What Are the Key Signs That Your Lightning Arrester Needs Maintenance?

Admin / Feb 21, 2025

A lightning arrester serves as an important line of defence for any property against unexpected electrical disturbances caused by lightning. It prevents the damaging electrical disturbance current from passing through the electrical devices by directing it safely into the ground. Like any safety device, a lightning arrester must be maintained regularly to work properly. Neglecting its maintenance can result in expensive repairs and dangerous components. This blog will address important indicators that suggest your lightning arrester requires maintenance and ways to keep it working optimally.

Understanding a Lightning Arrester

A lightning arrester is a mechanism made for the protection of a building and its electrical systems from surge voltages from lightning. It provides a low resistance route for the surge to pass through it and directs it safely into the earth. These devices are usually mounted at places such as buildings, electrical stations and telecommunication towers for effective capture of lightning.

A lightning arrester is composed of metal rods, grounding conductors and surge protection modules, which are the main components. When the device is working properly, it stops power surges from going through wires and damaging expensive electrical equipment.

Why Maintenance is Essential for Lightning Arresters

Having a lightning rod is essential for the protection of your property. Regular care and upkeep are important for its functionality and here are some pointers to the benefits of taking care of the device:

Constant Protection: There is protection from lightning damage amid storms.
Increased Longevity: Proper management can increase the life of the device greatly.
Decreased Fire Threat: Eliminates possible risks triggered by a failure of one of the arresters.

If management of your lightning arresting device is not adhered to, your device might stop functioning prompting a risk of damage to the construction and possible electrical hazards.

Key Signs That Your Lightning Arrester Needs Maintenance

Lightning Arresters and Physical Damage

When we look at a lightning arrester, one of the first warning signs to be on the lookout for is marked physical damage. Any structural deformation to an arrester in the form of cracks, or dents will lead to an arrester not functioning actively. This form of damage comes from the previous lightning strike or other external environmental factors.

Regularly Experiencing Power Surges or Circuit Breakers That Trip

Witnessing regular power surges or tripping circuit breakers while a storm rages outside might tell you that your lightning arrester doesn't seem to be performing its job as it is supposed to. This can show signs of worn-out or broken internal components.

Rust and Equipment Connections

Corrosion on the terminals of the lightning arrester or the grounding conductors can impair its performance. Rust can hinder the low resistive path necessary to divert the surge effectively. Regular inspections are helpful in the early identification of corrosion and in avoiding performance issues.

Weird Noises During Storms

You may assume that noises from your lightning arrestor such as buzzing or crackling may be due to bruising internally. Such noises are common as they result from voltage discharge and should be inspected by an expert.

Intrusion of Moisture

Water infiltration has a great impact on the function of the arrestor. Once there is any moisture within the enclosure of the device, it causes the device to short out and limits its surge handling capacity. Make sure that the device enclosure is adequately sealed and does not harbour moisture.

Age of the Arrester

Lightning arresters are designed to be functional for a specific time frame. If your arrester has exceeded its maintenance time, then it is unable to provide you with enough protection. Implementing the replacement of ageing devices guarantees a reliable working condition.

Inconsistent Performance in Testing

Regular professional testing can reveal performance inconsistencies. If test results show irregular readings or reduced capacity to handle surges

Steps to Maintain Your Lightning Arrester

Proper maintenance involves several key steps to ensure your lightning arrester remains functional:

Regular Visual Inspections: Conduct routine checks for physical damage, cracks, and rust.
Professional Testing: Schedule annual professional inspections to assess performance.
Cleaning and Rust Prevention: All terminals and grounding conductors need to be cleaned consistently to avoid rusting.
Replacing Aging Components: Always inspect parts for age-related deterioration, if found, be ready to replace them quickly.

When to Call a Professional

While basic visual inspections can be done independently, it's essential to seek professional help for in-depth assessments. Certified electricians or a reliable lightning arrester manufacturer in Ghaziabad can offer expert guidance on maintenance and replacement. Attempting complex maintenance tasks without expertise can lead to improper repairs and increased safety risks.

Conclusion

For an electrical surge protector to work properly, routine maintenance is crucial. This holds for all devices that protect buildings from electrical surges, including an arrester. Routine inspections will reduce risk levels by mitigating risks, increasing the life expectancy of the protective gear, and keeping your building safe from the elements. If you note any indicators outlined above, do not hesitate to book an expert evaluation so that your security system stays in prime condition.