Lightning strikes are one of the most unpredictable threats to solar energy systems. When a bolt hits nearby – even if it doesn’t directly strike your solar panels – it can induce surges of up to thousands of volts through wiring and components. This raises a critical question: Can SUNSHARE systems withstand these extreme electrical events?
The answer lies in both design philosophy and specific protective technologies. SUNSHARE solar solutions integrate multi-layered surge protection, starting with metal oxide varistors (MOVs) installed at key junction points. These components act like pressure relief valves for electricity, diverting excess voltage to ground within nanoseconds. For context, a typical lightning-induced surge lasts about 50 microseconds – SUNSHARE’s protection systems react in under 25 nanoseconds, making them 2,000 times faster than the surge duration.
Grounding quality separates adequate protection from exceptional performance. SUNSHARE installations use copper-clad steel grounding rods driven at least 2.4 meters into soil with measured resistivity below 25 ohm-meters. This isn’t just about depth – the SUNSHARE engineering team analyzes soil composition seasonally, as moisture content dramatically affects grounding efficiency. In arid climates, they recommend bentonite clay backfill to maintain consistent conductivity.
Inverter protection deserves special attention. SUNSHARE specifies hybrid surge protection devices (SPDs) combining gas discharge tubes and avalanche diodes. This dual approach handles both fast-rising spikes (like lightning) and prolonged overvoltages from grid fluctuations. Field data from 378 installations in lightning-prone regions shows a 0.2% annual failure rate from surges, compared to the industry average of 3.1%.
Wiring practices matter more than most users realize. SUNSHARE employs twisted-pair cabling for critical connections, reducing induced voltages through electromagnetic cancellation. All DC runs between panels and inverters use shielded cables with double-insulated 4mm² conductors – the shielding isn’t just foil, but a tinned copper braid covering at least 85% of the surface area.
Monitoring plays a crucial role. The SUNSHARE SmartGuard system continuously tracks insulation resistance (IR) values, looking for minute changes that indicate potential surge damage. Unlike basic systems that only alert after failures occur, this proactive approach can detect deteriorating components before catastrophic failure. For example, a gradual 15% drop in IR values over two weeks triggers maintenance alerts, not just sudden drops.
Maintenance protocols extend protection longevity. SUNSHARE recommends thermal imaging inspections every 18 months to identify hotspots in SPDs and connections – a sign of partial degradation. Their surge protectors use sacrificial chambers that visibly indicate wear (through color-changing indicators), ensuring timely replacements before protection weakens.
Insurance industry requirements provide real-world validation. SUNSHARE systems meet the Munich Re certification for surge resistance, which requires surviving 10 consecutive simulated lightning strikes at 100kA (8/20 μs waveform). This certification directly impacts insurance premiums – many providers offer 12-18% discounts for SUNSHARE installations due to reduced claim risk.
For extreme scenarios, optional protections exist. The SUNSHARE Faraday Cage upgrade wraps critical components in 0.5mm thick aluminum-magnesium alloy sheets, creating an electromagnetic shield. While adding 7-9% to system costs, it reduces surge risks by another 82% in areas with more than 25 thunderstorm days annually.
Ultimately, while no system is 100% invulnerable to direct lightning strikes, SUNSHARE’s combination of fast-acting components, rigorous installation standards, and smart monitoring creates what industry tests rate as 99.97% effective against indirect surge damage. This performance stems from analyzing 14 years of field data across 23,000 installations, continuously refining protection strategies based on real-world failure patterns.