Lightning struck my inverter too and it's at the local repair shop too. But your story tells me I have no chance of fixing it. I'd like to know what type of surge protector your are using
Lightening rod and make it the tallest structure on your property.. It could attract more strikes, but would be the easiest path to ground rather than anything else.
I just added the surge protective devices the electrician installed to the description of the video. I will also paste them here: Eaton CHNSURGE Whole Panel surge protection - amzn.to/4aGY9br MARS HVAC Surge Protective Device - amzn.to/3JtdIrl
The surge protectors in the combiner box are meant to protect surge from a panel short circuit. They do not offer lightning strike protection. Another Ytubers found this out the hard way. For lightning strike protection you need a DC midnight solar device hanging off the side of the combiner box. This prevents sending high lightning strike voltage and current traveling down wire to house/mppts. There is a several year old Ytube lab testing post of Midnight solar device vs "cannister filled with powder". The cannister offered no protection from lightning strike, while the Midnight offered multiple strike protection to lab generated strike equivalent.
I originally purchased those boxes nearly a year before so I could easily shutdown the PV system at the panels. I thought they would provide some lightning protection. But maybe not. I will definitely take a look at including those Midnite solar devices.
A very interesting, well done, and informative vid. Thanks! You should unwind the ground wire on your combiner box surge protectors. The winding of that ground wire greatly increases the inductance of the ground path. Inductors limit the rate-of-change of current thru them. Trying to sink a lightning surge requires a VERY fast path to ground. Any slowdown directly raises the peak voltage that the protected side will see during events.
I was wondering if anyone would comment on that. The reason I wrapped the wire around the iron pipe is because I thought I may redo the way I mounted these and I might need that length. You make an excellent point. I can always get new wire if needed. Thanks for sharing that information!
@@proficientprepper If you're like me you'll "think" you might change something right up until it's so old you have to replace it. LOL. Unless you see the coming day you're going to change the setup I'd shorten the wire. If you want it longer later, use a quality split-bolt or a waterproof butt-splice (used for well pumps) and re-extend it. Could be your new setup would need it longer than you have anyway, and you'd still need it extend it. As it is now the unit is probably rendered about 1/2 as effective is it would be otherwise. With lightning protection it's often a game-of-inches where if the let-through voltage peak had been only a couple of volts lower the protected equipment would've survived.
Inverter, battery and panels should be grounded if you have not done so. I have the whole house surge protection and use the midnight solar and have not had any issues so far but never had lightning that close either.
I have now added these to the description. Eaton CHNSURGE Whole Panel surge protection - amzn.to/4aGY9br MARS HVAC Surge Protective Device - amzn.to/3JtdIrl
I'd say they're an excellent repair shop. They were upfront regarding their expertise on this type of diagnosis/repair and they quoted a price if they could fix it and free if they couldn't. They probably spent a few dollars on parts but a heap of hours on repair. Other shops will charge you for parts and labour regardless of outcome.
@@Ulbre I agree with you, they are an excellent repair shop, not looking to rip off anyone either. It was also so kind of them to spend so much time on the inverter AND NOT charge you.
So what are your thoughts on what I added for lightning protection? Is that enough? Do I need to do more on the DC side?
Lightning struck my inverter too and it's at the local repair shop too. But your story tells me I have no chance of fixing it. I'd like to know what type of surge protector your are using
Lightening rod and make it the tallest structure on your property..
It could attract more strikes, but would be the easiest path to ground rather than anything else.
I just added the surge protective devices the electrician installed to the description of the video. I will also paste them here:
Eaton CHNSURGE Whole Panel surge protection - amzn.to/4aGY9br
MARS HVAC Surge Protective Device - amzn.to/3JtdIrl
The surge protectors in the combiner box are meant to protect surge from a panel short circuit. They do not offer lightning strike protection. Another Ytubers found this out the hard way. For lightning strike protection you need a DC midnight solar device hanging off the side of the combiner box. This prevents sending high lightning strike voltage and current traveling down wire to house/mppts.
There is a several year old Ytube lab testing post of Midnight solar device vs "cannister filled with powder". The cannister offered no protection from lightning strike, while the Midnight offered multiple strike protection to lab generated strike equivalent.
I originally purchased those boxes nearly a year before so I could easily shutdown the PV system at the panels. I thought they would provide some lightning protection. But maybe not. I will definitely take a look at including those Midnite solar devices.
A very interesting, well done, and informative vid. Thanks!
You should unwind the ground wire on your combiner box surge protectors. The winding of that ground wire greatly increases the inductance of the ground path. Inductors limit the rate-of-change of current thru them. Trying to sink a lightning surge requires a VERY fast path to ground. Any slowdown directly raises the peak voltage that the protected side will see during events.
I was wondering if anyone would comment on that. The reason I wrapped the wire around the iron pipe is because I thought I may redo the way I mounted these and I might need that length. You make an excellent point. I can always get new wire if needed. Thanks for sharing that information!
@@proficientprepper If you're like me you'll "think" you might change something right up until it's so old you have to replace it. LOL. Unless you see the coming day you're going to change the setup I'd shorten the wire. If you want it longer later, use a quality split-bolt or a waterproof butt-splice (used for well pumps) and re-extend it. Could be your new setup would need it longer than you have anyway, and you'd still need it extend it. As it is now the unit is probably rendered about 1/2 as effective is it would be otherwise. With lightning protection it's often a game-of-inches where if the let-through voltage peak had been only a couple of volts lower the protected equipment would've survived.
Inverter, battery and panels should be grounded if you have not done so. I have the whole house surge protection and use the midnight solar and have not had any issues so far but never had lightning that close either.
Nice video! Thanks!
Welcome!
You mean you COULD NOT list the LIGHNING Breakers & ARRESTORS you used in this video. MG what are you !?
I have now added these to the description.
Eaton CHNSURGE Whole Panel surge protection - amzn.to/4aGY9br
MARS HVAC Surge Protective Device - amzn.to/3JtdIrl
Doesn't sound like a good repair shop. They should be able to test all the amps.
They repair other stuff, they are not setup to repair inverters.
I'd say they're an excellent repair shop. They were upfront regarding their expertise on this type of diagnosis/repair and they quoted a price if they could fix it and free if they couldn't. They probably spent a few dollars on parts but a heap of hours on repair. Other shops will charge you for parts and labour regardless of outcome.
@@Ulbre I agree with you, they are an excellent repair shop, not looking to rip off anyone either. It was also so kind of them to spend so much time on the inverter AND NOT charge you.