Solar street lamps have been widely used in the field of road lighting due to their advantages such as energy conservation, environmental protection and convenient installation. However, as it is usually installed in open and tall outdoor environments, it is highly likely to become a target of lightning strikes. Once lightning strikes a solar street lamp, it will not only damage key components such as the lamp, controller and battery, but also may cause safety accidents and result in economic losses. Therefore, it is of vital importance to master effective measures against lightning strikes.
A perfect grounding system
Good grounding is the foundation of lightning protection for solar street lamps. The grounding system can quickly introduce the powerful instantaneous current generated by lightning into the ground, preventing equipment from being damaged due to overvoltage. First of all, appropriate grounding materials should be selected. Generally, hot-dip galvanized flat steel, round steel or copper materials are used, which have good electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. The burial depth of the grounding electrode should comply with relevant standards, usually not less than 0.6 meters, and it is necessary to ensure that the grounding electrode is in full contact with the soil. The resistivity of the soil can be reduced and the grounding effect enhanced by adding resistance-reducing agents around the grounding electrode. The general requirement is that the grounding resistance should not exceed 4Ω. If this standard cannot be met, the grounding resistance can be reduced by increasing the number of grounding electrodes or extending the length of the grounding body.
Install lightning rods or lightning belts
A lightning rod or lightning belt can attract lightning to itself and safely discharge the lightning current through the grounding system. When installing lightning rods on the top of solar street lamps, it is necessary to ensure that the height and protection range of the lightning rods can cover the entire street lamp system. The length of a lightning rod is generally determined by the height of the street lamp and the surrounding environment, usually ranging from 0.5 to 1 meter. For some solar street lamp facilities that are tall and large in area, it is more appropriate to install lightning protection belts. Lightning protection belts should be laid along metal components such as street lamp poles and solar panel brackets, and be reliably connected to the grounding system.
The application of surge protectors (SPDS)
Surge protectors are key equipment for lightning protection in solar street lamps. They can instantly limit excessively high voltages within the range that the equipment can withstand. In the solar street lamp system, surge protectors need to be installed at multiple locations. At the DC output end of the solar panel, a DC SPD should be installed to prevent overvoltage generated by lightning induction from invading the system along the power line. On the connection lines between the controller and the battery, corresponding SPDS also need to be installed to protect these core components. When choosing a surge protector, a reasonable selection should be made based on parameters such as the system's working voltage, maximum continuous operating voltage, and nominal discharge current.
Line protection
The circuit of a solar street lamp includes the DC circuit between the solar panel and the controller, the circuit between the controller and the lamp, etc. These lines also require special attention during the lightning protection process. Shielded cables should be used as much as possible for the lines, and both ends of the shielding layer should be reliably grounded to prevent lightning electromagnetic pulses from interfering with the lines and inducing overvoltage. In cases where shielded cables cannot be used, a metal pipe can be wrapped around the cable and grounded. Meanwhile, the laying of the lines should avoid crossing with other metal objects as much as possible to reduce the generation of induced overvoltage.
The reasonable layout and installation of the equipment
When installing solar street lamps, the positions of each component should be reasonably arranged. Solar panels should be installed at the top of the lamp post as much as possible to avoid being blocked by tall buildings or trees around. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure a good electrical connection between the solar panels and the lamp post. The controller and battery should be installed in a place that is waterproof, moisture-proof and easy to maintain, and kept away from damp and high-temperature environments. During the installation process, all metal components must be reliably electrically connected to form a complete equipotential body, avoiding safety accidents caused by electric sparks resulting from potential differences.
Regular maintenance and inspection
Lightning protection facilities are not a one-time solution and require regular maintenance and inspection. Regularly check whether the grounding system is in good condition and whether there is any corrosion or loosening of the grounding electrode. Check whether the surge protector is working properly and whether its indication status is normal. Check whether there are any problems such as damage or aging in the circuit. For the problems found, timely repair and replacement should be carried out to ensure that the lightning protection system of solar street lamps is always in good working condition.
The lightning protection of solar street lamps is a systematic project, which requires comprehensive consideration and implementation from multiple aspects such as grounding systems, lightning protection devices, surge protection, line protection, equipment installation and regular maintenance. Only by doing every link well can the lightning protection capacity of solar street lamps be effectively enhanced and their safe and stable operation be guaranteed.
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