Lightning strikes are a common natural phenomenon, especially during the rainy season. The damage and losses they cause are estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars for LED streetlight power supplies annually worldwide. Lightning strikes are categorized as direct and indirect. Indirect lightning primarily includes conducted and induced lightning. Because direct lightning delivers such a high energy impact and destructive power, ordinary power supplies cannot withstand it. This article will discuss indirect lightning, which includes both conducted and induced lightning.
The surge generated by a lightning strike is a transient wave, a transient interference, and can be either a surge voltage or a surge current. It is transmitted to the power line along power lines or other paths (conducted lightning) or through electromagnetic fields (induced lightning). Its waveform is characterized by a rapid rise followed by a gradual fall. This phenomenon can have a devastating impact on power supplies, as the instantaneous surge far exceeds the electrical stress of typical electronic components, directly damaging them.
The Necessity of Lightning Protection for LED streetlights
For LED streetlights, lightning induces surges in the power supply lines. This surge energy generates a sudden wave on the power lines, known as a surge wave. Surges are transmitted through this inductive method. An external surge wave creates a spike in the sine wave of the 220V transmission line. This spike enters the street light and damages the LED streetlight circuit.
For smart power supplies, even if a transient surge shock doesn’t damage the components, it can disrupt normal operation, causing erroneous instructions and preventing the power supply from operating as expected.
Currently, because LED lighting fixtures have requirements and restrictions on the overall power supply size, designing a power supply that meets lightning protection requirements within a limited space is not easy. Generally, the current GB/T17626.5 standard only recommends that products meet the standards of 2kV differential mode and 4kV common mode. In reality, these specifications fall far short of actual requirements, especially for applications in specialized environments such as ports and terminals, factories with large electromechanical equipment nearby, or areas prone to lightning strikes. To address this conflict, many streetlight companies often add a standalone surge suppressor. By adding an independent lightning protection device between the input and the outdoor LED driver, the threat of lightning strikes to the outdoor LED driver is mitigated, greatly ensuring power supply reliability.
In addition, there are several important considerations for proper driver installation and use. For example, the power supply must be reliably grounded to ensure a fixed path for surge energy to dissipate. Dedicated power lines should be used for the outdoor driver, avoiding nearby large electromechanical equipment to prevent surges during startup. The total load of the lamps (or power supplies) on each branch line should be properly controlled to avoid surges caused by excessive loads during startup. Switches should be configured appropriately, ensuring that each switch is opened or closed in a step-by-step manner. These measures can effectively prevent operational surges, ensuring more reliable operation of the LED driver.
TIANXIANG has witnessed the evolution of the LED streetlight industry and has accumulated extensive experience in addressing the needs of diverse scenarios. The product has built-in professional lightning protection facilities and has passed the lightning protection test certification. It can withstand the impact of strong lightning weather on the circuit, preventing equipment damage and ensuring the street light operates stably even in areas prone to thunderstorms. It can withstand the test of long-term complex outdoor environments. The light decay rate is far lower than the industry average, and the service life is longer.
Post time: Sep-29-2025