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Installation Guide For Solid State Am Transmitters
Installation Guide For Solid State Am Transmitters
4100 North 24th Street, Quincy, Illinois 62305 USA • Phone (217) 224-9600 • Fax (217) 224-9607 • www.bdcast.com • bdcast@bdcast.com
This document has been created as a planning guide for the installation of a new Broadcast
Electronics low- or medium-power AM transmitter. The installer who follows the steps listed
here will be rewarded with more reliable operation and a longer transmitter life.
BE transmitters use multiple switching power supplies for redundancy. These supplies are
connected directly to the AC line and accept a 196-252 VAC input voltage. An input power
transformer is not used.
A major advantage to this method is automatic line voltage regulation, because variations in
the AC line voltage are compensated for in the power supplies, including voltage differences
between phases. The lack of a transformer in the power supply also prevents distortion and
phase shift of low frequency AM audio caused by transformer reluctance. However, extra care
must be taken with the connections to both the AC line and ground, and a power line urge
arrestor must be correctly installed. If these steps are not followed, the user may experience
degraded reliability of the power supplies due to external AC voltage surges or lightning strikes.
2. AC SERVICE REQUIREMENTS:
The regulated power supplies in BE solid state AM and FM transmitters accept an input AC
voltage of between 196 and 252 VAC, 50/60 Hz. The internal voltage regulation eliminates the
need for an external AC voltage regulator in all but the most exceptional cases. These
transmitters also incorporate automatic shut-down circuits which will turn off the transmitter
in the event of extended over- or under- voltage conditions. The most efficient and reliable
operation will be achieved with the use of nominal AC line voltages that fall in the center of
this range.
A. THREE PHASE OPEN DELTA. Open delta power circuits utilize two effective phases
operating against ground to create a third “phantom” phase. They are advantageous
The two hot conductors of a single phase balanced (split phase) 208-240 VAC service should be
connected to the two AC service terminals inside the transmitter. The neutral is not used, and
should NOT be connected. Do NOT connect the neutral to the ground terminal or any other
chassis connection.
The three hot conductors of a three phase 208-240 VAC service should be connected to the
three AC terminals in the transmitter. In a 240 VAC installation, the transmitter’s internal
power supplies are connected between phases. The neutral is not used, and should NOT be
connected. Do NOT connect the neutral to the ground terminal or any other chassis
connection.
Neutral not
connected
Station
Ground
Neutral connected
to ground terminal
In the 380 VAC configuration, the transmitter’s power supplies are connected from phase to
neutral instead of from phase to phase. For this reason, it is necessary to connect the AC
neutral inside the transmitter to the designated neutral terminal (TB2 # 6 in the AM10A). Do
NOT connect the neutral to the ground terminal or any other chassis connection.
Note that only a 380 VAC wye may be used, and that a delta with either a grounded leg or
grounded center tap cannot be adapted to a BE transmitter without the use of an external
transformer.
Neutral connected
to TB2 #6
MODEL TERMINATION
AM-500A Type N female chassis mount connector
AM-1A Type N female chassis mount connector
AM-2.5E (US Version) Clamp and lug for ½”or 7/8” coaxial cable
AM-2.5E (EU Version) 7/16” DIN chassis mount connector
AM-5E (US Version) Clamp and lug for ½”or 7/8” coaxial cable
AM-5E (EU Version) 7/16” DIN chassis mount connector
AM-6A Clamp and lug for ½”or 7/8” coaxial cable
AM-10A 1-5/8” EIA flange
The photo below at left shows the proper method of connecting 1/2” and 7/8” coaxial cables
inside the 2.5 to 6 kW transmitters. The AM-10A is provided from the factory with a 1-5/8”
termination, as shown below at right..
There should, where possible, be no other connections between these circuit elements other
than at the reference ground panel.
Ground connections should be made with low-impedance conductors, such as copper ground
strap or 4/0 cables. Long runs of cable and bends in the cable are to be avoided wherever
possible.
In a small dedicated transmitter building, an AC surge arrestor should be installed at the main
AC service entrance. In the case of transmitters installed in larger buildings such as a studio
The AC surge arrestor should be connected in shunt across the AC line after the main
transmitter disconnect. In-line fuses or circuit breakers should be installed in series with the
surge arrestor, to remove it from service in case of a malfunction that causes a short to ground.
The best protectors will provide internal line-to-line, line-to-neutral and neutral-to-ground
protection and will be field repairable or easily replaced.
If the AC cable feed line between the service entrance and the transmitter is less than 100 ft.
(30 meters), a series inductance should be added to the AC feed line between the surge
arrestor and the transmitter. This will increase the impedance of any path to ground that
passes through the transmitter, and will encourage any surge voltages to find their way to
ground via the surge arrestor. This can be easily accomplished with the installation of a ferrite
toroid on the AC line between the AC service entrance and the transmitter.
9. FERRITE TOROIDS:
Several ferrite toroids are provided with the installation kit of each AM transmitter. These
toroids are to be installed at the following locations:
A. On the AC line between the AC surge arrestor and the transmitter. All AC conductors
should be run through the toroid, as shown in the diagram.
B. On the RF coaxial cable between the shield ground and the transmitter. (Presuming
that the center opening of the toroid is large enough to accommodate the coaxial
cable.)
`
Toroid on audio connection Toroid on AC connection
BE solid state AM and FM transmitters are designed to operate without a direct ducting
connection to the transmitter for either intake or exhaust air. An external ventilation system
should be provided to maintain the ambient air temperature in the room at a comfortable
level. Two forms of ventilation and cooling systems can be used:
An air exhaust port is provided, preferably high and on the roof or the opposite wall
from the air intake. A fan can be installed to help exhaust the hot air from the room,
but it should be rated for less air flow than the air intake fan to maintain a positive
pressure in the room. This fan can be thermostatically controlled to operate only when
the desired room temperature is exceeded, and air deflectors or louvers should be
installed to prevent backpressure caused by outside wind.
Both the building and transmitter air filters should be cleaned or changed on a regular
basis. Cooling systems that do not use air filters, or air extraction (negative pressure)
cooling systems should be avoided.
For redundancy purposes, the ideal system uses two air conditioner units, each of
which is capable of cooling the room to the desired temperature under normal
environmental conditions. The thermostat of one unit is set a few degrees higher than
the other unit, allowing it to assist the first unit only in the case of excessive heat.
Every few weeks the settings of the two thermostats are reversed, to spread the load
between the units and allow each unit to have a rest period.
A. Ball gaps at the base of an insulated tower should be spaced to the minimum amount
possible without causing arcing on modulation peaks. This will be 1/8 to ¼ inch with
most medium power transmitter installations. The balls should be free of excessive
corrosion and paint, and oriented side to side rather than one above the other.
B. There should be an inductive loop in the copper feed line that connects the ATU to the
tower. The tower lighting cable should follow the same path as the feed loop.
C. Ball gaps or a horn gap should be installed at the antenna side of the ATU.
I. A copper strap should connect the ground connection at the base of the tower to the
station reference ground inside the transmitter building.
There are two recommended means of joining copper conductors to galvanized steel
structures:
a. Using a transitional metal, such as bronze, to break up the cathodic current that will
form between copper and zinc. Bronze grounding clamps (see photo) can be purchased
from most electrical supply stores.
13. SUMMARY
Following the installation procedures recommended above will result in a reliable installation
and a satisfactory experience for the user. Please feel free to contact the BE RF customer
service department if there are questions about the implementation of any of the above
recommendations.