Lightning is a common cause of failures in solar systems. A damaging surge can occur from lightning that strikes a long distance from the system or between clouds. But most lightning damage is preventable.

We use the following techniques at JLS Origin to protect your Solar Systems.

Get Grounded.

Grounding is the most fundamental technique for protection against lightning damage. You can’t stop a lightning surge, but you can give it a direct path to ground that bypasses your valuable equipment and safely discharges the surge into the earth. An electrical path to ground will constantly discharge static electricity that accumulates in an aboveground structure. Often, this prevents the attraction of lightning in the first place. Grounding is the most fundamental technique for protection against lightning damage. You can’t stop a lightning surge, but you can give it a direct path to ground that bypasses your valuable equipment and safely discharges the surge into the earth. An electrical path to ground will constantly discharge static electricity that accumulates in an aboveground structure. Often, this prevents the attraction of lightning in the first place.

Lightning arrestors and surge protectors are designed to protect electronic equipment by absorbing electrical surges. But they function well in conjunction with effective grounding. The grounding system is an important part of your wiring infrastructure. Install it before or while we install your solar system. Otherwise, once the system is working, this important component may never get checked off on the “to-do” list.

The ground wires of both DC and AC circuits will also be connected to this grounding system.

Grounding Power Circuits.

For building wiring, one side of the DC power system will be connected—or bonded—to ground. The AC portion of such a system must also be grounded in the conventional manner of any grid-connected system. This is true in Nigeria. In other countries, ungrounded power circuits are the norm. Grounding the power system is required for a modern home system in Nigeria. It is essential that the DC and the AC are bonded to ground at only one point in their respective systems and both to the same point in the grounding system. Producers of single-purpose, stand-alone systems like solar water pumps and radio repeaters recommends we are not to ground the power circuit.

Lightning Arrestors.

Lightning (surge) arrestors are designed to absorb voltage spikes caused by electrical storms (or out-of-spec utility power), and effectively allow the surge to bypass power wiring and your equipment. We install Surge Protectors at both ends of any long wire run that is connected to any part of your system, including AC lines from an inverter.

Arrestors are made for various voltages for both AC and DC. Be sure to use the appropriate arrestors for your application. Many system installers routinely use Delta surge arrestors, which are inexpensive and offer some protection where the threat of lightning is moderate, but these units are no longer UL-listed.

PolyPhaser and Transtector arrestors are high-quality products for lightning-prone sites and larger installations. These durable units offer robust protection and compatibility with various system voltages.