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Misconceptions abound when it comes to lightning. People have preconceived ideas about what lightning is, what it does, and how to protect against it. How much do you know? Find out and argue back against the lightning know-it-alls.
1) Lightning rods protect buildings from lightning.
True. Lightning rods protect buildings from fires caused by lightning. They actually comprise a metal rod and a down-conductor. Perched atop of a building they divert the awesome current from a lightning strike to the ground.
2) Lightning rods protect my electrical devices.
False. Lightning rods do not afford protection against surges in voltage caused by lightning. Because the electrical installation is connected to the same ground as the lightning rod, part of the current can actually flow back into it and destroy your devices. Only a surge protection device (SPD), such as a surge arrester, can protect your equipment.
3) I’ve got a multiway adapter plug with built-in surge protection. The devices I plug into it are therefore safe.
Wrong. This kind of surge protection just cannot cope with the sheer power of surges caused by lightning strikes. For effective, comprehensive protection you need to install an SPD in your switchboard.
4) Surge arresters are destroyed at each lightning strike.
Wrong. Surge arresters automatically discharge surges from lightning strikes to ground. And they can do so time and time again. Their life expectancy is broadly similar to the service lives of other protection devices like circuit breakers and residual current devices (RCDs).
5) I should unplug my electrical devices during storms.
No, you don’t have to, even if lots of people still do. If you’ve got a SPD in your switchboard, you don’t have to unplug anything during a storm.
6) If I install a surge protection device, I can be sure that my installation is safe from lightning-related surges.
Not altogether. It all depends on how and where you install it. Even if you choose the right class of SPD, it will be useless if you don’t install it properly. Installation should comply with some essential rules. One such rule is the length of the cable that connects the SPD in your switchboard to the mains network. The shorter the better.
For more on the subject, check out the blog I posted in May Length – The critical parameter in installing surge protection.
Conversation
Bruce Teasley
11 years ago
Great little summary. There are a lot of variations to each of these basic principals. You touched on the basics, really well here. Bottom line, I believe networking (placing one device at the building mains, then additional surge protection devices (SPD’s) at each critical panel, then again locally at critical points of use) is a very low cost, yet very effective means of protecting the electrical system within a given building. Agreed, that it will not stop everything, but it is a great first step in either retrofit or new construction, when doing updates to a building’s electrical system.
Rowan Gonzalez
10 years ago
Luckily I’ve never been affected by lightning strikes before, but this article does make me think.
Paul Cortis
9 years ago
If i install a type 1,2 and 3 SPD at the mains panel do i still need to install additional surge protection at sub D/Bs and Oder sensitive equipment.