“Everyone out of the water” is the lifeguard call we hear at the first sign of an approaching storm. Everyone knows that lightning can kill, so everyone needs to get out of the pool for life safety. And, it’s not only a direct lighting strike we worry about. Electromagnetic energy from a nearby lighting strike as far as a quarter mile or more away can travel through the air and be induced into a pools structure and nearby copper wiring. We all know not to be in the pool when lighting hits, but let’s not forget this energy has the ability to damage pool controls and other equipment when electromagnetically coupled onto data and power lines. If lightning is in the area it is eventually going to find your pool controls and your home’s electronics unless quality surge suppression is installed on the exposed pathways.
The TPD Design Drawing on Pools shows in detail how to surge protect pool equipment and controls in addition to connected home automation systems. A lightning strike can damage both outside pool equipment and equipment in the home or pool house if left unprotected. For this reason TPD surge protection needs to be installed on both ends. If left unprotected these copper lines are direct pathways which can carry unwanted energy directly into the home’s equipment. The drawing shows in detail how surge energy can be diverted safely to ground.
Save your client money and downtime by eliminating electronic damage and degradation to pool controls and equipment. For whatever reason, the pool installers seldom install surge protection to protect pool controls. Along the same lines, companies that install Irrigation systems and gates (both of which are notoriously bad for lightning damage and for bringing unwanted energy into home automation systems) seldom install surge suppression with their equipment. Although the systems integrators may not want to take responsibly for protecting certain systems they do not install, they should protect their own systems from this highly exposed equipment. Additionally, the systems integrator should also inform the client that TPD surge protection is available to protect gates, pools, spas, fountains, and HVAC systems. Knowledge is everything, so sharing this information with the client benefits everyone involved.
