EV Solar & Battery Storage Ltd.

Protecting Solar PV from Lightning

Solar PV Install | Repair | Clean | Maintain

Free, No-Obligation Quotations

We work for both residential and commercial customers!

FREE PHONE
0800 047 8728
In this series
Solar fire protection

Protecting solar PV from lightning

Arc fault protection
Firefighter’s Switch Installation
Fire Safety & Protection

Lightning Protection Systems

There is a common misconception that solar arrays attract lightning; this isn’t true. You are not at increased risk of a lightning strike just because you have installed a solar array. Solar PV arrays can be at increased risk of lightning strikes due to their location: on roof tops and where exposed ground mounted arrays have been installed.

The damage caused to solar PV equipment from the effects of a lightning strike can be severe and expensive to repair.

Voltage spikes and high levels of induced current can cause damage to solar panels, inverters, charge controllers, batteries, cables and connectors. This may lead to full or partial loss of equipment and can also lead to fires.

Damage caused by lightning

Voltage spikes can cause damage to equipment across the system:

Panels
Charge Controllers
Batteries
Cables
Connectors

Brands We Work With

DEHN is a leading, international family-owned electrical engineering company based in Neumarkt, Germany
Surge Protection Devices Ltd. provide lightning and surge protection for industrial, commercial and domestic electrical installations.

Selected Products

Combined lightning current and surge arrester for use in photovoltaic power supply systems
DEHN is a leading, international family-owned electrical engineering company based in Neumarkt, Germany
DEHNcombo

Combined lightning current and surge arrester for use in photovoltaic power supply systems up to 1500 V d.c.

This image is of a DC surge protection device for solar PV manufactured by Surge Protection Devices Ltd.
Surge Protection Devices Ltd. provide lightning and surge protection for industrial, commercial and domestic electrical installations.
Solar PV Panel Surge Protection

3ph AC surge protection devices and 3ph mcb in an enclosure

SPDPV1000 – Type 2, 1000V DC, for Solar / PV Installations
Surge Protection Devices Ltd. provide lightning and surge protection for industrial, commercial and domestic electrical installations.
Solar PV Panel Surge Protection

This image is of a DC surge protection device for solar PV manufactured by Surge Protection Devices Ltd.

Protecting your system from lightning

There are two scenarios to consider when protecting your solar PV equipment from lightning:
Direct strikes and Indirect strikes.

Direct lightning strikes

Damage caused by direct strikes on the array or another part of the building can damage everything on the DC side of your equipment. Since the PV system is directly connected to the electrical installation of the building, this can also have severe consequences for the building itself, people in it and connected electrical equipment.

Indirect lightning strikes

Voltage and current from an indirect ground or overhead power line strike can enter a building through the AC wiring. We protect the solar PV equipment by installing surge protection devices on the AC supply side.

Solar PV Lightning Damage

The photos below are of damage caused to a solar array by lightning at a school in London. It also caused damage to the inverter but this damage wasn’t visible. The inverter was unresponsive with major damage caused to circuitry. As a result the inverter had to be replaced.

A solar panel with a large burn mark in the middle caused by a direct lightning strike
A solar array with one panel destroyed by lightning
Back of a damaged solar panel caused by a lightning strike

Designing the System

A well designed lightning protection system consists of the following: an external lightning protection system including air termination, down conductors and earth termination. Surge protection devices protecting both the AC & DC sides of the system and equipotential bonding.

Buildings with PV systems without external lightning protection.

Buildings with PV arrays with lightning protection where the minimum separation distance between the LPS and solar PV array has been maintained.

Buildings with PV arrays with lightning protection where the minimum separation distance between the LPS and solar PV array has not been maintained.

If you have already experienced a lightning strike there is an increased risk this could happen again. Don’t be fooled into thinking lightning doesn’t strike twice. We only use quality products made by DEHN. They are based in Germany and have been in the industry since 1910, they also designed the first lightning current arrester in the world.

DEHN is a leading, international family-owned electrical engineering company based in Neumarkt, Germany

ENQUIRE NOW

Get A Quote

If you would like to discuss either your requirements in more detail or would like a quote, please contact us. We work for both commercial and residential customers.

FREE PHONE

0800 047 8728

Contact Us Here





    Shopping Basket