Direct Lightning Strikes: Only Part of the Lightning Equation
You May Realize...
Lightning strikes are by far the most powerful, most dangerous and most damaging form of transient voltage. These surge events can have energy up to hundreds of thousands of volts and currents of hundreds of thousands of amperes.
Different types of strikes will have different levels of energy resulting in differing degrees of damage to the affected structures, electronics and electrical systems.
Most lightning damaging transients are caused by a strike to the power system, data or telecommunication lines. Surge damage can also be induced by a strike to the facility structure or nearby separate structures that are connected by a common data, telephone or power line.
In 2019, according to the Insurance Information Institute, over $900 million was paid out in damage claims to homeowners alone.
However, direct strikes are only part of the dangerous and damaging lightning equation.
You May Not Realize...
If electronic equipment is unprotected or under-protected, strikes to ground or cloud-to-cloud events should also be of concern.
These events can create very strong and damaging surges that can wreak havoc on electronics and electrical systems.
These strike scenarios may not be as severe, damage wise, as a direct strike to a building structure. However, they can be just as dangerous to sensitive electronic equipment.
Strikes to earth ground can produce very strong transients. Ground surges produced from nearby strikes can destroy electronics and electrical systems. The strikes enter unprotected circuits through the facility ground, equipment systems ground or any conductive material (pipes, conduit etc) connected to buildings or other structures.
Distance cloud-to-cloud flashes can also produce damaging transients in the electrical distribution system.
Cloud-to-cloud lightning is capable of inducing electrical field intensities of thousands of volts.
If this happens across an unprotected power, telephone, data or coaxial
lines, the result can be severe system damage or complete destruction.
Direct Strikes + Nearby Strikes + Cloud to Cloud Strikes = The Lightning Equation.
Solve The Lightning Strikes Equation. Install High Performance SPDs
Rarely does lighting strike once. It's usually multiple, almost simultaneous strikes. With the potential for lightning damage,
its critical to have sensitive electronics and electrical systems protected.
Lightning rods are structural protection equipment designed to mitigate the damage to commercial, industrial and residential structures. They play an important role in an overall lighting protection system.
However, without the proper lightning surge protectors correctly installed, valuable and sensitive electronics will not survive these damaging events.
The National Lightning Safety Institute (NLSI) recommends installation of surge protection systems. Lightning strikes are instantaneously damaging. These events are costly to the entire electrical system. Mitigation techniques should be viewed as a necessity - Not as an option.
Shield against damage by installing High Quality, High Performance surge protective devices (SPDs) and TVSS systems. Robust surge suppressors with high kA ratings, Discrete All-Mode-Protection design and circuit encapsulation provide a distinct advantage over competing devices.
Solve the Lightning Equation. Prevent damage to critical electronics and electrical systems. Get the Right Results from the Right SPDs installed in the Right Locations. Contact us today.
Learn more! Watch our surge protector videos.
Our gear is... often imitated... but rarely duplicated...
The Surge Stops HereTM
Get the Right Gear!TM
Return from Lightning Strikes to Best-Surge-Protector Home
 |
 |