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Raycap has produced a proprietary line of surge protection devices which do not need to be replaced after they have performed their task of diverting the surge that follows a lightning strike. The electrical surge that either couples into attached power lines and structures, or travels directly through those lines from the strike point to any connected component is often one of the leading causes of damage to sensitive electronics at industrial installations. In many cases, these electronic components are not only sensitive but quite expensive, having been tasked with the computerized operation of the facility itself. Damage to equipment at the point of strike may not be avoided effectively, but damage that results from the overloading of circuitry in attached components does have the ability to be minimized, if not halted all together. Electrical surge surge damage is often a major factor in the cost of operations of modern industrial facilities, green energy included. (more…)

Industrial applications of nearly all types will benefit from the installation and integration of lightning protection systems throughout their facilities. While some may think that lightning protection is limited to the diversion of a lightning strike away from the facility and to a specifically designed attractant like a lightning rod or grounding system, in reality the function of lightning protection extends to other areas such as the protection against lightning surges. Upon casual analysis of the components involved in most modern industrial facilities, one will quickly realize that the damages produced at the strike area itself are actually minimal compared to the costs that can be associated with the power surges that those strikes produce. The degrading or even complete destruction of computerized equipment, data and communications components and general circuitry by lightning surge events provides enormous costs to companies. These costs can be avoided, even if a direct strike to an industrial facility is difficult to avoid. Through the installation of strategically positioned surge protection devices (SPDs) the degradation and destruction of attached electronic components can be minimized or even prevented. (more…)

Lightning protectors are devices that are installed into technical systems to protect downstream equipment from the associated electrical surges that follow a lightning strike.  The concept is to prevent an electrical surge from traveling through power lines that connect an exposed unit and the computerized, data processing equipment and additional mechanisms that control that unit.  As an example, a cell tower would serve as the “end unit,” being completely exposed to the elements and isolated by its natural design.  (more…)

One of the most interesting developments over the course of the last 20 years has been the evolution of the cellular phone, and the reliance upon it by the general public.  Just two decades ago, a cellular phone was a new type of device that gave you the ability to receive or make a phone call without being connected to a line.  This functionality was provided by towers which were installed in a position that would provide an uninterrupted line between the cellular device and the top of the tower.  The signals that were being sent and received from the device to the tower top were then processed and sent through the network to that person on the receiving end of the call.  This type of setup has evolved technologically in order to provide more enhanced services for the person using the cellular phone, but both the generalized makeup of the process as well as the potential pitfalls of it have remained in place.  Cellular phones themselves have become more enhanced with the ability to transfer larger amounts of data using the same network.  This is how cellular calls ultimately became the access to the internet with the ability to stream video and send pictures.  Only through the ability to transfer larger packets of data were any of these processes able to become a reality, and only through the upgrading of the equipment involved in the process were these things able to manifest themselves.  The stakes became higher as the need for more technologically advanced and robust equipment presented itself, all costing more to both put in place and keep operational.  At the same time that these advanced services have become more commonplace, costs associated with operating the network has been driven down, enabling both lower prices and advanced services all at once.  Because cost cutting via a reduction of service would cause customer dissatisfaction in today’s landscape, the only way to continually drive the rise in operational costs down is to improve the process.  This involves creating ways to extend the operational life span of the equipment used or improve the maintenance and replacement of that equipment.  One of the best ways that this is being accomplished at the cell site is through the installation of more advanced DC surge protection devices, which minimize the amount of damage created by natural events like lightning strikes.  The lightning strike produces an electrical surge which can overwhelm any equipment between the top of the tower and the network, as it travels along connectivity lines as well as power lines it can cause damage to any other connected equipment.  These surges can produce outages that reduce the ability for customers to connect as well as send or receive data.  As more effective prevention measures are developed to reduce the amount of cost associated with lightning strike damage even more, we will see cellular providers able to provide even better services at lower costs than are available today.  Surge protection devices can keep us online and productive in today’s connected world.

The most popular industry term which accurately describes the devices and systems which are designed to shield and keep the radio frequencies utilized in several industries operational is “RF protection.” This critical operation is most crucial within the cellular communications field, where the modern base station transceiver equipment relies upon uninterrupted radio frequencies in order to maintain ongoing operations. Radio frequency protection is the only line of defense against significant losses of revenue that occur when lightning strikes remain unmitigated.  The lightning strike causes damage in several ways, the most obvious is the damage to equipment which can happen with a direct strike. Other damage occurs when the electricity surge following the lightning strike flows along coaxial data lines as well as standard power lines.  These surges can overwhelm the equipment and produce damage at the circuitry level.  The damage is also found within the connectivity lines themselves due to the fact that coaxial data lines are not able to handle the same level of electrical flow that standardized power lines can.  The damage to the lines themselves is only one level of the damage produced to the system, because these lines are invariably connected directly to  communications equipment.  Only through the design and manufacture of products which will protect against the surges in spikes that occur as a result of lightning strikes can the data failures and outages that are so destructive to cellular systems be mitigated.  The secondary loss of customers as a result of communications outages and spotty service is difficult to quantify but must be factored in as well.  Customer dissatisfaction is not able to be mitigated through the excuse of equipment damage as a result of lightning strikes.  Customers only care that their connectivity is not what they expected at all times.  The losses that are found as a result of this kind of fallout and far outweigh the losses as a result of equipment repair.

The technologically advanced RF protection devices that are manufactured by Raycap not only protect against the transients themselves, but also electromagnetic pulses caused by lightning strikes.  When a strike happens to a nearby power line or directly to one, a steep rise in electric fields happens within of microseconds after the initial strike.  These fields produce voltage pulses of extremely high levels which will easily travel through any unprotected antenna or transmission line which is connected to the primary communication equipment.  This can result in outages as well as data loss which will directly impact customer satisfaction rates.  The happy customer base is maintained through the ability to connect as well as the strength and clarity of the signal.  Any failure to take protective steps in support of RF signal protection exposes the business to operational issues as a result of outages as well as equipment repair.  If critical data is lost as a result of the lightning strike, it very well may spell disaster for the provider who is maintaining the network.

A discussion of RF protection needs to begin with its definition.  The industry term which is most often used in description of the protective devices which are installed into systems to shield and protect their radio frequencies is “RF protection.” This form of protection system is typically involved with modern transceiver equipment which means that located in base station units.  Most cases of RF protection revolve around coaxial data lines which are severely damaged or impacted by lightning strikes and the power surge that will follow. Raycap is a world leader in the design and manufacture of these types of protective devices and systems, which assist in providing uninterrupted service within the enclosed areas of telecommunications setups.  Raycap products protect against spikes and surges which produce outages and data failures due to the destruction of communication equipment.  To provide uninterrupted and continual communication within appropriate areas of service, our commitment to excellence is our driving force.

Communication lines as well as data transfer cables are highly susceptible to the power surges and electrical transients which are produced by lightning strikes, as well as to failure incidents within standard power distribution systems.  Even though data lines are designed to carry far less electrical current than a power line, as well as the fact that data lines are almost always directly connected to critical operations equipment, the need for protection to be installed along these lines and pathways is imperative.  The single lightning strike to a connection line can easily have a catastrophic impact on the critical communications capabilities within the network, and subsequent surges can destroy data which is housed within storage components and equipment connected to the lines themselves.  There are multiple solutions for providing protection against damage of this kind, all have been specifically designed for the application.

In addition to protecting against transients, the cellular surge protection devices which are manufactured by Raycap will also protect against electromagnetic pulses, these also being produced by lightning strikes.  When a strike happens directly to a cable or nearby it, there is a steep rise in electric fields that happens almost instantaneously after the strike.  These fields produce extremely high voltages and pulses which then could travel to any unprotected antenna or radio system via transmission lines leading to the primary communication equipment.  Losses because of customer dissatisfaction as well as equipment damage repair is a serious negative force to the bottom line of almost every business.  The costs of equipment repair are easily factored into planning, but the costs associated with customer loss as a result of outages is far more difficult to predict.  Only through the maintenance of a happy customer base as well as a network that remains stable and online for a majority of time can cellular networks be assured that they will be able to maintain a competitive edge in today’s landscape.  In situations where data is lost, customer dissatisfaction rates can be extreme, leading to major problems.  Through the integration of the appropriate RF protection the systems from Raycap, business can not only survive but thrive. Hence the Raycap tagline “It’s our business to help yours thrive.”

If you are anything like the rest of us, you have probably had more than a few occasions where your signal is weak on your cell phone.  You have probably experienced dropped calls or buffering when you are trying to stream video.  You may have experienced failures with regards to downloads of large files on your phone, and all of these problems have caused you to question if you should switch network providers.  The phone that you holding in your hand is viewed as a connection device by most customers, and the network itself is the transfer mechanism allowing them to both receive and send data.  People do not blame their phones for less than quality service, and instead will immediately question the quality of the network that they are paying to connect to.  Because of this perception, cellular providers must invest heavily into not only upgraded equipment with which they can provide faster transfer speeds as well as better connectivity, but they also must invest into the protection of that equipment in the field.  This is accomplished through small and compact devices which are installed at critical junctures on cell towers, between long connectivity lines in order to allow for the unmitigated transfer of information both along those lines and through radio signals.  The systems must remain operational as much as possible in order to avoid the customer dissatisfaction that will lead to revenue losses.  The maintaining of equipment as a result of damage in the field is only half of the losses that can come as a result of natural events like lightning strikes.  Repairing the equipment that is needed in order to provide connectivity is also compounded with the potential of data loss that can spell disaster for a cellular provider.  All of these factors must be taken into consideration in order to maintain profitability, and it has been recognized that the prevention of problems is the best path to take to keeping customers happy.

The strength of the signals that are sent between the remote radio head and the base station unit within the cellular tower is going to be critical in maintaining signal strength at the point of the handheld device.  It is going to dictate if the customer can connect to the network, as well as how fast data can be transferred to and from the device.  Lightning strikes have a major impact on these radio frequencies both through damage to the equipment used in the process as well as interruption of the radio signals through electromagnetic pulses. Through the integration of advanced protection devices that are designed specifically for these purposes, equipment damage can be mitigated, and connectivity rates can be improved.  This will lead to customers which question their choices of providers less often, resulting in higher profits for the provider themselves.  The investment into surge protection devices more than pays for itself in customer satisfaction and retention.

As our lives become more technologically driven, we are more reliant upon industrial processes to not only manufacture the goods that we utilize, but also to provide the connectivity and safety that we rely upon.  Most things ranging from the clothing that we wear to the cell phones in our hands are reliant on the industrial process in order to make our lives more convenient.  Industrial facilities have evolved over time to be far more technologically advanced than they ever have been in the past.  Advanced computer equipment and microprocessors as well as other circuit driven equipment are now found in almost every manufacturing process, and the costs that we pay as consumers are direct reflections of the improvements in speed and efficiency of these processes that has been caused by the integration of technologically advanced equipment.  Any areas of the process which are impacted in a negative way, for example being taken off line or shut down completely, will ultimately result in consumers’ needing to pay more for goods and services. These things can even cause consumers to except a lower quality standard from the connectivity where they may have become used to a higher level of quality.  Many of these negative impacts on industrial processes come from the natural events including power surges caused by lightning strikes.  The direct strike to the equipment used industrial facilities is rare, but will generally inflict significant damage both at the strike point and as a result of the resulting  power surge.  The way that facilities protect against direct strikes is through the installation of overhead shielding and grounding equipment.  Strikes that happen to the power and connectivity lines which run outside of the facility are more common and thus more problematic.  The power generated by the lightning strike travels along these power lines effectively.  This directs massive amounts of electricity towards facilities connected to the power lines,  potentially coming into direct contact with the equipment utilized in any number of processes, ultimately damaging the circuitry needed to keep these processes online.  The chain of events which happens when a piece of equipment is finally affected can create the catastrophic event in which the equipment is so damaged than it needs to be replaced completely.  These types of events take the industrial processes offline and ultimately create slowdowns that can increase customer prices.  Through the integration of industrial surge protection devices at the service entrance and installed throughout the building or industrial structure as well as  close to the equipment as possible, overvoltage events can be mitigated if not avoided altogether.  This allows for industrial facilities to continue to maintain operations effectively and for longer periods of time, thus allowing prices to remain low for the consumers.  The industrial processes that enable  connectivity also are able to remain online for longer timeframes, translating into a greater ability for people to themselves be productive.  In this way, our own personal lives rely upon industrial surge protection directly.  From the clothes we wear to the computers that we use and the internet we connect to in order to provide our own additions to productivity, we are dependent upon industrial surge protection more than ever.

Can Lightning Protection Reduce Climate Change?

Climate change may be the biggest debate of the century. The disagreement is not about the impacts that climate change will have on humanity and the planet, but instead are about if it is caused by man, or not. Both sides of the debate are in agreement that rising sea levels and warming atmospheric temperatures exist, along with intensifying storm activity and the disappearing polar ice caps. There is no debate about the fact that these issues are occurring, but instead it is about if human activity is actually to blame. One side states that climate change is something that would happen if pollution and greenhouse gasses were created by our global industries, and the other states that it would happen even if all these industries were not to exist. Because it is impossible to know for a fact what would be the case if there were no pollution, we simply must assume that an environment that is polluted is worse than one that is not, and even if this pollution is not caused by humans, it is still not positive. (more…)