Finding affordable surge protector for inverter and controller?

Guy in the area recently lost his solar equipment when a lightning bolt hit his satellite dish. The energy back fed and knocked out his inverter and charge controller. Apparently the solar panels are fine.
1) I've never seen a grounded satellite dish.
2) The satellite/internet dish is often the high point on a property.
I have a 7000 sq. ft steel roof with a satellite/internet dish sitting on top of it. Could be a possible lightning rod? Thinking I should protect my Outback MATE inverter/charge controller with a surge protector.
I know a good solar guy. But he wants $100 for his surge protector. Figured it was worth it to check into alternatives.
My Outback MATE was bought 3 1/2 years ago though I just recently got it operational. So the warranty may be expired...or soon will be.
1) I've never seen a grounded satellite dish.
2) The satellite/internet dish is often the high point on a property.
I have a 7000 sq. ft steel roof with a satellite/internet dish sitting on top of it. Could be a possible lightning rod? Thinking I should protect my Outback MATE inverter/charge controller with a surge protector.
I know a good solar guy. But he wants $100 for his surge protector. Figured it was worth it to check into alternatives.
My Outback MATE was bought 3 1/2 years ago though I just recently got it operational. So the warranty may be expired...or soon will be.
First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
Comments
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- Lighting Rods near the dish/along peak of roof/corners/solar array (i.e., intercept lighting before it its something).
- Usually antennas have surge suppressors/grounding blocks that can be installed in the antenna cables. (similar for cable TV/phone lines/etc.).
- Install surge suppressor(s) at main panel and where any AC/DC electrical cables enter/leave the building (you don't want lightning inside the building).
Here are some other links about lightning control.Years ago, our Admin Windsun (now retired) said that in his experience, most failures for off grid power systems were AC Inverter's AC outputs that were damaged by lightning. Lead Acid Battery banks make pretty could surge/voltage clamps so the DC side of the power system is frequently less subject to damage.
-Bill
Do you really think that after "years" it ends?
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http://zoneblue.org/cms/page.php?view=off-grid-solar
So I have a Delta Model LA603 . Says it is for 600 volt three phase systems. Don't know for sure if this will work...
My brother was an independent oilman. He bought it. I can see oil rigs using ~ 600 volts.
Then again, the instructions show it being attached to a regular run of the mill circuit breaker box.
Those things look funny. Can't imagine how they work.
Upon more study....looks like it is designed to be attached to a 2-pole 240 volt circuit breaker. I have a couple 240 circuit breakers for the wings. But I can only run 120 volt from my solar. Genset is required for 240 volts. I won't be running 240 volts for awhile. Rarely then....only for large motors.
This is an "$85" surge protector. Delta costs about 1/2 as much as Midnite. Not quite as good obviously.
EDIT: Looks like I may be able to hook up the three black wires to three different circuit breakers.
Is Denman around? He is a lineman. Seems busy with all the growth around here.
Does this qualify as protecting the ac side of the inverter? I might think so...since the electrical energy has to backward travel through the circuit breaker box to get to the inverter.
Perhaps the surge protector should be installed on the main circuit breaker? The one where the inverter sends the power to.
http://zoneblue.org/cms/page.php?view=off-grid-solar
Getting robbed 1-3 times/year has made a poor man out of me. I keep wondering if the human race is largely opportunistic criminal. Tend to think so....northern Europe and Canada being exceptions.
They are 2 different designs,and cover 2 different voltage protection ranges. I use both. A direct strike will FRY both. and just about everything except the batteries.
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,
On the other hand, my internet cable got hit by lighting between my neighbors house and mine and set a power pole on fire, went underground and burned the cable underground all along the length, then went into the cable/internet box and then into the house and killed a view more appliances inside the house.
Waiting on grounding my satellite dish as this may be its last week in service if they don't properly fix the service today.