Assemble and Attach the SMM-U2 Grounding Bracket - SM4BAT FS - SM3 - SM3BAT - SM4BAT ZC - SM5 - SM4 - SM5BAT - SMM-U2 Grounding Bracket

Protecting Song Meters from Electrostatic Discharge
Core Product
SM4BAT FS
SM3
SM3BAT
SM4BAT ZC
SM5
SM4
SM5BAT
Accessory

The grounding bracket must be assembled and attached to the SMM-U2 microphone using the included fasteners and adhesive.

About this task

Note: Assembling the grounding bracket requires working with small metal parts. We recommend performing this task on an indoor, clean work surface.



When fully assembled, the mounting bracket hugs the outside faces of the SMM-U2 microphone. The metal L bracket is bolted to the side face of the microphone. The short face of the L bracket hooks slightly over the front face of the microphone, and the flexible metal mesh covers the face of the microphone.

The bracket is shipped with the screws, washers, lock washers, and nuts preinstalled in the correct holes. A circular, metal mesh screen and a double-sided adhesive strip are also provided.

You will need the following additional tools:

  • small Philips screwdriver
  • 17 mm or adjustable open-end wrench
  • grounding wire, 12 AWG (2.05 mm diameter) or thicker

Procedure

  1. Using a Philips screwdriver, remove the two bolts holding the small rectangular plate to the L bracket, along with the corresponding toothed lock washers and nuts.
    Each bolt is fastened with two lock washers and one nut.
    The two nuts are lined up next to the large Philips head of the grounding lug. The small rectangular plate is held to the L bracket on the same face as the nuts.






  2. Attach the circular mesh screen and reassemble the parts you just removed to sandwich the screen between the L bracket and the small rectangular plate.
    1. Feed one toothed lock washer on to one bolt, then insert the bolt through the hole on the bracket and the corresponding hole in the circular mesh screen.

      The bolt should be fed through starting from the inside face of the L bracket.
    2. Feed the same bolt through the corresponding hole in the small rectangular plate, then feed a second lock washer and nut onto the bolt and finger-tighten slightly.


    3. Repeat with a second bolt through the second set of holes in the L bracket, mesh screen, and rectangular plate.
      Starting from the bolt head, each bolt should pass through a lock washer, the L bracket, the mesh screen, the rectangular plate, a second lock washer, and a hex nut.
      The circular mesh screen should extend outwards in the same direction as the short face of the L bracket.
    4. Use a screwdriver to tighten each bolt while holding each nut in place with your finger.
      The lock washers will grip the nut after a few turns. You should not need a wrench to fasten the nut.



      On the inside of the short face of the L bracket, each bolt head should be visible, with one toothed lock washer between the bolt head and the bracket.

      On the outside of the short face of the L bracket, the order of parts along each bolt should be: L bracket, circular mesh, rectangular plate, toothed lock washer, hex nut.
  3. Peel the white backing from the adhesive strip and apply it to the face of the SMM-U2 microphone, covering the Wildlife Acoustics logo. Do not remove the red backing yet.

    The white backing extends past the edges of the adhesive strip.

    The adhesive strip should be past the microphone element, opposite the edge where the top face meets the side face. The corners of the adhesive may extend past the rounded edge of the microphone slightly.
  4. Attach the larger face of the L bracket to the side face of the SMM-U2 microphone.
    1. Use a Philips screwdriver to remove the two longer bolts from the larger face of the L bracket.
      Each bolt is fastened with two flat washers, one toothed lock washer, and one hex nut.



    2. Thread one flat washer back onto one of the bolts and reinsert it through one of the holes on the L bracket furthest away from the folded edge.


    3. Pass the same bolt through the corresponding mounting hole on the side face of the SMM-U2 microphone.

      The right-angled edge of the SMM-U2 microphone should line up with the right-angled edge of the L bracket.
    4. Place a flat washer, then a toothed lock washer, then a hex nut onto the bolt, then tighten the bolt slightly while holding the nut in place.


    5. Place a flat washer on the second bolt, then feed it through a second hole in the bracket and SMM-U2 microphone, diagonal from the first hole.
      Arranging the bolts diagonally provides the most secure attachment.

    6. Place a flat washer, then a toothed lock washer, then a hex nut onto the second bolt, then tighten the bolt while holding the nut in place.


    7. Firmly tighten both bolts.




  5. Remove the red backing from the adhesive strip and press the circular mesh screen onto the adhesive.



    The circular mesh should be adhered to the labeled face of the microphone.
  6. Using an open-ended, 17 mm or adjustable wrench, loosen the large nut on the grounding bolt, furthest away from the bolt head.
    You may not be able to turn the wrench when it is fully seated on the nut. If so, position the wrench so it is only partially gripping the nut and carefully apply torque counter-clockwise.

    An adjustable wrench is positioned so that the two tips of the wrench just cover half of two opposing faces of the nut. This creates clearance for the wrench to rotate.
    There should now be a gap between the two nuts on the grounding lug.

  7. Important: The following steps provide general guidelines for connecting the bracket to ground. Seek input from an electrician or other qualified expert for specific guidance on creating a ground path that is appropriate for your installation site.
    Wrap a bare grounding wire (12 AWG or thicker) around the grounding bolt between the two nuts, then tighten the loose nut to clamp the wire in place.
  8. When you install the microphone to record, connect the grounding wire from the bracket's grounding bolt to a grounded structure, such as the metal structure of a meteorological tower or a copper rod driven into the earth.
    There should be no more than 2 meters of wire between the bracket and the connection to a grounded structure.