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 Auto gate hit by thunder strike, How to prevent?

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TSSphenix
post Dec 27 2016, 11:14 PM, updated 9y ago

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Bad luck this year, auto gate had been struck twice this year.

Is that thing can be install on to prevent being stile? Like arrestor or surge protector?
qwerty223
post Dec 28 2016, 12:42 AM

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add a metal box for your motor. And ground the box and your motor directly to the grounding point aka earth. Usually near your front gate.
Richard
post Dec 28 2016, 06:06 AM

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QUOTE(Sphenix @ Dec 27 2016, 11:14 PM)
Bad luck this year, auto gate had been struck twice this year.

Is that thing can be install on to prevent being stile? Like arrestor or surge protector?
*
You're half way correct..

If something is drawing lightning means there is a greater potential between those objects..

Your gate is already a lightning rod .. What is missing is an alternate path to ground other than through your auto gate earthing..

Since your auto gate is already being struck by lighting the solution is to ground the body..

so run a bit of copper tape to the body of that auto gate connect to a copper rod deep into ground as close to the auto gate as possible..

That should provide the alternate path to ground than your auto gate wire ..

Edit * qwerty223 is right .. I'm just putting his answer in another way..

This post has been edited by Richard: Dec 28 2016, 06:10 AM
TSSphenix
post Jan 1 2017, 02:33 PM

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QUOTE(qwerty223 @ Dec 28 2016, 12:42 AM)
add a metal box for your motor. And ground the box and your motor directly to the grounding point aka earth. Usually near your front gate.
*
QUOTE(Richard @ Dec 28 2016, 06:06 AM)
You're half way correct..

If something is drawing lightning means there is a greater potential between those objects..

Your gate is already a lightning rod .. What is missing is an alternate path to ground other than through your auto gate earthing..

Since your auto gate is already being struck by lighting the solution is to ground the body..

so run a bit of copper tape to the body of that auto gate connect to a copper rod deep into ground as close to the auto gate as possible..

That should provide the alternate path to ground than your auto gate wire ..

Edit * qwerty223 is right .. I'm just putting his answer in another way..
*
Well this is what I found top of the box, is a zinc/aluminium material, however is not being ground. Just a cover, is this suppose to be?



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qwerty223
post Jan 1 2017, 03:49 PM

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QUOTE(Sphenix @ Jan 1 2017, 02:33 PM)
Well this is what I found top of the box, is a zinc/aluminium material,  however is not being ground. Just a cover, is this suppose to be?
*
really dont know what is the purpose of the foil. But I would remove it, silicon seal the the box to the wall.

The cage thing is to create a faraday cage. meaning that the entire circuit is in a metal cage/box that has no conduction between each other. The principle is simple but need some basic understanding, try google.

Grounding wise, you can try this: find if the earth point is within reachable, if not go hardware shop and buy a "earth rod" aka ground rod, it should be a 5-10 ft copper rod, and some bonding braid (if you made the box), ask for the one with pu sleeve. Hammer the rod into the nearest safe ground, without underground structure, piping and wire. For the box, connect it to the earth rod with grounding braid. For your circuit board, find the in coming harness, pick out the ground wire joint, split one more ground wire that connects the earth directly.

For maximum protection, add a surge protector between the mains and the circuit board. For this operation, you should ask your auto gate provider about it if your pcb burn again. He/she should had taken the bullet and add a surge protection. Typical grounding issue you are having.

 

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