POWER AND TELEPHONE SYSTEMS

Shannon News, 8 June 1926, Page 2

POWER AND TELEPHONE SYSTEMS

FULLY PROTECTED FROM LIGHTNING. The heavy and unusual thunderstorm last week may have raised a certain amount of apprehension as to the -attractive powers of electrical installations for tiie uncontrolled forces of Nature in the shape of lightning, especially in view of the fact that in one or two cases ranges and lighting systems, as well as telephones were temporarily. put* out of action during the storm. Enquiries made by a. Chronicle representative go to show thatt the presence of electric light or power fittings do not constitute an additional danger., in times of natural electrical disturbances. Lightning in its endeavour to find the easiest path to" earth, might travel by way of a lamp, ■ aiid so fracture the ' filament, but that would be all. At' times, maybe the power in certain sections might be cut off, this being due to the protective devices on the transformers coming into operation as the result of ef-fects-arising out of a storm. These protective attachments act when any unusual strain is placed tin an electric line. To make precaution doubly sure it is suggested that the main switch on the house . switch-board could be opened when a thunderstorm is passing, though the authorities do not consider this is necessary. Insofar as concerns the telephone system there is little likelihood Of damage occurring through the presence of telephone apparatus in the house, as there is a lightning guard incorporated in all telephone services, both at the house and the telephone exchange. Even if the comparatively low voltage wires at -the house cam« into contact with any part of the telephone circuit, the» lightning guard would be actuated and the system become "dead," which means,that subscribers are fully protected 'from the, lighting system or lightning's more' intense voltages.