Lightning/grounding problems

[Rockyd]

Having lightning/transient voltage issues.
I work on wells with vfd's, and we just lost either another control board or pump (10 h.p.)
The utility lost a fuse ( according to the mechanical tech who talked to the lineman that service the area).

Anyone else experiencing well difficulties over lightning? This is the third hit in a year, trying to reduce financial impact.
Thinking ground ring instead of ground rods/well casing to create something like a Faraday cage to take the hit, verses transient voltages trashing equipment.

The wells average 400 foot, 6 inch + metal casing.

Any thoughts/brainstorm solutions?

 

[EC Dan]

I've installed line reactors on VFDs at the manufacturer's recommendation after we lost a 100 HP drive from lightning.

 

[petersonra]

I doubt any amount of grounding will do any good.

What might help are surge protectors. The line reactor suggested by another poster might help as well.

Keep in mind many (maybe most) VFDs come with movs on the inputs so there should be some surge protection built in.

 

[ptonsparky]

Not sure if it would be cheaper to stock spare 10hp drives or install surge protection. I've seen some on VFD pump panels but they were 100hp.

 

[petersonra]

Not sure if it would be cheaper to stock spare 10hp drives or install surge protection. I've seen some on VFD pump panels but they were 100hp.

I wonder what kind of VFD it is. Some of the cheaper ones are not very robust.

 

[Rockyd]

I doubt any amount of grounding will do any good.

What might help are surge protectors. The line reactor suggested by another poster might help as well.

Keep in mind many (maybe most) VFDs come with movs on the inputs so there should be some surge protection built in.

 

[Rockyd]

Installed the manufacturer's reactors,, am with you in thinking spark gap arrestor style lightning protection.
Just frustrating losing gear. The truck stop a mile away had to replace a huge amount of electronic equipment....

 

[Rockyd]

Not sure if it would be cheaper to stock spare 10hp drives or install surge protection. I've seen some on VFD pump panels but they were 100hp.

About 350 to 600....

 

[rcol]

I've installed line reactors on VFDs at the manufacturer's recommendation after we lost a 100 HP drive from lightning.

Did you ever solve your lightning issue with the 5069-IF8? (Sorry, responses were closed on that thread)

 

[EC Dan]

Did you ever solve your lightning issue with the 5069-IF8? (Sorry, responses were closed on that thread)

I've had success with using an optical isolator on the problematic circuit, which I believed to be a level transmitter mounted on the top of a stainless steel tank outdoors with the signal cable running several hundred feet to the indoor control panel. The IF8 connected to this sensor accounted for about 90% of the failed units over the past three years. I haven't had any failures of this module since I implemented the isolator earlier this year.

 

[rcol]

I've had success with using an optical isolator on the problematic circuit, which I believed to be a level transmitter mounted on the top of a stainless steel tank outdoors with the signal cable running several hundred feet to the indoor control panel. The IF8 connected to this sensor accounted for about 90% of the failed units over the past three years. I haven't had any failures of this module since I implemented the isolator earlier this year.

That’s what we did as well. Have to wait for the next storm to see if that does the trick. (sorry again for squeezing into this thread off topic)