WAVEFORM Lightning Surge Protector Kit Instruction Manual
- June 12, 2024
- WAVEFORM
Table of Contents
WAVEFORM Lightning Surge Protector Kit Instruction Manual
In the Bag
- Lightning Surge Protector with N-Female connectors, rubber o-ring, lock nut, and lock washer
- 5ft Copper Ground Wire with ring terminals to ground the surge protector against the antenna mast
- 5ft RS240 Coaxial Cable with N-Male connectors
- Pictured but not included:
- Coaxial Cable with N-Male connectors
- Ground Wire, Bolt, and Nut to ground the antenna mast
- Copper Bent Ground Bar
Grounding the lightning surge protector
Grounding the lightning surge protector should only take a couple minutes. All you need is a phillips head screwdriver. Follow the step by step guide below, and reach out to us if you’re unsure about anything.
Outdoor Setup
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Unscrew the ground screw, remove the crimp connector, and install the 5 ft red ground wire above the lock-washer.
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Connect N-Male coaxial cables to the surge protector.1
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Attach the 5 ft red ground wire and a second ground wire to a bolt and nut placed through the mast’s base.
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Attach the second ground wire to an electrical ground (as further described in the next )
(Alternate) Ground Bar Setup
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Unscrew the ground screw and remove the red crimp connector. Once removed, Reinstall the ground screw.
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Install the surge protector into the ground bar. Place the ground bar between the rubber 0-ring and lock washer.
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Connect N-Male coaxial cables to the surge protector and attach the red ground wire to the ground bar.
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Attach the red ground wire to an electrical ground (as further described in the next page).
Well done! Your system should now be properly grounded! See the other side of this page for more information.
Important Info
- For the Outdoor Setup, The surge protector should be installed outside, as near as possible to the cable’s point of entry for the building, but not near combustible materials.
- Grounding antenna masts is critical since their metal frame makes them a prime target for lightning strikes.
- If you are uncertain that you’ve safely grounded your setup, we highly recommend reaching out to an electrical contractor.
The Lightning Surge Protector
The lightning surge protector consists of four major parts; the indoor cable
connector, the outdoor cable connector, the ground connector, and the gas
breakdown tube.
If the lightning surge protector’s gas breakdown tube needs to be replaced, it can be accessed by following Steps 1 – 2.
Accessing the Gas Breakdown Tube
Step 1. Use a screwdriver to remove the cap holding the gas breakdown
tube.
Step 2. Replace the gas breakdown tube with one of an equivalent gauge.
Grounding the Antenna Mast
Grounding the antenna mast is mandated by the National Electric Code (NEC).
The equipment needed to ground the mast is a grounding cable, a nut, and a
bolt. To ground a mast, attach a ground wire to the mast via a bolt and nut
inserted through the mast’s base, and then ground the wire to an appropriate
ground location. If the mast is painted, scrape off any paint where the
grounding cable makes contact with the mast.
Choosing and Installing a Grounding Cable
The NEC recommends grounding cables 10 AWG or lower (i.e. thicker). Keep in mind to not create any sharp bends in the grounding cable. Stranded core cable is recommended as it tends to be more flexible.
Installing the grounding cable is relatively simple; connect the cable to any of the five suitable grounding locations:
- A ground rod. A ground rod is typically installed 2 ft or more outside a building, and is basically a simple metal rod buried at least 8 ft into the ground, with just a foot or so visible above ground.
- A metal electrical service panel. This panel is typically connected to the grounding rod of the building.
- A metal electrical raceway or conduit. Conduit and raceway are typically grounded, so you can simply attach a strap to existing electrical conduit or raceway.
- A water pipe. This is acceptible, but only within 5 ft of the water pipe’s enterance to the building, and if the pipe is metal and in direct earth contact for at least 10 ft before entering the building. You shouldn’t attach a ground wire to a water valve.
- A metal frame or sturcture on the building. If none of the options above are feasable and as long as the building is grounded, connect to the metal on the building.
You can find additional information on grounding your mast and antenna(s) at waveform.com/grounding
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Questions? Need help? Call 1-800-761-3041, or email help@waveform.com
This lightning surge protector is designed, sold, and supported by Waveform and our team of Signal Specialists. We’ve helped install hundreds of these surge protectors, and can help assist you with your installation for the best results.
We love helping solve tricky install problems, so please reach out!