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A crucial component that must be figured into the systems of solar power generation is surge protection, if the business is going to be shielded from weather related damage costs.   Solar farms primarily utilize a photovoltaic (PV) system in order to produce energy. These systems have the ongoing issue of being subject to weather related damage simply due to their exposure to the elements and physical makeup.  Wear and tear on exposed components by wind, dust, dirt and rain is difficult to avoid, however a far more serious potential for damage resides in the occurrence of lightning strikes to panels or connected equipment.  The expected deterioration of exposed system components can be figured into the cost of ongoing operations, and can be reduced through the manufacture of more robust panels, however the damage caused by lightning strikes is both far more severe and far more preventable through the integration of advanced surge protection devices (SPD) into the PV system.

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Solar energy production represents an exciting opportunity to turn the tide from fossil fuel heavy fuels which are not renewable, to the renewable energy provided by the sun.  The reason there is so much potential for growth in these renewables is because of our ability to advance and improve solar energy production through the use of technology.  Advancements within new technologies provides the ability to lower production costs, store the energy produced for longer periods of time without substantial loss, transport the product across longer distances, and produce the product with less environmental impact.  The ability to identify softness in the process and improve it with technological advances creates a landscape of infinite possibilities for new energy. (more…)

Wind farm operators will often worry about their inability to secure adequate insurance coverage.  This is because when insurance companies, after assessing risk factors involved in the daily operation of a wind power generating facility, realize that the risks associated with lightning strike are far greater than what they typically underwrite.  Essentially, the risk of equipment damage exposed to harsh weather may be within the guidelines of what is acceptable, but the unique makeup of wind farm structures adds an additional damage rider to policies that increases the costs and potentially makes the farm impossible to insure by the owner. (more…)

Read More: https://www.raycap.com/lightning-surge-protection-for-residential-and-commercial-applications/

When laypeople think about surge protection, they generally have in mind the surge strips that are sold at electronics stores.  These devices are simplistic versions of surge protection equipment which is utilized on an industrial level.  The functionality of these types of devices is lower quality when compared to the designs and technology that are involved in industrial surge protection devices.  Residential SPDs work more like the breaker box and circuit breakers, which simply switch off all power flow if it exceeds a specific amount.  A surge strip acts as a buffer in between the circuit box and the component inside of the residence or business, providing a redundant system which will cut off all power flow to the components which are plugged in to it.  These types of devices are generally satisfactory for home use, because the value of the equipment which is being used and potentially being damaged by the power surge is minimal.  As times change, we find that the modern smart home is using far more advanced and expensive equipment, (more…)

Misunderstandings of lightning and weather events can cause some people to fail to realize the importance of surge protection with regard to solar fields and energy production systems.  Alternative or “green” energy systems are understood to be primarily solar, wind and hydro-electric, with each using a completely renewable and free fuel source to create electrical power.  While lightning strike threats are obvious when it comes to wind farms  (often the tallest structure in an area), many fail to recognize that solar farms can also be in danger of lightning damage, even though they are typically lower to the ground and sitting nearly flat.  Solar installations are not immune to lightning strike damage because they do cover wide expanses and are exposed to the elements. When there is a lighting strike near a solar site chances are it will affect one or more of the panels themselves.  The damage that is sustained at the strike point itself is hard to avoid, but the real problems are actually a result of the resulting power surge.  This is why solar surge protection is so crucial to the profitability of solar power producers, as an important cost of doing business lies in the repair and replacement of damaged equipment. (more…)

Wind Farm Lightning Protection Solutions

Insurance risk to wind farms is a hotly contested issue, and the underwriting of insurance policies to cover losses to wind power producers is quite an involved process.  This is due to the multiple forms of damage that typically will befall wind power producers, generally categorized into two sections: property and mechanical.  Each type of damage will result in losses, but the types of losses that are typical have very different frequencies and therefore have to have very different types of insurance policies to back them. (more…)

Street Cabinets For Equipment Protection

Information technology is the force behind industrial control and distribution equipment used in the telecommunications or energy industries, and improving system functionality and protecting the investment is of primary importance, especially when it comes to sensitive systems. While “computer issues” are always a concern in any business, there are ways that sensitive systems can be protected from elements and the dangers and expenses associated with downtime.  One example of this is the advanced “street cabinet,” which is essentially a reinforced box with heat dissipation capabilities and protection from small creatures or rodents. It is within which this environment that outside telecom or utility equipment can be placed in order to be protected.  Street cabinets are generally used where it is necessary to place expensive and sensitive equipment — used in a process either at street level or in public spaces — into an environment where it is protected from exposure to potentially damaging circumstances.  These cabinets can be manufactured from a variety of materials and can come in a variety of forms, but the general purpose is the same, to protect the sensitive equipment that is inside while allowing it to function properly.

Advanced street cabinets manufactured by Raycap provide the necessary protection to computerized or electrical equipment placed in public spaces that could be damaged due to this placement.  This damage will generally occur through a variety of situations ranging from being struck by lightning to rodent infestation, or vandalism, and as a result they must be tough enough to withstand penetration from a number of causes.  If a cabinet were to be struck by lightning and it was made from a protective material that could conduct electricity, it would almost certainly assure the destruction of all equipment inside.  For this reason, Raycap street cabinets are constructed of high strength aluminum and plastic materials that will not enable the surge produced by a lightning strike to couple into attachments or connection points.  The points where wiring must exit the cabinets are reinforced through specialized grommets or other sealing devices in order to minimize the exposure points that would allow for moisture and air leak, both of which can have devastating effects on running equipment.  At the same time, ventilation systems are integrated that will allow for air transfer in order to prevent overheating of equipment due to the enclosed and sealed nature of the structure.  A balance between climate control internally and protection externally is the best defense that industry has to protect their investments in the field.  Raycap is a leader in manufacturing the technologically advanced cabinets necessary to provide that protection.

Raycap’s street cabinets have been the choice of leading industry decision makers for years, and are the logical choice for those tasked with extending the useful life span of equipment used in numerous industries.  The reduction of expense with regard to operations is one of the most important tasks that must be attended to in order to maintain profitability as well as online status.  Raycap is dedicated to providing its customers with the most advanced solutions available, ranging from integrated surge protection devices to the cabinets that hold the computers.  Contact a representative today to find out more.

Solar Surge Protection Systems

Solar power production has grown significantly over the course of the past decade, both in the form of industrialized systems that produce for communities as well as individual systems that are available for residential usage.  The growing widespread adoption of solar power systems to produce consumable energy can be attributed on the industrial level to the fact that is has the ability to not only generate cleaner power with less environmental impact, but also has the ability to generate less expensive power as technology improves.  The adoption of solar power systems on the residential level has to do with the ability to generate power for your own consumption yourself, and the availability of sunlight as a fuel source in far more situations that other sources like running water or even wind. Quite simply, solar power production is the future and will improve the communities that it is adopted within, producing necessary electricity in more widespread applications with less environmental impact than any of the other forms. (more…)

 Nearly every industry has become more technologically advanced over the past decades, and there is not nearly a single business that is not reliant upon computers for some portion of their operations.  Due to this move into the technology space even by  industries that would not seem to need to be technologically advanced, the increasing need for equipment protection becomes even more important.  The things that everyday consumers take for granted are generally tied to computerized systems in one form or another, and the only time that this dependence becomes apparent is when the system is no longer available.  When your power goes out, or when you cannot get a cell phone signal, you are being indirectly affected by a system that is probably controlled by computers, and you are witnessing in real time the need for protection systems to be in place. (more…)