Lightning Revisited [RE-wrenches]

[Bill Brooks]

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
>
> - - - -
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/
>
> List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm
>
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html
>
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
>
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
>
>
>

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

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

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

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

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

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

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

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

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

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

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

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

==^================================================================
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================