Lightning strike fries irrigation controller
Judy Mishkin
5 years ago
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Comments (12)
Snaggy
5 years agosdello
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Rainbird Sprinkler System hit by Lightning
Comments (2)Each lightning strike repair is a little different from the last. Controllers are regularly damaged by lightning normally by the surge entering the field wiring and chasing the wire back to the controller. More than likely you will need to replace some solenoids as well. We also see damage to the direct burial wire leading from the solenoids to the controller. In the worst case I have ever seen in my 25+ years of experience, ~500' of 16 gauge wire was actually vaporized leaving nothing more than tattered plastic remains from the plastic insulation. Some repairs are more simple than others, but in my professional opinion, consult an irrigation expert to make the necessary repairs. All Wet Texas Licensed Irrigator #1897 since 1984...See MoreSurge Protector for Irrigation system controller?
Comments (5)I received advice from Hunter on this and see below, it seems that no specs are spelled out for a surge protector but I have bought one from my power company for this controller and will hope for the best in protecting against power blips. From Hunter: "Debra, Unfortunately when grounding an electrical device it's hard to say exactly how much protection is enough. A significant strike of electricity regardless of the protection could still allow harm to the controller or it's component's. As a manufacturer of irrigation components Hunter can only recommend using a surge protector to help in protecting the controller. For warranty and liability purposes we are not going to be able to give you an exact electrical protocol on what sure protection device is going to be sufficient. Typically customers use simple surge protection strips similar to computer protection devices. Or if inline protection is necessary a company called Control Tech out of Denver Colorado(www.controltech.com) can help you with more complex protection."...See Morehelp with irrigation timer/controller
Comments (2)I have a Rainbird timer, or should I say that I have had 7 new ones in the last 9 years. Timers are very sensitive to lightning strikes and electrical surges. I finally bought a super-dooper surge protector which paid for itself. Last summer my porch got a direct lightning hit. It damaged the cable line which had to be replaced. But---for the first time, my sprinkler timer box survived! My husband used to joke that I could give lessons on how to set up timer boxes. No more. So, that was a long explanation to say your box is probably damaged and to prevent it from happening again, get the best surge proctor you can find. It will pay for itself. Christine...See MoreLightning Protection Systems
Comments (13)In keeping with what Brickeyee stated about lightning following the wire, about 10 years ago I was working for a company installing sheet metal HVAC duct on a hospital project in Pensacola, Fla. We were on the 5th floor of a 6 story section which had the structural steel, steel decking and the concrete floors poured but the exterior walls were all still open. About 25' from where we were working there was a man making a butt joint weld on an 8" iron pipe for the chill water distribution system. At noon we all broke for lunch and went to our gang box and sat down, but the welder kept on working. All of the sudden, KA-BOOOOOM, Lightning struck the end of that 8" pipe where it still extended slightly over the edge of the building. We literally watched as a blue-white haze ran the length of the pipe, then through the welders hand and followed his stinger lead across the floor and over the side of the building about 150' away. We were all froze motionless, knowing only too well that the poor welder must be dead, then just as casual as you please, the welder reached up and lifted his hood, got to his feet and hollered over to us, "Did you guys see that? The damn welding rod just exploded into nothing, I never saw anything like that before in my life! WE ran over to him, thinking he had to be in shock or something, but believe it or not, he was totally unscathed, not so much as a minor burn save for the black scorch marks on his heavy leather gloves. When we told him what happened he couldn't believe it, but then he just fitted another welding rod, dropped down on his knee and said, I got to finish this weld before i go to lunch. He then tried to strike and arc and nothing happened so he walked over to the side of the building and looked down at the huge trailer mounted Hobart welding rig, or at least what was left of it. All four tires were blown off the trailer and the entire rig was on fire. The superintendent had seen the original lightning strike and saw the generator catch on fire so he had called the fire dept and they were just arriving as we looked down. Later the welder told us that the lightning had totally fried the windings in the generator and blew a hole in the diesel engine fuel tank, so it was the fuel that we saw burning. When they rolled up the stinger leads it was also discovered that there was a 8" wide scorch mark on the concrete deck all the way from the welders position to the point where the stinger lead went over the side of the building. It is believed that it was the stinger lead that saved the welder by directing the lightning through the insulated handle of the welding stinger and on to ground....See MoreDavidR
5 years agoJudy Mishkin
5 years agoJudy Mishkin
5 years agog thom
5 years agoDavidR
5 years agog thom
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
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