Physical Characteristics
Outdoor Enclosure Dimensions
13 x 11 x 6 in / 33 x 28 x 15 cm
Rack Mount Dimensions
19” rack mount 3RU (5 ¼ in)
Unit Weight
8 lbs / 3.7kg
Outdoor Enclosure Specs
NEMA 4X, rain, wind and ice protected GE
Valox99
®
polycarbonate w/ neoprene gasket
Mounting
1”-2.25”
or
2.5cm-5.7cm
pipe/pole
2
Pretest and System Planning
2.1 Site Requirements and System Planning
2.1.1 Grounding
2.1.2
A ground is defined as 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 are high current and high frequency events, 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. A #8 gauge copper wire or larger is recommended.
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. In desert areas, where ground conductivity is poor,
many ground rods are often needed, bonded together to make a suitable connection to
the ground. 5 ohm impedance is a minimum.
Unacceptable grounds are:
sprinkler pipes, PVC pipes, conduit, buried wire, and any
ground that cannot be verified.
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 prevent lightning damage to your Trailblazer. The Trailblazer system is
equipped with on-board
secondary active lightning protection
only. This secondary
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. Primary lightning protection is located outside the enclosure. Install
primary lightning protection
with a good ground on all RF, data and voice line
Trailblazer Installation and User Manual
5
