What is lightning? What is lightning protection system?

Introduction

 A lightning strike is a natural phenomenon that can discharge abnormal high current and voltage to the ground within a fraction of a second.

Can you believe it?😀 Lightning strikes the earth's surface at a rate of 100 million times per day, according to the National Weather Service. Each lightning strike contains approximately 1 billion volts of electricity, which is enough to power a 100 Watt fluorescent lamp for three months at a time.

Despite the fact that many researchers and organizations believe lightning is the most underappreciated of all-weather hazards, it is responsible for the majority of deaths in each country. Property damage and personal injury are also common consequences of lightning strikes.

Following these steps can help us avoid being struck by lightning, and also these methods protect us from personnel injury and property damage

1. Seek shelter.
2. Stay away from metal objects.
3. Avoid wet condition
4. Avoid using an Electronic gadget.

Seek Shelter

If you see lightning or hear thunder, go to a safe place like a building or a fully enclosed vehicle like a car, van, lorry, or truck. By discharging billions of volts into the ground, these enclosed shelters keep you safe from lightning.

Stay away from metal objects

Stay away from metal objects such as metal fences, machinery, electric poles, or wires if you are staying in risky areas like open spaces which including fields or sports fields, high ground, or under trees.

Metal objects are highly conducive to lightning.

Avoid wet condition

Water is highly conductive to lightning, so whether you're indoors or out, stay away from wet areas and keep your body dry in most situations, especially during the rainy season.

Avoid using an electronic equipment

When staying inside the house or building, avoid using electronic devices such as televisions, computers, and cell phones because these devices are highly conductive, and lightning can easily enter through electrical wires and telephone cables. 

To prevent lightning from entering your building via a telecommunication cable or transmission, unplug all electrical appliances and keep a safe distance from them. 

Electronic equipment should have proper protection against lightning.

Lightning protection system for houses

Lightning protection systems protect our homes or properties from lightning strikes, which can cause significant damage.

What is a lightning protection system?

A lightning protection system is a method of terminating a network and circuits into the earth in order to protect them from lightning strikes.

How does a lightning protection system work?

With the help of a Lightning rod, lightning protection systems safely divert direct lightning strikes into the ground. We can prevent damage to the building by installing a lightning rod on the roof. Surge protectors installed at strategic points protect the structure from secondary strikes.

Lightning Protection and Earthing

Lightning rods do not attract lightning because lightning is simply electricity seeking a path to the ground. So long Lightning rods at the top of the building just provide a path to its goal.

Types of Lightning protection systems

To protect against lightning, there are two types of lightning protection systems available for buildings. One is an external protection system, and the other is an internal protection system.

External Protection Systems

The external protection system safeguards the building's exterior. The following devices are required for an external lightning protection system.

1. Lightning rod or Air termination
2. Down conductor.
3. Earthing electrode or Earthing termination.

Internal Protection Systems

The internal lightning protection system safeguards the building's interior. The following devices are required for an internal protection system:

1. Surge protection devices, and
2. Equipotential devieces

Installation of External protection Systems

Lightning Rod or Air termination

Lightning rods or air termination conductors are always installed at the roof edges, where high conductivity copper allows lightning strikes to pass through without causing damage to the protection system or the building.

Lightning rods are the first piece of equipment to be struck by lightning in the atmosphere. It is kept outside in the open and serves as an air termination. As a result, the lightning rod is also known as air termination.

The rolling sphere method, the protective angle method, and the mesh method can all be used to determine the angle and position of the lightning rods. The rolling sphere method is useful for determining the zones of protection and is the best method for determining the location of the air termination, but the mesh method is best for flat surfaces.

Down Conductor

    High conductivity copper down conductor is vertically connected to the air termination system and earth termination system. With appropriate access products, a down conductor allows lightning to flow from air to earth. Since IEC 62305 permits the use of rebars (concrete rods) as down conductors in certain circumstances. Since IEC 62305 also allows the use of rebars (Concrete rods) as down conductors under certain conditions. 

Earth electrode or Earthing termination

    Earth electrode should provide low electrical resistance for dissipation of currents. Earth electrodes should also be resistant to corrosion because they will be buried underground for a long period. The copper bonded types of earth electrodes are best for earth termination. These also comply with IEC standard 62561. Earth electrodes should also meet the high-strength steel criteria to drive the rods inside the ground.

Installation of Internal Protection systems

    Two main components are used in an internal protection system is Surge protection devices and Equipotential bonding.

Equipotential bonding

    An equipotential bonding device connects all the metallic electrical equipment in a building for creating the bond. This bonding reduces the risk of electrical equipment damage and personnel injury by maintaining equal potential voltage in electricity.

Surge Protection Devices

    Surge Protection Devices are shortly called SPD. This device is connected parallelly to the power supply circuit for protecting sensitive electrical and electronic devices. Surge Protection devices are capable to break the circuit at abnormal conditions such as over-voltage, transient voltage, overcurrent, etc. This device protects the electronic devices from overvoltage coming from the outside environment due to lightning.

Example

    If the lightning strike accidentally enters the building through electric poles at the time of the rainy season. Surge protection device detects that high voltage and breaks the circuit in a fraction of seconds. This type of device can be operated manually. 

Conclusion

The lightning protection system should be carefully installed. A lightning arrestor is not a do-it-yourself project, so be careful. 

To properly install lightning protection systems in your building, you will need trained experts such as LPI-Certified contractors.

Lightning arrestors on buildings will save your life and money in the event of a lightning strike. So, when installing lightning protection systems, always try to adhere to safety standards. Always seek qualified specialists to install lightning arrestors in your area to ensure proper installation.

Thanking you...

If you like it please share it...