Lightning Revisited [RE-wrenches]
john at gosolar.co.nz
john at gosolar.co.nz
Thu Apr 11 18:08:52 PDT 2002
Hi all,
If there has been so much discussion and controversy about Lightning both now
and previously - within our group of experts - what kind of confusion would
exist in the minds of the average 'Joe, homeowner-that-did-the-install-himself'.
Although historically, the subject probably has been covered in HP - maybe
another refresher article would be worthy of consideration for the future. With
the proviso that if they have any doubts about what they are doing to refer to a
member of the IPP, or recognized Installer Body, etc.
How about it Michael (and/or Richard)..........
best regards, John V
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Brooks wrote:
> Tom,
>
> I'm not sure what you are talking about. Proper grounding has everything to
> do with not becoming a target for lightning. An excellent course (and I
> believe he has a textbook on it now) on grounding issues in general was put
> together by Gregory Bierals, a code expert. I run into urban myths routinely
> about grounding that has no good foundation on technical merits. If there is
> any metal near electrical circuits, that metal had better be grounded to the
> same ground whether the purpose is personnel protection or lightning
> protection.
>
> I really don't think it is truly the black art that many of us jokingly
> refer to it as. It probably deserves a lot more attention and study than we
> give it, however.
>
> Bill.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Lane [mailto:tom at ecs-solar.com]
> Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 1:03 PM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Cc: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Re: Lightning Revisited [RE-wrenches [RE-wrenches]
>
> i disagree on hooking all grounds together when it comes to lighting
> heavy lighting hit will destroy everything it can find a path to
> irregardless of polyphasers etc. . grounding for electrical and fire
> protection is an entirely different subject than grounding for lighting
> protection . they often are in direct conflicts with each other TALOC
> the Aztec god of lighting plays by rules that befuddling to most bipeds on
> the planet gator tom From: "Bill Brooks" <billbrooks7 at earthlink.net>
> To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 2:49 PM
> Subject: RE: Lightning Revisited [RE-wrenches]
>
> > Lightning rods only have a 45 degree downward cone of protection. Proper
> > grounding, as previously mentioned, is the best method. The idea of
> > grounding the frames separately from the system ground is not a good idea.
> > Everybody has their fetishes related to grounding, but the grounding folks
> > suggest using a good ground and tieing all the ground rods together. Not
> > tieing them together presents a very real possibility of raising the
> voltage
> > in the current carrying conductors while the frames stay closer to ground
> > potential--not good. If there is any rise in voltage, you want everything
> to
> > rise together. That way the transistors in the inverter don't get smoked.
> >
> > Bill.
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: jeff.oldham at realgoods.com [mailto:jeff.oldham at realgoods.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 11:40 AM
> > To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> > Subject: RE: Lightning Revisited [RE-wrenches]
> >
> >
> > I like the PolyPhaser idea and would go with one. I would also install a
> > lightning rod higher than anything else in the area bonded to a good
> ground
> > grid of 4 ground rods and NOT bonded to the system ground. With luck (and
> > that's all you get with the wrath of lightning)the strikes will find the
> rod
> > tastier.
> >
> > Good luck!
> > -jeff
> >
> > > From the Solar, Wind & Hydro Powered office of:
> > > Jeff Oldham
> > > Gaiam- Real Goods & Jade Mountain
> > > Design & Consulting Group
> > > 11755 Mid. Mtn. Rd.
> > > Potter Valley, CA 95469 USA
> > >
> > > Ph: 303.222.3814
> > > Fax: 707.743.1820
> > >
> > > www.solardevelopment.com
> > >
> > > "When you turn to face the Sun all shadows fall behind you"
> > > - Old African Proverb
> > >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jeffrey Wolfe, Global Resources [mailto:global at sover.net]
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 6:59 PM
> > To: 'RE-wrenches at topica.com'
> > Subject: RE: Lightning Revisited [RE-wrenches]
> >
> >
> > The local lightning guru around here got somewhat involved in adding
> > lightning protection to a major grid-tie solar project here, and before he
> > decided it was too complex to tangle into, he did recommend an incoming
> > service surge suppressor by PolyPhaser. You run the entire service through
> > it, so it's a large unit. For a 200A service, you're looking at $1500 or
> > so, plus installation. We don't have enough time on it to say that it's
> > going to stop the flashes, but the lightning guy was pretty convinced that
> > the service entrance was by far the most vulnerable, given that the rest
> of
> > the system has plenty of the Delta cans on it.
> >
> > Jeff
> > Jeffery D. Wolfe, P.E.
> > Global Resource Options, LLP
> > A Woman-Owned Limited Liability Partnership
> > 4 Kibling Hill Road
> > P.O. Box 161
> > Strafford, Vermont 05072
> > 800-374-4494 Toll Free
> > 802-765-4632 Phone
> > 802-765-9983 Fax
> > global at sover.net
> > http://www.GlobalResourceOptions.com
> >
> > Nextek Certified Distributor
> > SolarWall Certified Distributor
> > Trace Certified Dealer - Charter Member
> > Bergey Windpower Certified Dealer
> >
> >
> > On Wednesday, April 10, 2002 10:17 AM, Holt Kelly [SMTP:hkelly6 at msn.com]
> > wrote:
> > > Hello all,
> > > I am designing a 2kw grid-tie w/battery backup in an area that seems to
> > > be prone to lightning strikes (lost power from strike last week for the
> > > third or fourth time this year). The client wants to be sure the system
> > > is well protected. I have some ideas of over engineering the surge
> > > protection but was wondering if ya'll had any ideas. Thanks in advance
> > > "We do not inherit the earth from our parents. We borrow it from our
> > > children."
> > > Chief Seattle
> > >
> > > Holt E. Kelly
> > > Holtek Fireplace & Solar Products
> > > Waco, TX.
> > > hkelly6 at msn.com
> > >
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