Lightning cards work in temperatures from -30 to +80ºC and can record strikes from 6 to 300 kA. Each card is numbered to tie data to the card location or installation time.
As part of a complete line of lightning protection and grounding products, manufacturer ERICO offers a lightning registration system for use on operating land and offshore wind turbines. Part of the ERITECH line of facility electrical protection products, this system consists of:
• Lightning card including card holder
• Card reader (connects to a computer by USB port)
• Report-generating and registration software
The lightning cards have been tested to work in temperatures from -30 to +80ºC and can record strikes from 6 to 300 kA. Each card is numbered to tie data to the card location or installation time. The cards are calibrated to measure current in a 10-mm circular conductor. A correction factor can modify a card reading to account for alternative conductor geometries or dimensions.
When lightning current is conducted to ground by the lightning downconductor, it generates a magnetic field around the conductor. By applying a card with a special magnetic code trail perpendicular on the conductor, the magnetic field generated by the lightning will delete the data in the area where its strength is higher than the resistance of the code trail against deleting. The maximum lightning current to which a card has been exposed can then be read by a special card reader.
Recorded data can be compared to meteorological data for lightning in an area in question to reveal a connection between lightning impacts and breakdowns. The manufacturer can provide support contacts if teams need assistance analyzing data.
ERICO
www.erico.com
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