Lightning [RE-wrenches]

[Bruce Geddes]

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Hello Wrenches,
                            I have read the summary on lightning discussions
from this list and have an idea I would like to put out there for discussion
/ constructive criticism from minds greater than mine.

When working with electric fences I know that a degree of lightning
protection could be afforded by forming a coil of wire 2" diameter and 10
turns spaced 1/2" apart in the hot lead and running an earth wire 1/2" or so
away from it.  The idea was that this formed an inductor and the short
duration of a lightning pulse means it is high frequency and this inductor
would present enough reactance that the voltage developed would cause arcing
to the earth wire.  As each turn arced, the voltage would drop until the
last few turns the voltage was too low to jump the air gap and at that point
the electric fence energizer could handle it as the operate at around 8 to
10kV.

Could this idea be adapted for renewables?  I know the air gap would need to
be pretty small and the conductors would be quite large but I am interested
in ideas about how it would work.

The problem for me is that any surge arrrestors that have visual indication
of going o/c are very expensive and standard MOVs don't have any visual
clues as to operational ability.  This coil would work after repeated hits.

I throw it over to you all.

Bruce Geddes
PowerOn

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