Every day, lightning strikes homes and properties somewhere in the world. Any structure in the path of an electrical storm is at risk. While only lasting for a few microseconds, lightning causes a dangerous voltage surge that can destroy your electronic devices. Installing surge protection devices, SPDs, can reduce or even prevent damage to your valuable possessions.
Did you know?
• Every day there are about 8 million lightning strikes globally.
• The tallest structure is the most likely point of contact in a lightning strike.
• Isolated structures on large expanses of flat land are likely to attract lightning strikes.
• While some structures are more likely to attract a strike, lightning is 100% unpredictable.
• The tallest structure is the most likely point of contact in a lightning strike.
• Isolated structures on large expanses of flat land are likely to attract lightning strikes.
• While some structures are more likely to attract a strike, lightning is 100% unpredictable.
Destruction of electronics
A power surge can enter your house either via a direct strike, or indirectly. Direct strikes occur when lightning passes directly through a building, often causing major damage and fires. Indirect strikes occur when lightning strikes ground nearby, or power lines directly connected to a house. When this happens, any connected appliance or electronic device can be destroyed.
The result:
• High replacement costs of electronics and circuitry
• Disruption of your personal and/or professional connectivity
The result:
• High replacement costs of electronics and circuitry
• Disruption of your personal and/or professional connectivity
Think again. Even if you already have a lightning rod installed, it might not be enough. It can direct a strike around the exterior of a structure, but some overvoltage can still enter the building’s electrical circuitry and damage any electronics that are not protected by SPDs.
Lightning pathways
In a direct lightning strike on a building with no protection, a voltage spike can enter your home through the switchboard and destroy all your electronic equipment.
Go to the next slide to see more.
Go to the next slide to see more.
Protecting your equipment with surge protection devices
A lightning strike near a building or overhead supply lines suddenly increases the voltage from 230 V to 3 or 6 kV. The resulting surge, which lasts a few microseconds, can destroy electronic components such as memory, processors, capacitors, and screens.
An SPD can damp the spike down to a value compatible with that which most connected appliances can withstand: approximately 1.5 kV. All devices within 10 meters of the switchboard are effectively protected. If your devices are more than 10 meters away from the installed SPD, additional protection needs to be added, such as a type 3 SPD in a nearby switchboard of a power strip with integrated surge protection.
An SPD can damp the spike down to a value compatible with that which most connected appliances can withstand: approximately 1.5 kV. All devices within 10 meters of the switchboard are effectively protected. If your devices are more than 10 meters away from the installed SPD, additional protection needs to be added, such as a type 3 SPD in a nearby switchboard of a power strip with integrated surge protection.
How to get support from your electrician
Trust a qualified electrician to advise you of the right Schneider Electric SPDs: Type 1, 2 or 3.
Your electrician can help choose the right SPD rating: 20kA or 40kA, depending on your geography and building type.
For increased protection, your electrician can advise using lightning rods together with SPDs.