximately 6 inches
below the ceiling or 8 feet above the finished floor, whichever is lower. The interior ground halo
cable must be a minimum of No. 2 AWG, stranded copper with moisture resistant green
insulation. The purpose of the interior halo ground ring is to provide a convenient grounding and
bonding point for all miscellaneous metallic objects to reduce step and touch potential. All
miscellaneous metallic objects, such as metal door frames, air conditioners, cable racks, metallic
conduits, and battery stands must be bonded to the interior ground halo with No. 6 AWG cable.
Bond both ends of the ground halo conductor to the MGB.
Note: Follow this bonding specification in existing shelters, if an interior halo is present. Most
indoor Itron TCU / CCU equipment has grounding attachment points at the bottom of the
cabinets. In these cases, it is not possible to have all ground paths flat or downward. Install all
ground leads in accordance with manufacturer’s specification.
RF Components Protection (Coax)
RF transmission lines from the antenna structure to the shelter or building must be grounded
(earthed). Upon entering the shelter or building, all RF transmission lines must route through
coaxial RF- type Surge Protection Devices (SPDs). This includes sample port (test) and unused
spares.
Grounding RF Transmission Lines
1. Bond the coaxial RF devices to the single point ground.
2. Locate the SPD within the shelter, room or equipment area.
It must be a maximum distance of 2 feet from the transmission line entrance point into the
shelter, room or equipment area, as per the figure, below.
3. Install coaxial cable SPDs at or within the entry port if the entry port is located in the wall of
the shelter, equipment room or area.
4. If the equipment room or area is located within a larger building (such as a high rise
structure), install and ground the SPDs at the coaxial entry point into the structure. In this
application, the transmission lines must also have SPD installed and grounded at the point
CCU100 and Repeater100 Installation Guide F Grounding Specifications
12 February 2021 815-0491-00 Itron, Inc. Page 118 of 133