Chapter 6

Lightning Protection

MElec-Ch6 - 1
 Overview
Characteristics of Lightning
Principles of Protection
Precautions for Personnel
Precautions for Electronic Equipment

MElec-Ch6 - 2
 Characteristics of Lightning
Static Electricity
Ultra-High Voltage Generation
The Discharge
Surface Dispersion
Basic Laws of Electricity

MElec-Ch6 - 3
 Lightning

Static Electricity
Separation and storage of electrical charge
A spark is an extremely small lightning discharge

Ultra-High Voltage Generation

Surface of earth is normally negatively charged
Top of storm clouds are positively charged
Forces nearby earth to become positively charged
Develops a multimillion-volt potential

MElec-Ch6 - 4
 The Discharge
Clouds send negative charged leaders down

Earth sends positive leaders up

From grounded sharp metal objects

Conducting path when leaders meet

Unidirectional (DC) current flow
Voltage potential 100 to 1,000 million volts
Current range 10,000 to 200,000 amperes
Duration from 1 microsecond to 1 second

MElec-Ch6 - 5
 Anatomy of a Lightning Stroke

Current begins
Electrons begin the return stroke,
zigzagging an intense wave
downward in a of positive
forked pattern. As the leader and
charge traveling
This is the streamer come together,
As the stepped leader upward about
stepped leader. nears the ground, it
a powerful electrical
60,000 miles per
current begins flowing.
draws a streamer of second.
positive charge upward.

MElec-Ch6 - 6
 Surface Dispersion

Surface dispersion
Main portion of lightning bolt penetrates earth
Spurs find far-reaching paths along surface

Surface dispersion is deadly

Stay out of the water
Keep away from trees

MElec-Ch6 - 7
 Basic Laws or Electricity
Lightning creates magnetically induced
current in all metal items within its
influence
The longer the wire, greater the current
The closer the strike, greater the current

Any impedance to current flow results in

Build up of high voltage at that location
Resulting in arc-over to reach ground
Ignites flammable material
Vaporizes metal of insufficient cross-section
MElec-Ch6 - 8
 Principles of Protection

Cone of Protection
Lightning Protection System
Power Boat Applications
Sail Boat Applications

MElec-Ch6 - 9
 Cone of Protection
Lightning rod protects areas within its cone
60 degree cone is 99% effective
45 degree cone is 99.9% effective

Less current flow from sharp pointed tip

More current flow from blunt or ball tip
MElec-Ch6 - 10
 Lightning Protection System

Air Terminal
Discharge Conductor
Water Terminal
Bonding

MElec-Ch6 - 11
 Air Terminal
Also known as a Lightning Rod
Traditionally inch copper rod
With sharpened point
Six inches above object to be protected

MElec-Ch6 - 12
 Discharge Conductor
Not less than #4 AWG
Uninsulated stranded copper wire
Straight from Air Terminal to Water Terminal
No sharp bends (bend radius of 1 foot)
Should be run outside of hull
Electrical wiring should be at right angles

#4

MElec-Ch6 - 13
 Water Terminal
Also known as a Ground Plate
External to hull
Sailboats use metal keel
Area of one square foot
Not painted
No water film between plate and hull
Use bedding compound

Size: 18 x 6 x MElec-Ch6 - 14
 Bonding (Chapter 2)
Bonding is also for Lightning Protection
Purpose keep all metal surfaces at zero potential
To prevent electrical shock
To prevent stray current corrosion
To prevent induced potential from lightning strike
Bonding conductor
Cross section of #6 AWG
Strap not less than #20 gauge (0.032 inch thick)
Normally #6 bare copper wire

MElec-Ch6 - 15
 Powerboat Application

Fiberglass antennas provide NO protection

Add lightning rod on other side for protection
e.g. grounded metal whip antenna

Ground the signal mast or Tuna Tower

Need a ground plate
Stay within the cone of protection

MElec-Ch6 - 16
 Powerboat Application
Grounded metal whip provides protection
Grounded HF whip antenna with loading coil
No protection above loading coil
Unless loading coil bypassed with large conductor

MElec-Ch6 - 17
 Sailboat Application
Metal masts are grounded (bonded)
Add discharge conductor to wood mast
Shrouds and stays grounded
Keel is ground plate

MElec-Ch6 - 18
 Precautions for Personnel

Remain inside the boat

Trust lightning protection system
Stay Out of the Water
Surface dispersion
Avoid contact with metal surfaces
Induced voltage
Handle only one metal control at a time

MElec-Ch6 - 19
 Precautions for Electronics

Before a lightning storm

After a lightning strike

MElec-Ch6 - 20
 Before Lightning Storm
Put a loop in cables
Signal
Power
Disconnect ALL unnecessary equipment
before, NOT DURING a lightning storm
All entertainment equipment
Redundant communications and navigation
equipment
Disconnect power cables, if accessible
Disconnect and ground antennas
MElec-Ch6 - 21
 Before Lightning Storm 2
If underway, keep operational
One VHF radio
One GPS / chart plotter
Radar, if so equipped

Handhelds stored below

MElec-Ch6 - 22
 After Direct Lightning Strike
First, check crew CPR Required?
Next, check hull repair any new leaks
Then check navigation & safety equipment
Radios with test call, or with handheld
Magnetic compass
Verify with GPS
Deviation table may no longer be accurate
If fixed VHF Radio or GPS inoperative
Go to backup handheld unit

MElec-Ch6 - 23
 Summary
Tremendous energy in lightning strike
Lightning protection
Based on cone of protection
Components
Air terminal
Discharge conductor (#4 AWG stranded)
Water terminal (1 sq ft)
Bond all metal above deck
Before lightning storm
Disconnect all unnecessary equipment
After lightning strike
First check people
Then hull
May have to go to backup electronics
MElec-Ch6 - 24