Lightning Arresters

Lightning Arrester Picture Lightning arresters are designed to safely channel a lightning strike to ground without damaging equipment . Inside the porcelain housing of an arrester, are a series of spark gaps plus one or more silicon carbide blocks. Silicone carbide has an unusual electrical characteristic. It has a very high resistance to the flow of comparatively low-voltage, but a very low resistance to extremely high voltage. When lightning strikes there is a sudden rapid rise in voltage and current. The silicon carbide resistance breaks down, allowing the current to be conducted to ground. After the surge is passed, the resistance of the blocks increases thereby allowing normal current to flow

Lightning Arresters Picture 2 Lightning arresters are typically located at the top of a distribution pole wherever a pole-top transformer, capacitor bank or other critical piece of equipment is located. Some utilities in very heavy lightning prone areas of the U. S. locate lightning arresters periodically along distribution lines regardless of the presence of critical equipment.