Strike faking: how lightning can be simulated to check equipment is safe

Test pulses from lightning impulse generators can be used to ensure lightning protection is functioning properlyLightning protection is mandatory for schools, high-rise blocks of flats, churches and factories in the UK. It is also essential for electrical equipment, the testing of which may involve using a portable lightning generator.A lightning inspector's annual check is mainly visual confirmation that lightning rods are intact, the necessary connections are in place and nothing has been damaged by lightning in the previous year. Inspectors check that surge protectors, which prevent lightning from overloading a building's electrical circuits, are in place and working. Inspection may also involve physical testing, such as measuring the conductivity of lightning rods. Continue reading...