Thunder and lightning

Netlist · 19th August 2006, 05:40 PM

Why is it that these big caps heated up so much without the mains fuse acting first?
They are literally cooked...which takes time I presume.

/Hugo

astouffer · 19th August 2006, 05:45 PM

Odd things happen at extremely high voltages. Do you think the fuse blowing would stop a lightning bolt

poobah · 19th August 2006, 06:43 PM

Hugo,

Was it really a lightning hit?

Netlist · 19th August 2006, 06:46 PM

That's true but I see a pattern.
The same guy's television has the blown fuse and a melted supply cap. Same scenario with his video player. Both are SMPS's.
Well, I bow for natures power.

/Hugo

Netlist · 19th August 2006, 06:48 PM

Poobah,

Yes, definitely. Almost all his gear is broken. Washing mashine, freezer, coffee machine, all electronics...name it.

/Hugo

poobah · 19th August 2006, 06:58 PM

Boy... I hope he has some insurance!

I've done a lot of solar powered stuff... remote locations... solar panels are just like lightning rods. I think lightning just does whatever it damn well pleases. Fuses do nothing... when lightning melts the fuse, it has enough energy to ionize the metal vapor I think.

tough break -

mpmarino · 19th August 2006, 07:04 PM

Yeah,

In our facilities we spend way too much money on lightning protection IMHO. Dem volts blow the protection AND the equipment. Wiked smart

Ya can't stop it

Netlist · 19th August 2006, 08:05 PM

I was just about to recommend him some lightning protection. We had good results in a set of buildings. Years ago, we had about 10 to 15 TV sets broken in one year from lightning strikes from that one block of buildings. Since the protection has been installed, we truly had none, zero.

/Hugo

mpmarino · 19th August 2006, 08:27 PM

You have weaker lightning there

The fact that our equipment is grounded so well... several rods driven deep per facility..is certainly good for safety and good for me.

Sometimes though, as flawed as my thinking may be, I believe it's worse for the equipment during lightning. There is NO isolation between equipment and earth and every last volt casts it's wrath.

In most other situations The earth is likely weaker..a buffer? Am I crazy?

TwoSpoons · 22nd August 2006, 05:39 AM

The lightening just needs an easier path to ground than through the stereo.
When I was repairing electric fence energisers I saw some rather spectacular lightening strike results - e.g. all copper gone from the pcb and plated over the inside of the casing! We used to supply diverter kits consisting of a big spring ( as a choke), a spark gap made of two fat bolts, and a 6 foot steel ground spike.

19th August 2006, 07:04 PM	#7
mpmarino diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Crunchville, where I don't fit in.	Yeah, In our facilities we spend way too much money on lightning protection IMHO. Dem volts blow the protection AND the equipment. Wiked smart Ya can't stop it __________________ Crazy Yankee.

19th August 2006, 08:27 PM	#9
mpmarino diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Crunchville, where I don't fit in.	You have weaker lightning there The fact that our equipment is grounded so well... several rods driven deep per facility..is certainly good for safety and good for me. Sometimes though, as flawed as my thinking may be, I believe it's worse for the equipment during lightning. There is NO isolation between equipment and earth and every last volt casts it's wrath. In most other situations The earth is likely weaker..a buffer? Am I crazy? __________________ Crazy Yankee.

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19th August 2006, 05:45 PM	#2
astouffer diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, crumbling wasteland	Odd things happen at extremely high voltages. Do you think the fuse blowing would stop a lightning bolt

19th August 2006, 06:43 PM	#3
poobah diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	Hugo, Was it really a lightning hit?

19th August 2006, 06:46 PM	#4
Netlist diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003	That's true but I see a pattern. The same guy's television has the blown fuse and a melted supply cap. Same scenario with his video player. Both are SMPS's. Well, I bow for natures power. /Hugo

19th August 2006, 06:48 PM	#5
Netlist diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003	Poobah, Yes, definitely. Almost all his gear is broken. Washing mashine, freezer, coffee machine, all electronics...name it. /Hugo

19th August 2006, 06:58 PM	#6
poobah diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005	Boy... I hope he has some insurance! I've done a lot of solar powered stuff... remote locations... solar panels are just like lightning rods. I think lightning just does whatever it damn well pleases. Fuses do nothing... when lightning melts the fuse, it has enough energy to ionize the metal vapor I think. tough break -

19th August 2006, 08:05 PM	#8
Netlist diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003	I was just about to recommend him some lightning protection. We had good results in a set of buildings. Years ago, we had about 10 to 15 TV sets broken in one year from lightning strikes from that one block of buildings. Since the protection has been installed, we truly had none, zero. /Hugo

22nd August 2006, 05:39 AM	#10
TwoSpoons diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	The lightening just needs an easier path to ground than through the stereo. When I was repairing electric fence energisers I saw some rather spectacular lightening strike results - e.g. all copper gone from the pcb and plated over the inside of the casing! We used to supply diverter kits consisting of a big spring ( as a choke), a spark gap made of two fat bolts, and a 6 foot steel ground spike.

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