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AC Lightening Protect - E-panel + XW
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millermtu View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 October 2009
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Posts: 8 		  Quote millermtu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: AC Lightening Protect - E-panel + XW
    Posted: 27 October 2009 at 7:13am
The Midnite Solar E-Panel shows lightening protection on the load side of the AC load and the input side of the AC? The system is in Michigan and we do not have an issue with getting a good ground. As stated in other posts, the AC load is only going to be used during power outages. I am not trying to just be cheap, just trying to understand why there are so many lightening protectors required. According to their diagram, there would need to be a lightening protector on every home's main panel?
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Dave sparky View Drop Down
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Posts: 361 		  Quote Dave sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2009 at 11:45am
It really comes down to how valuable is it to you. If you are running basic offgrid equipment for loads that can be purchased at Wallmart then the decision is easier.

Having a good ground is not the whole issue but rather having a good path in a fault to ground from DC (+), DC (-), AC (both) and neutral.

I give my customers (some are in really nasty lightning prone areas) options from having spares to physical cable disconnects for attended systems. The bottom line for me is to design as if there is no-one home but shut things down when there is. Spark gaps are great but there is nothing like a 10 foot cable disconnect from outdoor systems.

Hope I helped. Once you have seen a home that has glass from every light that exploded all over the floor you are awestruck.
"we go where the powerlines don't"
http://www.sierratel.com/offgridsolar/

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boblight View Drop Down
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Posts: 40 		  Quote boblight Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 November 2009 at 4:57pm
Using those Delta lightning arrestors (I assume that's what you are talking about), on the E-panel itself, is marginal at best for actual protection. People just want them to be able to be put there, so there is a place for them there.

The ~REAL~ place for those arrestors, if they're going to be used at all, is close to the array or at the wind turbine tower... Not at the equipment. This is because their breakover voltage is something like 7000 or 8000 Volts !

boB
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Dave sparky View Drop Down
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Posts: 361 		  Quote Dave sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 November 2009 at 6:54am
As boB says but I use them in both places so when the array is disconnected by a long cable there is still a path to ground and not an open input. It all gets down to how much lightning you get. Some of my mountaintop installs have a nice little bench where you can pray if that works for you.

The LA 201's begin clamping at 240V but as the current goes up so will the clamping voltage. That is where the praying can help......


Edited by Dave sparky - 03 November 2009 at 7:11am
"we go where the powerlines don't"
http://www.sierratel.com/offgridsolar/

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