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By Sona Brands

On October 17, 2023

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Secure Your Solar Investment: How to Protect Your Solar System from Lightning

Mitigating Risks in Zimbabwe's Thunderstorm Season

When it comes to solar systems, lightning poses a significant risk of damage that can turn a profitable investment into a financial loss in milliseconds. While we cannot prevent lightning from striking, we can take engineering measures to control its path and protect your solar installations.

Secure Your Solar Investment: How to Protect Your Solar System from Lightning

Sona Solar Zimbabwe understands the importance of safeguarding solar systems against the destructive power of lightning. By offering high-standard surge protection devices during solar installations, Sona Solar Zimbabwe ensures that clients' solar systems remain secure against the unpredictable weather patterns of Southern Africa.

1. Direct vs. Indirect Strikes

The Myth of the Direct Hit

It's essential to recognize that most electrical and electronic damage in solar systems does not occur due to a direct lightning strike. Direct hits are actually quite rare. In many cases, lightning may strike a nearby object, such as a utility pole, a tall tree, or even the ground several meters away.

This creates an induced surge. The massive current travels through the earth, wiring, or plumbing into nearby structures, seeking a path to equalize. Your solar panels and inverter often become that path.

How Damage Occurs

Indirect lightning hits induce high voltages onto the house and solar system wiring. Because solar PV arrays act like large antennas on your roof, they are particularly susceptible to picking up this electromagnetic energy.

If your solar system is unprotected or inadequately grounded, thousands of volts can be fed back into your inverter, charge controller, and battery management system, leading to immediate frying of circuit boards and severe fire hazards.

2. Proper Grounding: The First Line of Defense

Redirecting the Surge

A crucial aspect of lightning protection is proper grounding (earthing). By ensuring that your solar system is grounded correctly, you can redirect the lightning surge safely into the ground, bypassing your expensive equipment.

This means that the aluminum panel frames, mounting rails, and any other metal components of your system must be bonded to an efficient grounding system. By providing the easiest path of least resistance for lightning to reach the ground, you prevent it from traveling through the DC wiring into your home.

3. Key Protection Measures

SURGE PROTECTION DEVICES (SPD)

Essential Protection

Installing surge protectors is an excellent addition to your lightning protection strategy. SPDs are typically placed at both ends of inverter communication cables and power circuits, including AC lines leading to the inverter.

These devices act like electrical "pressure relief valves." They absorb voltage spikes and divert the surge away from your solar equipment. By clamping excessive energy, surge protectors minimize the risk of catastrophic failure.

LIGHTNING RODS

External Protection

Lightning rods (air terminals) serve as guardians against direct strikes. Installed above the solar system and connected to the ground, they provide a preferred path for lightning to follow, reducing the chances of it hitting your panels directly.

Note: It's important to ensure that the placement of the lightning rod does not cause shading on the solar panels, as this would diminish their power output.

4. Why Professional Installation Matters

Trust the Experts

Entrust the installation of your solar system to qualified professionals with expertise in lightning protection. DIY installations often overlook the complex requirements of earth loop impedance and bonding.

Sona Solar Zimbabwe offers comprehensive solar system installations with a 1-year workmanship warranty. Our engineers ensure that all necessary precautions, from earth mats to DC surge arrestors, are implemented correctly.

For any solar system inquiries or installation assistance, please contact Sona Solar Zimbabwe at the provided contact numbers.

Safeguard your solar investment and enjoy uninterrupted clean energy with effective lightning protection measures in place.

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Sona Solar Zimbabwe – Your Trusted Partner for Solar Energy Solutions

Sona Solar Zimbabwe provides premium Solar Panels, Lithium Batteries, Inverters, and complete Solar Systems for homes, businesses, and industries. We also specialize in expert Borehole Drilling Solutions and Solar-Powered Water Systems. Trust our experienced team for professional Solar installations in Harare, Marondera, Mutare, Chitungwiza, and across Zimbabwe, delivering reliable, efficient, and cost-effective renewable energy solutions.