GROUNDING
Good grounding and proper surge suppression are an integral part of proper installation for
a gate operator system. One or all of the following may require surge suppressors: high
voltage power lines, low voltage power lines, telephone lines, data lines, low voltage control
lines and loops. How much surge suppression is required depends upon how susceptible
the area is to lightning and power surges. Regardless, good grounding is essential. To
realize maximum protection, proper grounding and proper surge suppression is absolutely
necessary.
If the circuit breaker box is located close to the gate operator system, for example, in a
guard house, then the ground from that circuit can be used to ground the gate operator
system. Eliminate all 90° bends in ground wires and keep a minimum of three feet between
the surge suppressor and the equipment being protected.
If the power source or circuit breaker box is not located close to the gate operator system an
Isolated Ground Zone (IGZ) needs to be created. An IGZ can also be created if the circuit
breaker box is located close by the gate operator system. An IGZ is an imaginary circle
drawn around the gate operator system. The gate operator system not only includes the
gate operators and control panel, but all of the accessories and devices associated with it at
that controlled entry point. This includes loop detectors, card readers, digital entries,
telephone entries, any device that has a ground or requires a ground and ali of the surge
suppressors. The ground bus is a common ground point calied a Single Point Ground
(SPG). It is used to bond all the equipment and device grounds in the IGZ together. The
SPG is very important because it helps eliminate different ground potentials that can be
present on the equipment. In such cases, equipment damage occurs even with surge
suppressors.
Do not use or connect the ground wire coming from the circuit breaker box. By using an
Isolated Ground Zone, you are separating the gate operator system from the house or
building ground. This eliminates ground potentials. It is recommended that the ground bus
be located in a separate NEMA type enclosure. All grounds will be tied to this ground bus.
Some points to remember:
Keep all ground wires as straight as possible. Do not have any sharp 90° bends. Have a
minimum of 3 feet of wire between the surge suppressor and the equipment being
protected.
Equipment ground wire should be a minimum of 12 AWG. The main ground wire from the
bus bar to the ground rod shouid be an 8 or 6 AWG copper wire. Ground rod should be a
minimum of 10 feet in length, longer depending on local soil conditions.
For more information regarding good grounding practices check: National Electric Code
art. 250; IEEE Emerald Book, standard 100; International Association of Electric
Inspectors.
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USER 2 - 24V
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REV 02 - 06/2010
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