A surge protector is a device designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes (surges from system disturbances or lightning strikes). A surge protector attempts to limit the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or shorting to ground any unwanted voltages above a safe threshold. For an electrical distribution board this is usually achieved by the installation of Class 2 surge arresters of the appropriate fault current rating.
Once your lightning protection system has been installed, it is important to take measures to ensure the system remains safe and effective. Industry lightning protection safety Standards of SANS 10313 and SANS 62305 recommend periodic inspection of lightning protection systems to ensure safety, system continuity and proper maintenance. A maintenance inspection is especially important if modifications to your structure have occurred, including: renovations to roof, electrical system updates, satellite dish installations or HVAC alterations. Maintenance may also be needed if cable T.V. or telephone systems have been serviced in recent years. Maintenance annually is recommended to ensure the continued performance of your lightning protection system.
Common bonding connections are needed to eliminate safety concerns. Since lightning is traveling through the soil, it can be picked up on service lines in the ground, such as underground conduits, water pipes or gas lines, and feed a portion of the harmful lightning currents along these systems back into a structure. The lightning protection Standards (SANS 10313 and SANS 62305) require the lightning protection system to be commonly connected to all underground piping systems that enter the structure. These include gas piping, water piping, conduits, etc. The bonding does not introduce lightning charges into your gas and water pipes, but rather routes the charges away from the pipes to bring all grounded systems to the same electrical potential as the lightning protection system ground. The gas and water piping are not substituted for the ground, rather the connection is to provide common ground potential, reducing the risk of side-flash or arcing during a lightning event.
