Combo Disconnect Enclosures From Raycap
Read More: https://www.raycap.com/streamline-your-rollout/
The need for standardization of electrified equipment that is in proximity to the public is paramount. This is being driven home recently in the explosion of 5G microsites or “small cell sites” happening across the globe. There were 154,000 small cell sites in 2019 according to CTIA, and that number is expected to balloon to more than 800,000 by 2026. This is simply because the demand for 5G connectivity is strong, causing a land grab by competing carriers to create 5G coverage within their networks. The issues arise not from the desire or need for the service itself, but from the drawbacks involving the equipment used in the process. 4G macro sites can be positioned on tall cell towers upwards of a mile from the device connecting to the network via that site. They can also be positioned this distance apart while still maintaining a reliable network that will not lose coverage or drop calls. This enables 4G macro sites to be installed farther distances from the users than 5G allows. A 5G small cell site will be smaller in size and scope, but still requires several electronic components to be installed within around one-tenth of a mile from the user or other sites. This poses the issue of overwhelming the landscape with equipment mounted to poles and structures, ultimately hurting the aesthetic beauty of a region in the name of technological advancement. Because of the desire for both 5G coverage and aesthetic beauty, there has been a significant push over the past few years to create new materials which will allow better concealment without blocking signals coming from and to antennas or radios. Creative installation methods and placements have hidden equipment where it can be concealed, but this equipment still remains exposed in many situations, and externally mounted enclosures found on telephone poles and streetlights can create an unsightly jumble of boxes and wires that actually could become dangerous for the public and utility workers. In order to interact with these installations, utility workers must have a basic understanding of the ways that each equipment piece is connected to the power supply. Because of the different components and the unique setup of almost every installation, dangers can present themselves as a result of the wiring and live electricity. Raycap has designed a streamlined presentation for use in these small cell applications, where a combination disconnect enclosure will house both the metering equipment as well as the main breaker that supplies all telecom equipment that is connected in the system. This presentation is aesthetically pleasing, replacing the number of visually exposed boxes and wiring into a single unit, while also assuring a single and easy method of completely shutting off power for maintenance, with optional surge protection as well. Providing the standardization that prevents accidents through understanding of the system as well as the streamlined visual approach to the equipment that is mounted within view of the public is an elegant solution to a growing issue that will continue to be needed more and more as more sites are rolled out by carriers to satisfy demand for 5G. The future can be both technologically advanced and beautiful.
