Protecting Equipment from Lightning

Protecting Data Loggers in lightning-prone areas is critical, as lightning can travel through the ground into buried sensors or cables, causing damage. Proper planning minimizes the risk of data loss, equipment damage, and downtime.

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How Lightning Strikes Equipment

Thunderclouds generate electrical charges—negative charges at the bottom of the cloud and positive charges on the ground beneath. Elevated equipment such as antennas, solar panels, or power sources attract these charges. When a ground charge connects with a charge from the cloud, lightning can strike your devices.

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Impact of a Lightning Strike

Lightning causes a surge of excess electrical energy, resulting in high currents and voltages that can physically damage equipment. This can lead to:

• Costly repairs or replacements

• Lost data from offline devices

• Financial and operational losses

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Protective Measures

• Identify lightning-prone areas using local lightning detection maps

• Use lightning rods to safely redirect strikes to the ground

• Install protective gear around devices

  • Note: Data Loggers include internal surge protection, but direct strikes may still cause damage

• Minimize exposed cable lengths to reduce vulnerability

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While no system is completely immune to lightning, these measures increase equipment survival and reduce the risk of data loss.