Dear Victron family, I installed a Victron system for the telecom system at an altitude of around 3100 meters. The devices I use are as follows
3 multiplus inverters
1 pylontech lvhub
20 pylontech US5000 batteries
1 cerbo GX
2 MPPT 450/200
what would you recommend as the best system to protect against lightning strikes?
The Cerbo GX I’m using was damaged once due to a lightning strike.
I am waiting for your valuable engineering advice
Have a nice day
If you can read French, you may have a look at the following guide:
Protection contre les effets de la foudre dans les installations faisant appel aux énergies renouvelables
But, may be, you already applied all of this…
I am going to assume that the Cerbo was damaged via the ethernet port rather than on the DC supply.
You can electrically separate the Cerbo from the networking equipment in the installation by the use of a pair of media converters (copper-fibre converters).
Network switch → media converter → fibre patch → media converter → CerboGX
Or just connect it to Wifi if there any onsite.
But the ethernet means isolation at both ends by the isolation transformers.
In other words on ethernet the wire is “floating” in between.
In general, I can say that the lightning strikes 40 solar panel systems and then comes to the Victron panel with dc connections. In some cases I have even seen DC fuses blow. Would a complete lightning protection of the system (lightning protection like a lightning rod) provide a positive solution?
Dear Whitecity solar, In general, I can say that the lightning strikes 40 solar panel systems and then comes to the Victron panel with dc connections. In some cases I have even seen DC fuses blow. Would a complete lightning protection of the system (lightning protection like a lightning rod) provide a positive solution?
Have a read of This it might help but if not some very good advice.
You would have to consult the regulations around grounding panels for your own country, the implementation is not a simple answer. Depending on how your panels are mounted (ground mount with direct buried steel posts?) they may already be grounded.
I assume there is a mast at this site. The network cabling to the equipment on the mast and networking equipment in the racks will have a grounding system. Ideally you want complete electrical separation between this and your CerboGX.
thank you all for advices. I will be edit after some changes on the system
Is your installation earthed? Well earthed? Considering that you are at the top a mountain a high elevation, the ground should be dry and, indeed, only made of stones without earth. Efficient earthing can be challenging.
Do you have any proof of direct lightning impact?
Can you show us pictures of your installation? Outside? Inside?
You should use lightning protection like on the picture
There are many companies (at least in Ukraine) that make such setup. Cost is very low (again, at least in Ukraine), I paid like 1500 USD to have it for the house. Then lightning will not strike panels, but will strike protection, that will lead energy to the ground. Of course your panels should be grounded as well
I think you will find general advice here from Victron.
But local regulations must be followed
And grounding for telecoms is very different so look specifically into that.