This is why you need surge protection

In this video I cover what happened to our solar power system during a lightning storm. And I diagnose and repair our solar array
Assistant editor Tabitha Stone
Link to my EMP shield install video • Installing surge prote...
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I believe if you use my Emp shield links below you will receive a discount.
Here is a link to the single PV surge protection model
www.empshield....
Here is a link to the dual PV line model
www.empshield....
Link to the midnight solar surge protector I used.
signaturesolar...
A link to the insulated connectors I used to wire the emp shield inline / splices
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#solarpower
#solarinverter
#offgridsolar
#eg4
#signaturesolar
#18kpv

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Correction, I don’t believe the 12kpv has been EMP tested yet. Although I would expect it to pass, the same as the 18kpv, we don’t have that info as of yet.

Most of the better brands of all in one inverters or inverters and charge controllers have MOV's spile protection across the inputs but only some have them across the outputs.. If a spike gets inside the house wiring first from a direct hit nothing will stop or save things but those are really rare unless you have plugged in extension cords outside during a storm.. I put a GFI and a plug in surge device on anything like that outside.. Years ago I had an extension cord running to the shed for power and left it plugged in.. It took a hit and fried literally everything on that phase inside the house..

[@tracyt4327]

Been there. The surge protector saved my entire house. Definitely worth the investment. Saved my entire solar system.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Yeah I’ve heard this from a number of people now. Seems like a worthwhile investment considering the cost of batteries and inverters.

And more is always better than less so never feel like you have ever overdone it when it comes to protection..

[@AdamDeLay07]

Guess I should probably install my surge protection devices! Glad you're stuff was protected!

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Yeah I think it’s a must.

[@Roll2Videos]

Crazy lightning. Happy to hear the family is ok.

[@Time-Trvlr]

The air near a lightning storm can become charged with electricity. I have heard ham and CB antennas snapping while discharging thousands of volts to ground when thunderstorms passed overhead. It doesn't need a direct hit to compromise electrical equipment. And yes I personally tested this with baling wire and had painful sparks leaping out of my tennis shoes.

[@easttexascowboy257]

Pretty impressive that the 18kpv recovered from this. I suppose I should incorporate some decent surge protection when I do the upgrade. Glad you came through with only the SP damaged! Good job.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

It is impressive. He got knocked down for a minute, brushed the dust off, and got back up. I’m so glad I had SPD’s on my arrays. Sometimes we don’t know we need it till it’s too late. 🙂 If this prevents someone from losing their system then I will have done my job.

[@jimmyg6215]

I use Midnight Solar on my arrays at the solar panel array as well as at the inverter. I have a 400 foot run between solar array and inverter. Also have one on the Battery side. AC has square D surge in the panel, as well as one in the Mini Split System. Hopefully they take the hit if we have similar situation.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Yeah I will happily pay to replace the SPD, rather than my entire system.

[@rodneyhunt]

Nice work Gavin! I need to get mine installed. I have had them (midnights) for a long time but have not been a priority to install. Thanks for the update!

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Thanks. Make it a priority! I have done the same with my emp shield on the breaker panel. But not in definitely making time.

[@donbrenczeizinger6571]

Good job on the video!

[@basspig]

Back in June we had a direct lightning strike on our east-facing array. I thought it had killed the charge controller but in reality all of the bypass diodes in all 20 of the solar panels had shorted out. Once I removed the bypass diodes that charge controller came back to life.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Yeah I still need to finish checking my diodes. I’ve read that lightning can affect those as well.

I have 2 Midnight solar arrestors on the DC side and 2 LAR arrestors on the AC side along with several MOV spike devices across all the solar to breaker to ground connections.. I do want to add additional arrestors at the charge controllers and inverters this winter before Spring storms start up..

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Sounds like a good plan.

[@andyman8630]

no surge protecter will stop a direct lightning strike

[@GavinStoneDIY]

I’m sure that’s true. This wasn’t a direct lightning strike.

[@Sylvan_dB]

See also the Delta LA series. Available for A.C. and D.C. in various voltages.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Really appreciate that. I’ll look them up.

[@ToddLarsen]

We get some nasty lightening storms out here during the monsoons, and my equipment is always on my mind. We use the same midnight solar unit. It's great to hear that my 12k might survive a hit if all other protection fails. Thanks for sharing, and as always, keep building 👍

[@Waldoe16]

I have a Solark 8K, I don't have DC protection, but lightning nearby put out in an alarm twice and I lost power for 4mins. The alarm said "DC Overcurrent". Anyway the inverter got back on and everything has been working fine. Sol Ark inverters have lightning pv input protection integrated but I don' know well or how it works. That buzzing was the charges from the lightning generating an EM field. That was an indirect impact most likely. From what I understand, direct lightning strike is usually catastrophic no matter the protection you have. Though EMP protection should be standard for all inverters, solar flares and lightning happen frequently. You should check your surge protectors in the house to check for evidence of damage. If there is nothing, then AC side prob wasnt affected that bad. It was just the solar array that acted as an antenna and afected pv input.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Yeah the surge could still have come from the PV side. That is possible. It’s hard to say really. The somewhat cheesy surge protectors I have on the ac side are still intact. But yeah, with a direct strike all bets are off really. I definitely don’t want one any closer.

[@AudioScienceReview]

Looks like the "EMP Shield" was the problem, not the solution. It blew up short which in turn caused the combiner breaker to trip. It should have an internal fuse and not short out this way. Likely your system would have kept going without it as the protection inside EG4 is all that you need. The EG4 has the lowest impedance to ground assuming it is by your meter/main panel so its surge protection is most effective. Something at the end of the many feet of wire at your solar connection is not going to be similarly situated.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

The combiner breaker wasn’t tripped. SPD’s are designed to shunt to ground this way. There wouldn’t be any way to know whether my system would have survived without it, because I had it. 🤷🏼‍♂️ My inverter is around 130’ from my main panel.

[@joetripp123]

I’m glad that little box did its job. I’ll definitely look into some kind of surge protection. Do you feel roof mount panels at a higher risk than ground mounted panels? Mine are on a ground rack.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

I would imagine this could affect either roof or ground mount. So having some quality SPD’s is a good practice either way.

[@sh839c]

Why didnt the combiner box fuses/ breaker trip first, they are ahead of the emp shield correct?.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

They are yes. And I’m not sure. Really all bets are off when a nearby lighting strike occurs. I’m just happy I had something that did catch it.

[@The101damnations]

@@GavinStoneDIY Fuses/breakers trip based on current i.e overcurrent/short circuit. Surge protectors trip based on voltage. That's why a fuse doesn't offer any real protection against a surge. Presumably, the EMP shield blew because of the sudden voltage spike and the Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs) inside of it are now toast. You can see the MOVs in the new device that was installed, they're the large blue rectangular components.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

@@The101damnations true, I’ve just had fuses blow also. So I’m surprised that all remained intact.

[@unionse7en]

which ligtning stike map ? in general. I'm looking for a historical strike map

[@GavinStoneDIY]

My sister in law is a big time weather geek. She showed me a map of our area after the storm. I’m not sure which site she looks at. I can check though.

[@brilliant713]

You realize you need to check if your panels bypass diodes are all blown? You are gonna end up with hots spots and cooked panels, especially with all the tree shading.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

This is good advice. I didn’t include this in the video.

[@MrKid37]

Hey Gavin! 2 questions, can you clarify how you wired in the emp protector and now the new surge protector? 2 I also have the 24/7 watts combiner box, I thought it had a surge protector built in......is that not the case?

[@GavinStoneDIY]

The combiner box does come with built in surge protection. But the surge ratings and stats on these units are much higher. I would rather have those built in SP than nothing. But I would definitely prefer either a midnight or EMP shield over those any day. I go into more detail on how I wired these to my array on my other EMP shield video. I have that linked at the end of this video. I’ll add it in the description also.

[@MrKid37]

@@GavinStoneDIY brilliant. Thanks for the quick response. And thanks for the informative video

[@roslynandbobchauvin2378]

Question unrelated to the topic.... I see you are using hardi-backer behind your systems. Is that for fire safety, or some other purpose?

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Yeah it’s fire rated. Plus it’s fairly cheap, so it just seems like a good precaution to take. Most solar equipment mentions the need for a fire retardant surface to mount them to.

[@joeldcoxks]

@@GavinStoneDIY What's your opinion on just mounting to fire rated drywall (like Type X drywall)

[@GavinStoneDIY]

@@joeldcoxks yeah I’d be good with mounting to a fire rated drywall also. I guess it depends on the size of your system. But you’d probably only be talking about $30 worth of backer board.

[@Time-Trvlr]

Drywall / sheetrock is rated fire retardant

[@stevenfrazier8939]

I need your Signaturesolar code for the shopping cart

[@GavinStoneDIY]

Oh yes sorry. Gavinstone

[@stevenfrazier8939]

Thank you Gavin.

[@BryanKirch]

Eg4 claims their system is emp proof?

[@GavinStoneDIY]

They’ve released some articles about the testing they’ve had done yeah. It’s not an easy claim to make. Evidently the testing was pretty extensive

[@samuelfox8126]

Nothing protects against 1M volts. It can jump any gap if it wants to

[@GavinStoneDIY]

It can I’m sure. The best we can do is our best. So I try to add multiple layers of protection.

[@samuelfox8126]

@@GavinStoneDIY it can jump from a cloud to the ground. It's going to go where it wants to go. Consumerism isn't being safe, it's spending money you don't need to.

[@GavinStoneDIY]

@@samuelfox8126 so your idea is to do nothing? I hope that works out well for you in the future. I don’t really follow that logic. But to each his own.

[@bhbaker220]

Any perspective on what would happen if you had disconnected the PV on the inverter or a PV breaker or disconnected the PV at a MC4 connector? If I know lightning storms are coming, I generally power everything down and open breakers but not sure if that would help with a close strike. Thanks for sharing!

[@GavinStoneDIY]

@@bhbaker220 disconnecting the PV lines would do the trick I’m sure. That’s a lot of prep for each storm though, I guess it depends on your system size. But you also have the ac side of things to contend with.