Strikesorb® Protects RRH Equipment at Cell Tower Sites from Lightning Strikes.
Chicago, Illinois - 4G World Event - Raycap Inc., a global manufacturer of electrical protection solutions announced today it has released its new suite of products engineered to protect cellular networks using Distributed Base Station (DBS) or Remote Radio Head (RRH) architecture from the destructive forces of direct lightning strikes. The Raycap product suite combines cable and fiber management solutions with the company's innovative Strikesorb® Class I Surge Protective Devices (SPDs) to safeguard vulnerable remote radio and baseband unit equipment located at cell sites.
Because mobile data traffic is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years, operators must find new ways to manage the growing demand for data while at the same time lowering their operational expenditures. RRH architecture supports this explosive growth in legacy 3G networks and facilitates the deployment of next generation 4G / LTE mobile communications networks. Raycap's RRH Product Suite protects these next generation networks and provides flexible, easily customized products to meet the specific needs of mobile operators, radio equipment suppliers and system integrators.
With RRH architecture, DC power cables travel from the base station to the top of the cell tower to power the remote radio units. The conductive copper wires are a conduit for lightning currents, making the active equipment at both the top and the bottom of the site susceptible to damage. Lightning is one of the main concerns most network operators have when it comes to installing radio equipment at exposed locations. Raycap's RRH Product Suite includes a large number of customizable water tight enclosures for installation at the top and bottom of the tower, as well as distribution/protection enclosures specially built for installation in shelters or cabinets. Raycap's systems make managing and installing the long runs of power and fiber optic cables easier, and ensure the availability and reliability of the radio and baseband equipment they are connected to.
The key technology in the RRH Product Suite is Raycap's flagship product, the Strikesorb 30-V1-HV Surge Protective Device (SPD), which has been engineered and tested for use specifically in DC power protection applications. Raycap's electrical protection equipment is designed to save operating and installation costs by reducing downtime for major carriers deploying RRH architecture at cell sites worldwide. Raycap's DC-based Strikesorb 30-V1-HV is the only Class I SPD capable of withstanding multiple direct lightning strikes and operating safely in 48V DC systems, diverting the current to ground and away from sensitive equipment on the tower or in the base station shelter/cabinet.
Unique features and benefits of the Strikesorb-based RRH Product Suite:
o Innovative, flexible designs that combine electrical protection with power and fiber optic cable management
o Maintenance-free operation in harsh service and environmental conditions
o Employs the Strikesorb® 30-V1-HV Surge Protective Device (SPD) certified for use in DC applications and at low DC operating voltages (48V) and capable of withstanding multiple direct lightning strikes and power surges
o Offers unique protection levels to the RRH equipment as well as the Base Band Units
o Allows for indoor or outdoor installation on a roof or tower top
o Flexible design provides for configurable cable ports to accommodate varying diameters of hybrid (combined power and fiber optic) or standard cables
o Lightweight, aerodynamic design for tower top installation
o Fully recognized to the UL 1449 3rd Edition Safety Standard
o Certified for compliance to the requirements of Class I SPDs according to IEC 61643-1 standard
