Lightning strikes are not only dangerous, but can create an extremely high level of damage to most types of systems. Lightning is largely misunderstood by many people, who would believe that the majority of damage as a result of a lightning strike happens at the point of the strike itself. While there is no doubt that there is explosion, fire and debris damage at the strike point (which can be minimized through avoidance tactics like the installation of lightning rods or overhead shields) the majority of monetary damage that happens occurs as a result of the power surge that is created. When lightning strikes an object, hundreds of thousands of volts of electrical current can enter it and surrounding objects. In a typical situation this would be recognized as "strike point" damage, but in the instance that the object being struck is connected to other components through power lines or data processing lines, a clear pathway is provided for the electricity to flow down the chain. Components in the installation that are connected together via cables of almost any kind are able to be damaged one by one as the power flows from one to the next. While a constant and metered flow of power is acceptable and will not cause damage, the large excesses of power created by a lightning strike overwhelm the components and damage internal items like circuitry and wiring. This will not only result in damages to the equipment that need to be repaired, it will also knock the system offline and render it inoperable until which time it can be fixed and restored. You can see how the damage costs and the downtime of whatever system is effected can create large problems for any business.
So what can you do if you operate a business that can be effected by lightning strikes, or even if you have expensive computerized equipment in your residence that can be effected? The answer is avoidance of damage and minimization of surge damage through protective measures. First and foremost, if you operate a facility that has tall or isolated structures you will want to install lightning rods and overhead shields to draw the strikes away from critical components and toward areas where it can be controlled without damage. Second, you will want to install surge protection devices at critical junction points throughout your system. These surge protection devices should also be redundant in case one is rendered inoperable for any reason. Power will flow in straight lines and couple into cables that will allow it to easily flow from component to component. The installation of surge protection devices at junction boxes, along lines and at other critical points will allow for electrical excesses to be stopped through a gapping measure. The principal of all surge protection works the same way, to recognize the increase in electrical flow and immediately create a gap between the surge protective device and the next component in the chain. The electrical flow can then be diverted to ground or controlled in some other way, without it being able to flow to the next component and damage it. Residential surge protection is the same principal, just with far less technologically advanced devices and lower capacities.
Industrial surge protection has become critical to the ongoing operations of many industries that we consumers rely heavily on. Examples of this can be seen in the telecommunications industry and the alternative energy industries, where computer heavy systems are housed inside or directly connected to towers that are positioned in remote and exposed areas. These natural attractants for lightning will endure an expected amount of strike related damage every period, but the more that subsequent surge damage can be reduced through surge protective devices, the lower costs will be and the better service will be for consumers. As we move into more advanced systems within nearly every industry, the necessity of advanced surge protection becomes even more crucial.
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