Lightning Protection Products

Who needs a lightning protection system?

Every industry which has sufficient risk of a lightning related event causing harm and damage to a structure, the people in and around it and the systems on and within it requires a lightning protection systems.

How often does lightning strike?

Data from NOAA shows that over the continental U.S. alone, an average of 20,000,000 cloud-to-ground flashes occur every year. And worldwide, lightning strikes the ground about 100 times each second, or 8 million times a year.

Is lightning protection necessary?

Lightning strikes are very common. A lack of lightning protection means you risk the chance of suffering massive damage to equipment or even risk the safety of your employees. Thus lightning protection systems are very important. Also with a UL Certified lightning protection systems you can take advantage of available discounts on your insurance.

Will a lightning protection system be noticeable?

If the system is designed early enough in the planning stage much of the system can be run under the roof; while our system are designed to be nearly invisible from the ground. Cables can be completely concealed during new construction, or hidden in and around building elements on existing buildings, leaving just the air terminal exposed.

Our building already has a lightning protection. Can you check it for us?

Absolutely. We do inspection and reconditioning work, kindly contact our lightning eliminator expert for more details.

We have just installed a new roof on our building. Does this impact our existing lightning protection system?

Yes it does. Many times, when a new roof is installed, the roofers will attempt to dismantle and then reinstall the lightning protection system and this should be avoided at all costs. We can work closely with your roofing company to ensure that the lightning protection systems are secure and capable of handling a lightning strike after a new roof is installed.

 How effective is a lightning protection system?

According to Underwriters Laboratories a properly designed and installed system greatly diminishes the risk of property damage caused by lightning strike. LEC’s lightning protection systems attempt to equalize the voltage between the clouds and earth within the area of protection thus preventing the lightning to strike.

Lightning Eliminators advocate a complete, comprehensive set of lightning protection systems to ensure complete protection of your employees, your facility and the various components therein.

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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, including those caused by lightning.

Surge Protection Devices reduce surge voltages to a level that the power distribution system and the equipment that is connected to the system can handle. They protect the programmable logic controller in the equipment, the power supplies, the step-down transformer, variable-frequency drives, and the input/output devices.

SPDs are primarily rated by how much of a surge current magnitude they can handle, and how well they limit the voltage when conducting that surge current.

Causes of surge

A power surge is caused by an event or issue within the facility or from outside of the facility. There are two most common causes of power surges:

Internal:

- These occur from the day-to-day operation of many devices (AC, Electric motors, elevators, etc) within the facility.

- Can also result from internal circuit breakers and fuses from within the equipment or at the electrical panel.

External:

- Weather events cause external power surges, such as lightning.

- Electrostatic discharge

- Utility load switching

- Turning transformers on and off

- Power line disconnection and reconnection

Selecting the appropriate Surge Protective Devices (SPD) can seem like a daunting task with all of the different types on the market today. Most customers think that the larger the panel, the larger the kA device rating or surge rating needs to be for protection but this is a common misunderstanding.

When selecting an SPD for a given application, there are several considerations that must be made:

- Application - Ensure that the SPD is designed for the zone of protection for which it will be used.

- System voltage and configuration - SPDs are designed for specific voltage levels and circuit configurations.

- Let-through voltage - This is the voltage that the SPD will allow the protected equipment to be exposed to.

- Surge current - SPDs are rated to safely divert a given amount of surge current without failing. This rating ranges from a few thousand amps up to 400 kilo amperes (kA) or more.

- Standards - All SPDs should be tested in accordance with national and international standards for safety.

Installing a surge protection device from Lightning Eliminators ensures security of your company data, employees and facility during an unpredictable electric surge, as well as ensures continued function of critical systems.

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Lightning is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere or between the atmosphere and the ground. In the initial stage of its development, air acts as an insulator between the positive and negative charge, however when the difference in charge becomes too great, this insulating capacity of the air breaks down and there is a rapid discharge of electricity that we know as lightning.

At LEC we are passionate about providing integrated products, services and solutions in line with lightning protection and prevention. For almost half a century LEC has helped companies around the world to increase their safety, bottom line and reliability using a combination of advanced testing services coupled with superior lightning, surge and grounding / earthing products.

Innovation is our core focus that has ensured our success.

Our (patented) Dissipation Array System is a type of charge transfer device – it reduces electrical fields within the protected zone to below those levels outside the protected zone.  Our excellent application of engineering and physics has assisted in defending most Global 1000 companies from the potentially disaterous effects of lightning strikes.

Operating on both an international and domestic level we share our extensive years of expert knowledge in innovative systems, consulting services and research. We stand as industry leaders for all facets associated with the influence of lightning strikes – prevention, control, reduction of risk, and effective management.

To guarantee the safety of your workers and the timely and correct functioning of your equipment, we offer the following services:

Design - each zone, each sector, and each structure requires its own type of protection for optimal safety. We provide solutions for full lightning protection that is more suited to your needs and in accordance with the national and international standards.

Installation – we provide turnkey services that cover installation, work management and certification of the work carried out. We also provide ‘no strike’ warranty which needs to be maintained with yearly certification.

Inspection – we evaluate the components, equipment, and materials of the lightning protection installation to verify that it is functioning properly. An impartial third party inspection may also be carried out to ensure the same.

Lightning Eliminators and Consultant Inc. has been at the forefront of the lightning protection system and we have years of experience to undertake a wide range of lightning protection strategies. 

 

Lightning and quickly moving power surges can instantly bring down sensitive electronic systems in any business. This is because a lightning strike’s temperature is several times greater than the surface of the sun. And they often occur without warning – day or night. Even the magnetic field, which is a part of the lightning strike, can inflict damage to nearby computers and electronics. So, a powerful strike, can cause damage to computer networks, automated machinery, computer drives & controls, and diagnostic equipment leading to costly business interruptions and lost production time.

What should you do to protect your facility from lightning damage?

Install a lightning protection system by LEC. A typical lightning protection system is designed to protect a facility from lightning damage by intercepting such strikes and safely passing their extremely high currents to ground. But our Patented DAS Lightning Prevention System is different. It eliminates the lightning strike altogether from the protected area.

Lightning is produced in thunderstorms. It gradually builds up on electrical fields and once it is large enough, a giant spark occurs (like static electricity) between the earth and the ground. This spark is actually called a lightning strike. It may also occur between clouds and between cloud and air. But it is the strike between the cloud and ground that is most damaging.

Our LPS uses Charge dissipation technology using the principle of point discharge to facilitate the reduction of static electrical charge buildup. Their sole purpose is to prevent an electrical arc or current flow that can cause damage. In simpler words, the lightning rod, through thousands of specially engineered charge dissipation elements, releases ions that dissipate electrical energy needed to initiate the formation of upward streamers.  Thus the downward stepped leader will look for a better target and the structure is protected from direct lightning damage.

Lightning Eliminators & Consultants provides integrated protection and prevention products, solutions and services. Our patented Charge Transfer System (CTSs) is widely used and is the best technology for protecting a facility from lightning damage. The Dissipation Array System (DAS) also provides a ‘no strike’ warranty.

To know more about prevention from lightning strikes, contact us. 

‘Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it’s lightning that does the work’ – Mark Twain

Lightning is terrifying and mysterious – scientist still can’t answer all the questions. But it serves a purpose. These magnificent electromagnetic discharges recharge the Earth’s battery by keeping the ground flush with negative electric charge while maintaining the ionosphere’s positive charge.

But lightning is dangerous. An average bolt of lightning carries approx. 20,000 amperes of charge; one can well imagine the amount of damage a pulse can do!

Such a severe natural electrical force often leads to extensive thermal and physical damage whether it’s a direct strike and one occurring close-by. Besides the property damage and danger to delicate equipment and potential for serious injury, lightning strikes can bring a major disruption in our ability to serve the public. Radio and telecommunications systems damage is the most frequent cause of loss, followed by damage to computers.

In the US, lightning strikes about 25 million times a year. Although fascinating to watch, you should never be outside during a thunderstorm. You don’t even need to have a storm right over your head to be in the danger zone, it can strike many miles from the heart of a storm. If you are hearing the thunder, you are close enough to be struck.

Lightning damage is more extensive than what you can initially see. For example, when lightning hits your facility, it creates a power surge and this surge runs through your facility and damages everything plugged into the outlets. Secondly, it has the potential to start a fire and thirdly, the sound that lightning creates – shock wave. It has the potential to blow plastered walls, break the glass and even crack foundations.

 Lightning damage to a million dollar facility can have a lofty price tag, so installing a lightning protection system from LEC is a smart move.

Don’t let lightning damage your property. Contact us. As our name suggests – Lightning Eliminator’s & Consultant Inc. – We design, manufacture, install and maintain the best solutions to eliminate lightning from striking the protected area. 

Did you know that lightning is the single biggest cause of damage to and destruction of electrical and electronic equipment in industrial facilities and commercial buildings?  Also, that thunderstorms occur virtually everywhere and that puts any building at risk.

Due to the ever-changing climate and rise in temperature lightning strikes are becoming more and more frequent.

Some statistics

-          In Salzburg, Austria, a gondola system was shut down due to lightning strike, leaving about 150 people stranded while visiting the Eisriesenwelt ice caves.

-          A SandRidge Energy tank battery burned after it was struck by lightning just west of Enid, Okla in March’18

-          A voltage spike that resulted from a severe weather condition including a lightning strike brought down the data center cooling system in San Antonio.

-          As of July’2018, the total number of fatalities from lightning was 11, with 5 being struck and killed in Florida

Types of lightning damage may include blown fuses, flashover of insulation inside motors or transformers, vaporized transistors and integrated circuits, vaporized traces on printed circuit broads, and other damage that places the business on hold for an indeterminate amount of time.

How can you prevent lightning damage?

-          Inspect the grounding electrode system at the main service entrance and look for anything that may contribute to lightning damage

-        Make sure the bonding between the electrodes is effective. Or else a lightning surge will create an enormous voltage between them damaging the input/output printed circuit board within electronic equipment.

-          There have been instances where separately driven electrodes existing at equipment locations are damaged due to lightning

-          Lightning damage at input/output boards is an indication that transferred earth potential has developed between buildings

-          Lightning damage can occur at the AC input to electronic equipment

The protection of industrial sites from lightning damage has now become a common requirement.

Lightning damages equipment and affects production in two ways, either through direct strikes to the equipment or through the electrical surge that is produced within the power lines and ground that is  delivered to the equipment. Lightning Eliminators and Consultant Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and patent holders of lightning and surge protection systems. 

In our fast-paced environment, we depend on wireless and satellite communications for everything – cell phones, internet, radio, television, and data and more; reliability has become imperative. These towers are constructed of steel and designed to be the highest structure in the surrounding area in order to supply communications without any interruptions.

Sadly, telecommunication towers are particularly at risk of lightning damage and an ensured electrical surge; due to its tall stature and complex electrical makeup. A single direct lightning strike can cause physical damage and catastrophic failure resulting in substantial revenue losses.

When lightning strikes a tower the current flows downwards to the ground and can damage electronic equipment like antennae, dishes, cameras, etc. On its way down, these currents can leak and jump into nearby structures resulting in permanent damage to sensitive electronic devices and equipment.

The good news is there is a way to protect telecommunication towers and facilities from the devastating and lasting effects of lightning damage.

The lightning protection system from Lightning Eliminators & Consultant Inc. – The Tower Kit

It’s a hybrid package that offers a robust and cost-effective solution for communication tower to protect them from lightning damage. The protection package includes direct strike protection, surge protection, and grounding.

And we protect the towers from lightning damage by enhancing lightning rods with lightning dissipators!

Spline Ball Ionizer – this is our patented and advanced air terminal that functions as a streamer retarding air terminal. It utilizes the phenomena ‘charge transfer’ – it provides a low resistance route for the static ground charge to reach the atmosphere, preventing the build-up of ground charge to the value necessary to trigger a strike on the protected structure. In short, it exchanges ions between the air and earth keeping the local electrical field below lightning potential.

Chem Rods – another patented marvel from us; it creates the optimal earth connection with a large conductive surface, electrolytic salts, and specially formulated backfills.

Transient limiter TLX100 – this versatile type 1 SPD is primarily used for light load service entrance and subpanels.  It can be installed upstream or downstream of the main disconnect.

LEC offers lightning protection products and services to many industries including broadcasting, wireless communications, data centers, 911 call centers, and many more.

This simple, reliable and inexpensive (compared to the cost of repair) method can protect most wireline communications from lightning damage.

Industrial lightning protection for businesses is vital to their success.

A direct lightning strike can damage structures, critical equipment and also the occupants as it can induce fast transient overvoltages into the power system. At Lightning Eliminators & Consultant Inc. we offer superior lightning protection system to suit all types of commercial and industrial buildings. Our lightning protection and surge protection solutions are based purely on solid, well-grounded science. We endeavor to supply turnkey solutions, which are both technically and economically effective.

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We boast of a very efficient workforce. Our personnel is responsible for installing all types of lightning protection and surge protection systems. We have all resources, materials, and the latest plant, machinery, and vehicle to work on any size project – large scale to a remote mountaintop. Our work progress and quality of workmanship are monitored regularly through various control and testing systems.

Further, every installation is done with minimum disruptions to your services. All our manufactured and patented lightning protection and surge protection products comply with the appropriate national and international standards. We also extend a ‘no strike’ warranty with all our installation and services.

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Our brand is based on some very basic principles and as such our aim is simple too:

- Don’t attract lightning, eliminate it

- If some secondary currents to pass through a protected structure, to ground them safely to earth, thereby reducing the risk of side flashes

- To protect equipment from surge and transient on power lines, signals and data lines.

- Provide excellent pre-sales and after-sales services

- Mitigate loss or damage to all expensive and important business electrical and electronics

- Minimize financial loss and downtime

Our expertise in this field is well known, and we work heavily in this area to improve our offering and to service our customer base. With the wealth of experience of over 4 decades, we are now well placed to advise an appropriate and cost-effective solution to meet your specific lightning protection needs.

Every industry is constantly at risk of being adversely affected or damaged by overvoltage. One of the greatest threats is a bolt of lightning. A single discharge of lightning near a power supply cable will generate significant overvoltage transient, sometimes causing irreparable damage.

Protective devices such as lightning surge protection devices are used to offset these external influences. They have the job of safeguarding the connected systems without interfering with its operations.

How does a lightning surge protector work?

Once voltage rises above expected level, the surge protector comes into play. It suppresses the excess voltage, diverts it safely to the ground and prevents it from causing any harm. When used together with air terminals, grounding rods, these surge arrestors form an industry's total lightning protection system.

Why do we need lightning surge protection device?

This decision can be taken by answering simple questions like

- Whether your facility is adjacent to any tall structure or near a hilltop or located in the lightning-prone area?

- If your existing lightning protection system includes surge arrestors?

- Does the machinery or equipment require resistance to overvoltage?

- Are surges internally generated by the facility itself, such as a large motor starting or welding operations?

However, the need for lightning surge protection devices depends on numerous factors. Our range of surge protection devices are designed and developed with the aspect of lightning protection and should not be considered as an option. Each product is developed by a team of experienced engineers with the aim to solve specific problems faced by industries.

Every business has different needs when it comes to keeping their systems running. An industry might require surge protection on their fire alarms while another might consider installing it on security systems and data centers.

Different types and combinations of lightning surge protection device are installed in different protected zones to meet different needs. Some arrestors are generally installed in the service entrance switchboards to protect low voltage equipment such as facility guard and data line protectors.

Installing a lightning surge protection device from Lightning Eliminators & Consultant Inc. ensures security of your company data, employees and facility during an unpredictable electric surge, as well as ensures continued function of critical systems.

 

Every industry is constantly at risk of being adversely affected or damaged by overvoltage. One of the greatest threats is a bolt of lightning. A single discharge of lightning near a power supply cable will generate significant overvoltage transient, sometimes causing irreparable damage. 

Protective devices such as lightning surge protection devices are used to offset these external influences. They have the job of safeguarding the connected systems without interfering with its operations.

How does a lightning surge protector work?

Once voltage rises above expected level, the surge protector comes into play. It suppresses the excess voltage, diverts it safely to the ground and prevents it from causing any harm. When used together with air terminals, grounding rods, these surge arrestors form an industry's total lightning protection system.

Why do we need lightning surge protection device?

This decision can be taken by answering simple questions like

-          Whether your facility is adjacent to any tall structure or near a hilltop or located in the lightning-prone area?

-          If your existing lightning protection system includes surge arrestors?

-          Does the machinery or equipment require resistance to overvoltage?

-          Are surges internally generated by the facility itself, such as a large motor starting or welding operations?

However, the need for lightning surge protection devices depends on numerous factors. Our range of surge protection devices are designed and developed with the aspect of lightning protection and should not be considered as an option. Each product is developed by a team of experienced engineers with the aim to solve specific problems faced by industries.

Every business has different needs when it comes to keeping their systems running. An industry might require surge protection on their fire alarms while another might consider installing it on security systems and data centers.

Different types and combinations of lightning surge protection device are installed in different protected zones to meet different needs. Some arrestors are generally installed in the service entrance switchboards to protect low voltage equipment such as facility guard and data line protectors.

Installing a lightning surge protection device from Lightning Eliminators & Consultant Inc. ensures security of your company data, employees and facility during an unpredictable electric surge, as well as ensures continued function of critical systems.