Does Solar Panels Attract Lightning

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Does solar panels attract lightning. Here are some of the most cost effective techniques that are generally accepted by power system installers based on decades of experience. When it comes to solar panels there s one persistent myth which is that putting solar panels on your home can actually attract lightning to your home. Lightning is a common cause of failures in photovoltaic pv and wind electric systems. Solar panels are installed in the open for maximum exposure the sun.

A damaging surge can occur from lightning that strikes a long distance from the system or even between clouds. But most lightning damage is preventable. Metal sharper edge attract lighting solar panels are flats very hard that they could attract them and you could isolates when a simple bar wired to ground. Wind turbines are mounted high to get in the non turbulent air flow so they re exposed to the environment and make an attractive target.

No lightning isn t attracted to solar panels and putting solar panels and the metal racking it requires on top of your roof doesn t increase your home s risk of getting hit by lightning. However in the rare event of the solar generator being hit by a direct lightning strike the modules are likely to suffer considerable damage. Lightning and related static discharge is the number one cause of sudden unexpected failures in pv systems lightning does not have to strike directly to cause damage to sensitive electronic equipment such as inverters controls radios and entertainment equipment it can be miles away and invisible and still induce high voltage surges in wiring especially in long lines. Since the metal panel frames and racking of the solar array are located on the roof the egc will direct a strike to the solar array to ground and may reduce additional damage to the building.

Right off the bat i ll give you the answer. Since a photovoltaic installation does not increase the probability of lightning strikes the solar modules themselves are no more at risk than the inverter or other loads connected to the grid. Solar panels and their associated control systems are highly susceptible to damage from both direct and indirect lightning strikes. A damaging surge can occur from lightning that strikes a long distance from the system or even between clouds.

Raycap is a leading producer of surge protection devices for photovoltaic pv systems that are used in both industrial power production as well as residential or semi commercial markets. Lightning is a common cause of failures in photovoltaic pv systems. They are also mounted on large metal frames that act much like antennas collecting atmospheric charge.