GROUNDING FOR TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENTS AND SYSTEM

Abstract Telecommunication equipments and systems play a major role both during war and peace time. The technological growth in the field of telecommunication can create problems in the other devices or in the overall system. A grounding system ought to be designed using EMC guidelines so as to assure the reliable operation of the whole telecommunication systems and equipments. This paper makes an attempt in analyzing the various grounding problems encountered and remedies to be carried out for achieving the satisfactory performance of the telecommunication equipments and systems. The technology available in the country can be a barometer to assess the infrastructure available within the country in the field of communication systems and equipments. Introduction Importance of Grounding Systems-Fulfilling the Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements in telecommunication equipments and systems is not simply testing and protecting individual devices and circuits. A Grounding System must be designed using latest EMC guidelines so as to ensure the reliable operation of the device, or complete telecommunication system or individual equipment. In trying to achieve for the ideal EMC, two types of investigation or analysis may be considered the impact of one discrete component or functioning of the complete system within the hostile electromagnetic environment. Now-a-days manufacturers and designers have a wide range of techniques, products, standards, and procedures to control any type of electromagnetic interference problems generated from any one device or system. Incidentally, in practice a large number of installed equipment and systems present a different type of problems. A system consisting of entirely of EMC standards compliant parts can still be susceptible to electromagnetic interference introduced by the very networking and cabling that form a telecommunication system. To achieve EMC when configuring an entire communication system, a systematic working diagram or plan of action must be drawn. The interference control plan must include a record of all precautions/ steps taken including the sequences of these actions. The various technologies incorporated in a modern telecommunication system are connected via. earthing or grounding network which wholly constitute a grounding system. The designer must remember that the currents must flow within the telecommunication circuitry and diverted currents must be run to ground, and a low impedance path is vital part of ground system design. The grounding system obviously plays a major role in providing a reliable telecommunications. Different Grounding System In general, A telecommunication facility may consist of several grounding systems-e.g., grounding systems for AC power distribution, DC power distribution, radio frequency,

carrier equipment, quiet ground or signal, reference, lightning, etc. The systems may also include different ground points that must be grounded. In addition the ground points may also include logic ground, body ground, cable shield ground, cabinet ground, signal ground etc. In most of the cases, grounding system is incorporated taking into consideration only two or three criteria. The system designers may decide that * ground resistance should be below 1 Ohm, * a star configuration should be implemented, * ground loops should be avoids, or * there should be potential equalization. But in most of the cases these limited criteria are not satisfactory. In arriving at the above criteria, the designer may ignore the risks that may encounter in the form of lightning strikes. This threat has to be overcome by choosing an appropriate SPD (Surge Protection Device). The need for various functions gives rise to the long list of grounding systems mentioned above. System designer must provide a reference voltage. Personnel must be protected from electrical shock. Fault energy released into the equipment must be curtailed to forestall damage, and electrical noise must be reduced by arranging low impedance paths to ground and by avoiding earth loops. Specially the impact of lighting strikes must be dissipated. No one methodology exists to analyse these varying requirements and to reach an optimum EMC compliant design for a telecommunication system. But designing a grounding system using some basic EMC guidelines helps to achieve an integrated system design which protect the signal fidelity of the different circuits. However the following four basic design aspects can be considered. Noise Control Eliminating EMI problems involves identifying the source of noise (whether internal or external), the coupling path, and the circuit that is affected. Having pinpointed the problem, interference can be reduced by altering one or more components. However, with the complexity of a modern telecommunication system, it is usually not possible to change the suspected components, the telecommunication equipment, or the source of the noise, especially when it is external to the system. In telecommunications, eliminating or reducing EMI problems involves the coupling path and the critical function of grounding system. Many variables affect the coupling of noise into a circuit-the level and the bandwidth of the signals, the EMI present in the ambient environment, or the physical layout of the circuit. Under these circumstances, there is no one standard solution. Hence in many cases, trade-offs have to be made. Ground Potential

There must be just one reference for each circuit. Two ground references would indicate a difference of potential, which would result in noise since two different points would never have exactly the same potential. If two different circuits are considered, they might have two references when examined separately. But, when the total circuitry involving these two circuits is analysed, there must be only one reference and one physical ground. EM Fields When low frequency approximation is acceptable, a circuit can be described in terms of an equivalent electrical network containing usual components like resistors, capacitors, and inductors. When the dimension of the circuit is no longer small compared to the wavelength, the radiation properties of the circuit cannot be ignored. A simple piece of wire has varying properties of resistance, capacitance, and inductance, which can affect the functioning of a system depending on the wire dimensions and the frequency of operation. A current is always accompanied by a magnetic field, and a voltage is accompanied by an electric field. In most of the cases interference problems occur because these simple aspects have not been taken into consideration, rather ignored. Common Mode Currents When two conductors in a circuit (Source/ Load and line return conductors) are considered, two kinds of current flow can be differentiated. First, differential mode involves the desired signal i.e., the current runs from the source to the load through one conductor and returns through the other conductor. In common mode, one examines the undesired signal and current flows in the same direction on both conductors and returns through a third conductor essentially a ground. In some cases, both the signal source and load are connected directly to a ground at different points. In such a circumstance, the source of common mode currents is the difference in potential between the two ground points. In other cases, the circuits carrying common mode currents have no material connection to close the loop to ground; but stray capacitance closes the loop to ground in one of the circuit ends. These common mode currents are the cause of numerous interference problems involving grounding systems. These phenomena are referred to as ground loops because a ground is used as return path or loop. Careful and critical current analysis is essential for solving these types of problems. Lightning Protection One of the most dangerous and devastating external factor that can kill a telecommunication system are especially vulnerable to this natural phenomena. Lightning can cause severe damage to both the cabling system and the attached equipment when over currents caused by a direct or indirect strike are much greater than the equipment can withstand. Protective measures should be based on thorough risk analysis which takes into account the structure where the equipment is installed, the equipment, and the cabling network. But in reality, lightning protection has

not always been considered in the domain because lightning rises above the level of mere interference but to the level of catastrophic damage to circuits. It is certain that a comprehensive EMC guidelines must address lightning protection and are vital in designing a reliable telecommunication system. Protection can be achieved by preventing lightning energy from being transferred to the system or by reducing the resulting overcharges to a level that the hardened components within the system can withstand. Some of the techniques can be installing buried instead of aerial cabling, shielding, or the use of SPDs. EMI Trouble Spots in Telecommunication Equipment and Systems-Cabling Telecommunication Equipment and Systems must comply with a two part EMC Standard-ie., it can be neither a culprit nor a victim. It cannot be the source of electromagnetic interferences nor can it be vulnerable to malfunctions caused by such interference. In spite of that the cabling used in telecommunication systems (used for power, signal, telephone lines, etc.) may offer several coupling paths for electromagnetic interference because it connects two ground points or acts as antennae for electric or magnetic fields present in the ambient environment. One effective measure is providing alternative current paths. Signal and power cables can be routed close to a grounded conductor. A parallel grounding conductor such as a cable tray grounded at both ends will divert common-mode current from the differential-mode circuit, a cable, or its shield. Earth Electrode Many designers and manufacturers generally stipulate 1 to 5 ohms for the DC resistance to earth. Designers must recognize the vital role the earth electrode system plays in protecting telecommunication systems. One of the prime factor to be considered is the electrical characteristics of the soil where the installation is planned. Ideally, one should choose a location which has a low value of soil resistively and the absence of stray power currents. Effective grounding can assure a more reliable telecommunication system. Considering the damage that lightning can cause, a design configuration that neutralizes energy from lightning must be the primary consideration. Surge Protective Devices Surge protective devices limits transient voltages and bypasses surge currents away from the vulnerable equipment. There a wide variety of SPDs available. Some of them are Voltage breakdown devices (Gas discharge tubes Spark gaps; Voltage limiting devices (Metal oxide varistors or avalanche junction transient voltage suppressors); bandwidth limiting devices (filters); and isolation devices (opto link, opto coupler, or transformers). Metal oxide varistors (MVDs) are widely used since they provide both high current carrying capability and good voltage limiting at a relatively low cost. Since MOVs have no breakdown characteristics, they are well suited for use as primary and secondary protection elements on AC power lines. For telecommunication lines, gas discharge tubes, characterized by high insulating resistance, low capacitance in a non-

conducting state, and high current capability, are widely used as the primary protection devices. Also, in many applications, solid state devices can be used in combination with gas tubes to provide a faster response time while maintaining high current capability. Factors to be Considered for Choosing best SPDs The choice of SPD is vital and critical design step since their incorporation in a telecommunication system assures that the level of over voltage through the power cables, telephone lines, and antenna cables does not exceed the design limit. Making the optimal choice of SPD involves several key factors, such as the frequency of lightning occurrences, the surge parameters, let through voltages of an SPD and there response time of the SPD, induced voltage drops in the connecting cables and leads and the voltage rating of the devices. Conclusion A perfect and well designed grounding system is vital for achieving EMC in modern telecommunication systems and equipments. With the complexity of a modern telecommunications system and type of equipment involved, there can be no one simple technique for achieving reliable operation and protection against damage. An effective Interference Control Plan should take care of the vulnerabilities and varying needs of the design parameters of the overall telecommunication system.