Installation Manual

Tsunami Multipoint Version 1.3 Installation Guide
Appendix E. Lightning Protection Recommendations
This appendix describes Proxim Lightning Protection Recommendations for:
▪ Tsunami Multipoint Base Station Unit 40400-25/-65
▪ Tsunami Multipoint Subscriber Unit 40100-251/-252/-651/-652
Introduction
What is Lightning Protection?
All outdoor electronic equipment is susceptible to lightning damage. Proper grounding to national and
local codes is instrumental in providing human safety. Lightning Protection is used when a customer
wants to maximize the reliability of the electronic system by diverting the excess energy that can be
induced on any transmission lines (data, power) through a series of surge protection devices. The energy
is dissipated through heat and also diverted to ground.
What Lightning Protection is Built Into the Tsunami Equipment?
All Tsunami Multipoint and QuickBridge equipment have built-in lightning protection on both the power
supply lines and the Ethernet lines. There are TVS diodes that provide protection to IEC 61000-4-5.
Proxim Corporation uses “well-design” practices in incorporating these devices in the Tsunami Multipoint
and QuickBridge products.
Why is Additional Protection Recommended?
Lightning, even with the built-in protection, can still damage outdoor Tsunami equipment. This can occur
for any number of reasons, such as an improperly grounded installation or if the amount of transient
energy from nearby lightning exceeds what the devices can handle.
If a Tsunami unit fails due to damage from lightning, the link is out-of-service until the unit is replaced or
repaired. An external, revertive protection device can provide a higher level of protection, and greater
probability of surviving lightning transients without damage to the Tsunami equipment. If damage does
occur, most likely it is to the lightning protection devices and not the Tsunami equipment. Remember,
even with external lightning protection, damage can still occur to the Tsunami outdoor unit.
Appendix E. Lightning Protection Recommendations 70
CPN 63179 Issue Date: 01/24/03