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SMP 16 GPS Clock Option: Installation Guide
SMP 16 GPS Clock Option: Installation Guide
SMP 16 GPS Clock Option: Installation Guide
With the GPS clock option, the SMP 16 maintains a clock accuracy of 400 ns. The
SMP 16 clock signal can be redistributed in IRIG-B format, providing a cost-efficient
time source for all substation devices.
The following document describes the principles of operation of the GPS clock, the
installation of the GPS antenna and its specifications.
Contents
Principles of Operation ....................................................................................2
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SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
Principles of Operation
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system operated
and maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). GPS uses a constellation
of satellites to calculate the exact position and altitude of receiver stations.
The GPS constellation is composed of 24 satellites orbiting the earth in 11 hours and
58 minutes, on six different orbits. With the baseline satellite constellation, receivers
with a clear view of the sky have a minimum of four satellites in view. Typically, the
receiver sees from six to eight satellites.
GPS technology requires a very accurate time source in order to calculate the orbital
position of the satellites and determine the position of the receiver. To ensure the
required level of accuracy, each GPS satellite is equipped with 4 atomic clocks that
are kept in synchronization with the U.S. Naval Observatory's Master Clock. Each
satellite continuously transmits its current position and a time code.
IRIG-B is a military standard of the Inter Range Instrumentation Group. The best
known IRIG standard is the IRIG Timecode standard used to timestamp video, film,
telemetry, radar, and other data collected at test ranges. The main difference
between the codes that are classified in letters from A to H is their rate, which varies
between 1 pulse per second and ten thousand pulses per second. The IRIG-B
standard operates at 100 pulses per second.
The SMP 16 GPS Clock uses the time information provided by the GPS system to
provide a highly accuracy time source for the substation.
For best performances, the antenna should be mounted permanently on a high point
with the broadest possible view of the sky. Getting the maximum number of satellites
in view will ensure the best timing performance from the GPS Clock.
Choose the best available location with regard to view of the sky. Try to place
the antenna where there is a clear view of the horizon in all directions if possible.
The GPS coverage is better in the equator direction than in the poles direction. If
there are objects in the antenna line of sight, try to place the antenna with a
clear view of the equator.
Avoid placing the antenna at the same horizontal level as metallic walls to avoid
signal reflection.
Do not place the antenna near a noise source such as elevator engines, power
transformers or a transmitting antenna, since the GPS signal received by the
antenna is very low.
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COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE
Avoid placing the antenna where it can be buried in snow or covered by falling
leaves.
As a temporary solution, the antenna can even be placed in a window facing the
equator. However, with the antenna in this position, the GPS Clock module will not
provide optimal timing performance.
Installing the GPS antenna on a wall is the best way to keep it from getting buried in
the snow. It must be installed so it clears the roof in order to have a 360° clear view
of the horizon. It is also important to remember that the mounting pipe must always
be installed vertically.
The antenna can be installed on a roof using the mounting bracket for the wall
installation. Here again, the mounting pipe must be installed vertically and the
antenna must have a 360° clear view of the horizon.
Different accessories and cables are available for the antenna and the GPS clock
option.
The selection of appropriate cables and accessories depends on the distance between
the location of the SMP 16 and the location where the antenna will be mounted.
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SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
The POPT-1616 antenna is provided with 25 meters (82 feet) of RG-8 cable, with TNC
connectors installed on each end. The following installation diagram applies to
installations of up to 50 meters (164 feet) in cable length.
BUILDING
SURGE
SUPPRESSOR
ANTENNA
WITH
MOUNTING
BRACKET
DANGER
BUILDING
SIGNAL SURGE
AMPLIFIER SUPPRESSOR
ANTENNA
WITH
MOUNTING
BRACKET
DANGER
Accessories
The SMP GPS Clock option simply requires the addition of an external antenna to
start providing accurate time to the SMP 16. All cables are RG-8, equipped with TNC
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COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE
connectors, which is sturdier and easier to install than BNC. RG-8 cable also provides
the smallest attenuation.
Note: A complete installation should also include a surge suppressor to protect the
SMP 16 from transients that result from lightning strikes. A signal amplifier
will also be necessary if the cable run exceeds 50 meters.
The following accessories are available for the SMP 16 GPS Clock:
Accessories
The POPT-1613 Surge Suppressor is provided with a 6.56 feet (2 meter) cable. This
device is not weather proof and must be installed inside the building. The surge
suppressor must be grounded correctly for proper operation. While this device is not
mandatory, it is highly recommended to protect the SMP 16.
Installation Instructions
A threaded socket at the base of the antenna dome accepts a standard ¾ in.
threaded pipe. The TNC antenna connector is located inside the threaded socket,
which allows the antenna cable to be routed inside the pole and protects the cable
connection for added reliability.
Before proceeding with the installation, read the “Antenna Mounting Considerations”
section, page 2, to find the best location for the antenna.
The POPT-1619 Mounting Bracket can be used to install the GPS antenna
permanently outside a building on a wall, a roof, or a mounting pole.
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SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
Before attaching the GPS antenna to the bracket, connect the cable to the antenna as
follows.
1. Slide the PVC pipe over the coaxial antenna so that it passes through the
pipe.
2. Attach the male TNC connector on the end of the cable to the female TNC
connector on the antenna. Do not over-tighten.
4. Thread the end of the PVC pipe into the base of the antenna, and
handtighten.
Note: Depending on roof or wall access, you may prefer to begin by attaching
the mounting bracket to the wall, roof, or pole, before attaching the
antenna. Bracket installation is described in the next section.
1. Slip the ends of the U bolt through the two slots on the mounting bracket
stabilizer, so that the stabilizer is nested in the U-bolt.
2. Place the U-bolt and stabilizer over the 4 in. length of PVC pipe to which the
antenna is mounted.
Mounting
bracket PVC pipe Mounting
U-bolt stabilizer ¾ in. × 4 in. bracket
3. Feed the ends of the U-bolt through the appropriate holes on the mounting
bracket, as shown in the illustration. If the mounting surface is not perfectly
horizontal or vertical, select the holes so that the antenna is mounted
vertically.
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COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE
4. Place the backing plate over the ends of the U bolt, and thread on the two
¼ inch-20 hex nuts. Tighten the nuts using the 7/16 inch nut driver. Be
careful not to damage the PVC pipe by over-tightening.
The mounting bracket features two holes which may be used to secure it to a flat
surface, using ¼ inch hardware.
5.6
3 in.
0.39 in.
n.
9i
3.1
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SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
The mounting bracket can also be attached to a pipe up to two inches in diameter by
threading an adjustable clamp through the two slots.
1. Open the worm-drive clamp provided with the mounting bracket and insert
the free end into one of the slots in the bracket. Feed it back out through
the other slot.
2. Position the mounting bracket on the mast or pipe and re-insert the free end
of the clamp into the adjusting screw.
The best performance of the SMP 16 GPS Clock is achieved with the recommended
RG-8 coaxial cabling, used according to the following guidelines.
The surge protection device should be placed inside the building and have the
shortest cable length to the antenna.
Cable length should not exceed 164 feet (50 meters) without using a signal
amplifier.
Cable length should not exceed 492 feet (150 meters) even when using a signal
amplifier.
Never bend the cable more than its minimum bend radius. It would damage the
cable.
The cable length should be as short as possible to have the minimum possible
attenuation.
The total cable length must be calculated accurately (within a meter) to calibrate
the software for the propagation delay of the signal in the cable.
Note: A ratcheting crimp tool for RG-8 cable (POPT-1618) is required for this
procedure.
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COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE
0.728 in.
0.401 in.
0.244 in.
1. Strip cable jacket 0.728 in. (18.5 mm). The cut must be sharp and square.
2. Strip the dielectric 0.401 in. (10.2 mm). Do not cut the braid, or comb it.
3. Strip the conductor 0.244 in. (6.2 mm). Do not cut or nick it.
4. Slide the outer ferrule (provided in the connector kit) onto the cable.
5. Place the contact (provided in the connector kit) on the center conductor so
that it butts against the cable dielectric.
6. Crimp the contact in place using the 0.128 die of the crimp tool.
7. Slightly flare the end of the cable braid to facilitate insertion of the inner
ferrule. It is important not to comb the braid.
8. Install the connector body on the cable so that the ferrule on the body slides
under the braid.
9. Push the cable assembly forward until contact snaps into place.
10. Slide the outer ferrule over the braid and up against connector body then
crimp the ferrule in place using the 0.429 die of the crimp tool.
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SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
Each meter of cable adds a certain delay that must be compensated by the SMP 16
software. Therefore, it is important to specify in SMP Config the cable length between
the SMP 16 and the antenna at configuration time, to obtain optimal accuracy at
runtime.
3. If SMP Config does not automatically open the configuration file of the
SMP 16, open it manually.
4. Under the System branch, select Time, and then select GPS
Synchronization.
5. In the Cable Length cell, type the total length, in meters, of the cable that
links the SMP 16 to the GPS antenna. By default, a 25 m length is specified.
Note: Specifying a precise cable length is essential to get the best accuracy
possible during the synchronization process.
IRIG-B time distribution is the ability, for an SMP 16, to distribute time information
obtained by GPS to substation devices, via an IRIG-B signal.
1. In SMP Config, under the System branch, select Time, and then IRIG-B
Distribution.
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COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE
3. In the Format cell, select the IRIG-B format to which the GPS time
information should be converted.
4. In the Time Zone cell, select the time zone to use for the GPS time
information. Essentially, it should be the time zone of the area where your
substation is located.
5. If required, select Auto Adjust DST to update the GPS time information for
daylight savings.
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SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
Another way to verify if the antenna and the GPS receiver were properly configured is
requires the use of the SMP Stats application.
The information you can get from the Clock statistics page is the following:
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COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE
GPS Status GPS Status Indicates the detailed status of the GPS
receiver. See the table that follows for
more information.
IRIG-B Status IRIG-B Status, IRIG- Not used with the GPS receiver.
B Type
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SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
Survey Mode (X%) Indicates that the initial localization is ongoing. The
percentage of progress is shown between
parentheses.
Synchronizing with UTC Indicates that the GPS receiver is awaiting additional
data before generating UTC time. This status can
last up to 30 minutes, according to the number of
satellites available.
If any other status is displayed, contact Cooper Power Systems’ technical support.
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COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE
Specifications
This section presents the various specifications of the SMP 16 GPS Clock option and
its accessories.
General Information
Accuracy:
Demodulated IRIG-B ±400 ns, worst case
Modulated IRIG-B ±200 µs, worst case
Antenna
This waterproof active GPS antenna provides a 35±3 dB gain for the GPS signal of L1
frequency 1575.42 MHz ± 1.023 MHz. It is designed for fixed rooftop installation. The
antenna must be positioned to have a 360° clear view of the sky. The maximum
recommended cable length between the antenna and the GPS receiver is 164 feet
(50 meters). To use a longer cable, an in-line amplifier must be installed on the line
near the antenna.
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SMP 16 GPS CLOCK OPTION INSTALLATION GUIDE COOPER POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
RG-8 Cable
Length:
Up to 164 ft. (50 m) without in-line
amplifier. Up to 492 ft. (150 m) with in-
line amplifier.
Diameter: 0.4 in. (10.2 mm)
Minimum bend radius:
3.94 in. (100 mm)
Cable delay: 3.84 ns/m
TNC Connectors
Length: 1.22 in. (31.2 mm)
Diameter: 0.51 in. (13 mm)
RG-8 coaxial cable is provided with the antenna installation kit. This type of cable was
selected to provide the lower possible attenuation with 50-ohm impedance, and
because of its ease of installation. The cable comes in different standard lengths with
connectors already crimped on it.
The connectors provided with the cables are of the TNC type. TNC connectors are
widely used in the GPS industry and have 50-ohm impedance, like the rest of the
components of our system.
This in-line amplifier provides a 20±2 dB gain of the GPS signal received from the
antenna. This allows the use of cable lengths between 50 and 150 meters (164 ft and
492 ft).
Surge Suppressor
The surge protection device protects the GPS receiver and the in-line amplifier from
surges according to the IEC-61000-4-5 standard for 8/20 µs surges at 20 kV. It must
be installed inside the building since it is not weatherproof. The length of the cable
between this device and the antenna should be as short as possible. For that matter,
Cooper Power Systems provides only a 6.56 feet (2 meters) long cable.
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