1. How to protect the solar inverter from lightning strikes?
(1) lightning rod
Lightning rod which each high building design exists, lightning rod by attracting lightning to avoid lightning hit the solar panels, compared with the solar panels themselves generate static electricity and lightning rod top tip discharge lightning strikes are more likely to hit the lightning rod, is an effective way to prevent lightning strikes.
(2) inverter grounding
Installation of inverter connection routes to the installation of inverters need to be grounded, for any high-voltage equipment, local regulations will be developed line grounding, which is also an indicator of the use of solar panels to obtain permission.
① inverter grounding can not be direct contact with the ground wires need to be connected to the grounding rod, generally 2.5 meters long, diameter of 16 mm or so of copper rods, copper conductivity and copper corrosion resistance is strong, need to be driven into the ground to ensure that the copper rods in contact with the underground surface of the damp soil, for dry areas need to be driven into a number of copper rods spaced 3 meters, can not be too much exposed copper rods, and finally connected to the inverter grounding wire can be.
② it can also be a large number of copper wires into the ground, a spiral requires at least 30 meters into the ground buried line, while you can also choose to connect to the nearby grounding system.
(3) surge protector
Surge protector resistance will change with the current changes, the normal voltage surge protector resistance is very small, when the circuit voltage rises rapidly resistance will increase rapidly to ensure that the peak current on the inverter and other equipment damage, surge protector contains varistors, surge protector wear and tear will occur for the use of surge protection is generally 5 years for a change to ensure normal use.
(4) isolation of the inverter
Inverter installation location can also avoid inverter lightning strike, in fact, the inverter does not need to be installed in the same location with the solar panels, you can install the inverter alone in a safer place, to prevent the inverter from being directly struck by lightning.
(5) Unplug external cables
Including solar panel cables and communication cables, the other end of some connecting cables will be affected by the inverter through a surge when it is struck by lightning, resulting in burnout.
(6) Disconnect the power supply
If you encounter a thunderstorm, in order to prevent your solar system, including the inverter, from being hit by lightning, you need to disconnect the solar panels from the inverter’s circuitry, disconnecting any power supply from the inverter will ground the inverter’s attraction to lightning.
2. Is it necessary for me to turn off the inverter during a lightning storm?
No, only some locations are strongly affected by lightning most of the time thunderstorms do not affect the use of the inverter unless you are underneath a lightning strike, at which point you should turn off the inverter in order to minimize damage to the inverter and equipment connected to the inverter caused by the surge from a nearby lightning strike, which is usually not necessary.
3. How often do lightning strikes affect the inverter?
Lightning strike is mainly divided into direct lightning strike and indirect lightning strike, for a direct lightning strike will have a greater impact on all the damage, but the probability of this direct lightning strike is too low most people will not even see a direct lightning strike, for an indirect lightning strike than the probability of a direct lightning strike is high, if the solar energy system is struck by lightning around the increase in the magnetic field, will indirectly produce a momentary strong voltage in the surrounding electrical equipment can also damage the inverter, the inverter is also damaged, the inverter will be damaged. Overall either lightning strike frequency is very low.
Conclusion
In reality, lightning strikes do not affect most areas, but we still need to do a good job of preventing lightning strikes, simple grounding, and the installation of surge protectors can be effective in avoiding lightning strikes on the inverter, in addition to choosing a safe place to install your inverter.
