Evaluating Power Quality Issues at Base Transceiver Stations in Lampung

A Base Transceiver Station (BTS) plays a critical role in mobile networks by acting as a fixed radio transceiver that connects mobile devices to the network. The BTS is responsible for sending and receiving radio signals from mobile devices, converting them into digital signals, and passing them to the network for further routing to other terminals or the Internet. Each BTS is equipped with several rectifiers that provide power to the batteries and amplifiers essential for uninterrupted operation. Additionally, BTS sites often have single-phase electrical loads connected to different phases, contributing to the complexity of power management. In this study, an evaluation of power quality was conducted at five different BTS locations across the Lampung area: Tanjung Bintang, Jembat Batu, Bargo Mulyo., Purbolinggo, and Ratu Limau. The objective of the evaluation was to identify common power quality issues that could affect the reliability of BTS performance. The assessment revealed several recurring problems. The most prominent issue was an unbalanced load, with load imbalances exceeding 5% on average across multiple sites. This can lead to inefficiencies in power distribution and potential equipment damage. Additionally, in some locations, backup batteries were found to be deeply discharged, which poses a risk to system reliability during power outages. Grounding resistance was another critical issue, with several sites recording grounding resistances higher than the allowable value of 1 ohm, which could compromise the safety and effectiveness of the grounding systems.