Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
jeromephone

Lightening protection

Recommended Posts

I have Geovision bullet cameras mounted on metal light poles in a parking lot. I have lightening protection on the lines going into the building but I have lost 3 cameras in the past couple of months due to lightening or surges. Cameras are mounted directly to the metal poles should I isolate them from the poles by putting in a non conductive material between the camera and the pole or is that not worth the trouble. This is a newer install so light poles should be installed according to code so grounding etc should be ok. I have POE for these cameras mounted in weatherproof boxes near the cameras these appear to be ok and the cable checks OK. Any suggestions?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't know why people think that just because a pole is earthed then anything attatched to the pole will be immune from lightning. One way to think of it is a dam bursting. MOST of the water will take the path of least resistance but some will find an alternative route to flow. So with lightning most of the energy will go directly to earth via the pole. But as with any conductor it is not perfect and that energy isn't going to line up and wait its turn to get to earth. Everything on that pole will assume the lightning strike voltage and initially that will involve current flow. Read up on lightning strike voltage gradients. A good insulator may give some protection in the event of a close strike but in the event of a direct hit anything on that pole is cactus.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I got to look at the cameras today. The connectors on the cameras are completely cooked but the cams show no evidence of a direct hit. It looks like we have some kind of problem of the cable getting a surge which is going only to the camera side. Nothing going through the protection back to the building. I am thinking of isolating the camera and putting a second lighting pro from the POE switch at one end and another right at the camera. I think at this point I need to get an electrician to look at the problem.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi jeromephone.

Yes, provide protection at the camera end of the cable as well. You need to prevent the surge from getting into the camera. They're probably being induced into your cable from near by strikes.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Hi jeromephone.

Yes, provide protection at the camera end of the cable as well. You need to prevent the surge from getting into the camera. They're probably being induced into your cable from near by strikes.

What are u using for protection at camera and/or NVR end ?

Thx

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×