Lightning Protection and Lightning Safety Videos
Home of Lightning Eliminators & Consultants, Inc. Protecting Industries from lightning disasters for over 45 years.
Lightning Protection Definitions
Lightning Safety
This website will teach you about lightning safety and offer insight into the science of lightning. Lightning losses to the United States economy approaches $7 billion per year and kills an average of 47 people.- Lightning strike is hotter than the surface of the sun and can reach temperatures around 50,000 degrees
- A bolt of lightning hits the ground somewhere in the world about 100 times every second.
- That's 8 million lightning strikes per day.
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Lightning Damage
- 30% of power failures due to lightning, annual cost over $1 billion
- 5% of insurance claims involve lightning
- Commercial and Military Aircraft Costs ~$4 billion
- Lightning causes damage to perhaps 200,000 computers and networks every year
Lightning Protection
A lightning protection unit provides a specified path or redirection of the lightning potential to less volatile locations.
Lightning Protection Design
Other more modern lightning protection systems like the patented Dissipation Array System (D.A.S.) from LEC provide additional lightning safety solutions. If you are considering lightning unit's design it is recommended that you seek out a professional, experienced lightning protection design team.
Lightning Protection System
We recommend a systems approach in lightning safety. The systems approach provides total isolation utilizing a model similar to the 3 legs of a stool. Those 3 legs being Direct Strike Protection, Strategic Surge Protection (on A/C power, data lines and control lines) and Grounding Protection all working together as a system, as a team, providing total isolation.We can always carve out one or two of those depending on the situation and other design criteria but that’s what our Lightning Protection Design team bring. The expertise and a wealth of knowledge to integrate those into an effective system to protect your facilities from lightning related outages.
Lightning Protection Products
These product lines include Lightning Prevention Products like our Dissipation Array Systems (DAS), Spine Ball Ionizers (SBI), Spine Ball Terminals (SBT), and Streamer Delaying Air Terminals (SDAT). We also have surge protection for AC power, low voltage signal lines, data lines, coax lines, control lines and we also have enhanced grounding products to provide a good low impedance ground. These products all work together in a system designed for total lightning protection.
Grounding Rod
An earthing system or grounding system connects specific parts of an electrical installation with the Earth's conductive surface for safety and functional purposes. The point of reference is the Earth's conductive surface. Regulations for earthing systems vary considerably among countries, though many follow the recommendations of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Regulations may identify special cases for earthing in mines, in patient care areas, or in hazardous areas of industrial plants.Lightning Rod
It was designed primarily for structural protection.
Lightning Elimination
That is why LEC recommends an integrated approach for complete Lightning Solution.
Lightning Surge
When this power surge comes in contact with power lines, facilities, the earth or other assets tremendous damage may occur.
Surge Protector
The terms surge protection device (SPD) and transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) are used to describe electrical devices typically installed in power distribution panels, process control systems, communications systems, and other heavy-duty industrial systems, for the purpose of protecting against electrical surges and spikes, caused by lightning.
Lightning Surge Protection Devices
Using LEC in Standards-Based Systems
However, since UL has listed the SBI®, SBT® and SDAT these assemblies can be used in place of the singlepoint terminal. In most cases, they can be used as a direct replacement.
The SBT® and SDAT are designed to fit into the conventional lightning rod mounting plate.
Risk Assessment
1. Loss of, or risk to, human life
2. Loss of production or service to the public
3. Loss of economic value
4. Loss of cultural heritage
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) offer guidelines on risk assessment and LEC offers a complimentary Risk Assessment to our customers.
LP for Instrumentation and DCS
LEC recommends a systems approach in lightning safety. The systems approach provides total isolation utilizing a model similar to the 3 legs of a stool. Those 3 legs being Direct Strike Protection, Strategic Surge Protection (on A/C power, data lines and control lines) and Grounding Protection all working together to provide total lightning protection.
LP for Instrumentation and DCS
LEC recommends a systems approach in lightning safety. The systems approach provides total isolation utilizing a model similar to the 3 legs of a stool. Those 3 legs being Direct Strike Protection, Strategic Surge Protection (on A/C power, data lines and control lines) and Grounding Protection all working together to provide total lightning protection.
Types of LPS
1. Conventional air terminal systems – designed to collect strikes
2. Early streamer emitting air terminal systems– designed to collect strikes
3. Charge Transfer Systems – streamer delaying arrays that are that are designed to prevent all possible lightning strike collection
4. Hybrid System - streamer delaying air terminals that collect strikes only when charge transfer capacity is exceeded by dissipation requirements.
Lightning Arrester
The typical lightning arrester has a high-voltage terminal and a ground terminal. When a lightning surge (or switching surge, which is very similar) travels along the power line to the arrester, the current from the surge is diverted through the arrester, in most cases to earth.