The lightning rod and the surge arrester are lightning protection equipment which have different functionalities in the face of the lightning strike phenomenon.
The Indoor Lightning Protection Installation is made up of one or more surge arrester systems.
Surge arresters act like switches. Surge arresters close their circuit when an overvoltage appears on the network and they divert the current to the earthing system.
The Indoor Lightning Protection installation conducts and drains surges and currents into the electrical grounding.
Lightning rod:
- The lightning rod protects structures against direct lightning strikes.
- A lightning rod is the equipment placed on the outside at the highest point of a structure.
- The lightning rod's function is to capture lightning strikes that are likely to directly hit the structure it protects.
The outdoor lightning protection system:
- The External Lightning Protection Installation consists of a sensor called a lightning rod, at least one grounding conductor and a grounding dedicated to each driver.
- The earthing systems must be connected to each other as well as all metal masses located nearby.
- The Outdoor Lightning Protection System captures, conducts and channels the electrical current from lightning into the ground.
Surge arrester:
- The surge arrester protects against the indirect effects of lightning strikes.
- The surge arrester is the equipment placed inside a structure on networks that transport electricity (energy, communications, data, etc.).
- The function of the surge arrester is to prevent overvoltages in the network it protects.
The indoor lightning protection system:
- The Indoor Lightning Protection Installation is made up of one or more surge arrester systems.
- Surge arresters act like switches. Surge arresters close their circuit when an overvoltage appears on the network and they divert the current to the earthing system.
- The Indoor Lightning Protection installation conducts and drains surges and currents into the electrical grounding.