Lightning strike on Whisper 3000 [RE-wrenches]

[Bob Ellison, Alternative Energy Systems]

-----Original Message-----
From:	Holt  Kelly [mailto:hkelly6 at attglobal.net]
Sent:	Tuesday, March 20, 2001 7:32 PM
To:	RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject:	Lightning strike on Whisper 3000 [RE-wrenches]

Hello all,
I have the "opportunity" to fix a mess. Lightning struck a Whisper 3000 on a
40' tilt tower. Is it a standard or an HVLV (transformer) unit? I have very
little experience with wind and have a couple of
questions. (BTW-I will be contracting an experienced wind guy to help with
this project)
1. Do I need to anticipate replacing conductor from wind gen to control
panel? Possibly, I once had to replace 1/2 of a run after a lightning
"visit" It actually melted the wire to the sides of the plastic conduit.

Is the wire in conduit (a lightning raceway)? Direct bury it with a couple
hairpin turns in the wire, lightning hates to turn corners....... Might help
keep the fireball out of the equipment room.

Check the windings for shorts, also check the slip rings, I have seen them
with burns from the brushes before.
2. The SW5548 is humming along- what are the chances of it surviving?
If it is functioning normally it is probably OK, as those things go...... We
probably could get into a discussion about the FET's but without a scope,
why bother if it is performing normally.
3. Same with the batteries - (flooded)? If it did not blow them up, probably
OK
4. Anything I need to look for that might be hidden damage? The manual tells
you how to do all the tests, go to town with the manual, not hard just work
from one end to the other.
I have not seen this system yet so this is all the info I have for now.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Sometimes if the guy wires are NOT grounded the lightning will travel into
the concrete anchor and destroy the anchor where you can't see it (under
ground)

You probably need to ground the tower, bury ground wire from ALL the guy
wires around all the anchors and to the center then to a great ground like a
well casing. Put lightning arrestors at the tower and at the inverter (both
ends of the wire)

Grounding will not help everything but the strikes I have been on have not
been re-struck after the repair and re-grounding (so far). None of them were
installed by me originally, I just get to fix them.....

Just some thoughts, don't worry there are more!
Bob Ellison



PS thanks much for all the great info on UniSolar roofing(and all that come
of it). It was a great string.

Holt E. Kelly
Holtek Fireplace & Solar Products
Waco,TX.


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- - - - - - -
To send a message:
 RE-wrenches at topica.com

The archive of previous messages: 
 http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette:
 http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

To unsubscribe send a message to: 
 RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

To check out the other RE-Wrench participants:
 www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine: 
 www.homepower.com

For info contact list moderator by email:
 michael.welch at homepower.com

____________________________________________________________
T O P I C A  -- Learn More. Surf Less. 
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01