The Physics of Protection

How Does a Lightning Arrester Protect . .

A Conventional Lightning Arrester, also known as a Franklin Type Lightning Arrester or Lightning Air Terminal, is designed to form part of a complete external lightning protection system. Its purpose is to provide a strategically positioned interception point and a controlled path for lightning current through the down conductor and towards the earth-termination system.

The science behind lightning protection can be understood through a simple principle: the location and height of the air terminal influence the volume or area of a structure that can be protected by the designed lightning protection system.

However, a lightning arrester is not a standalone solution. Effective protection depends on the complete system, including the air-termination network, down conductors, bonding arrangements and earthing system.

Unprotected transient overvoltage causes immediate dielectric breakdown in expensive transformer windings. Our arresters act as a low-impedance path, safely diverting kiloamperes of lightning current to ground, preventing thermal damage.

The Physics of Protection

Lightning protection is not simply about installing the tallest lightning arrester. Effective protection depends on geometry, lightning current interception, controlled current paths and proper earthing.

A correctly designed lightning protection system combines the air terminal, down-conductor network, bonding and earth-termination system to provide a controlled path for lightning current and reduce the risk of damage to the protected structure.

For design purposes, the protection radius should always be calculated for the specific installation rather than assuming a fixed coverage radius for every lightning arrester.

HOW , WHERE AND WHY ? ? ?

Lightning is a high-energy electrical discharge that may occur between clouds and the ground or between charged regions. A properly designed external lightning protection system is intended to

INTERCEPT | CONDUCT | DISPERSE

TYPES OF LIGHTNING ARRESTERS ....

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