Lightning Prediction & Detection Devices
PopovThunder
Specifications
Patent JP 3266884, JP 4295698, US 6586920
As to June 6, 2010
The thunder is a natural phenomenon. The human does not yet know all of thunder.
We do not compensate you for all troubles to occur by this product.
When the Japan government forbids that we export this thunder detector to your country, we
cannot offer this thunder detector to you.
Hirakawa Work Inc.
This content may change without notice.
Important Notice
*When you use this thunder detector, you must know harm of the thunder well.
If your nation demands constant knowledge and skill from you about preventing harm of the
thunder, and you do not have the knowledge and a skill, you must never use this thunder
detector. Your nation may demand a necessary license to use this thunder detector for you.
In this case you must obey this demand.
*We developed this thunder detector to protect an electric and machinery from thunder. You
must never use only this thunder detector for the purpose of protecting a person and an
important animal, a plant, an important object from thunder directly or indirectly.
*The method to prevent harm of the thunder is studied by many people. It is one of the
methods that you use the thunder detector. You must certainly use other effective methods
together with this thunder detector so that you prevent harm of the thunder more surely.
*When you use this thunder detector, at first you must do appropriate examination to follow
the safety level related to the law of your country and the law about materials to use
for connection and it to use this thunder detector, the design of the system. If a law and
the safety level of your country do not accept the use of this thunder detector, it is
impossible to use this thunder detector in your country.
*This thunder detector includes a harmful material and rare materials such as the lead,
gold, palladium, and silver out of necessity to keep the performance. When you cannot
perform the appropriate disposal that obeyed the rule that the country establishes of you
when you finish the use of this product, you cannot use this product.
* PopovThunder is not a device preventing a thunderbolt.
* PopovThunder does not completely prevent the damage of the thunder.
* PopovThunder is for lightning protection such as electric facilities, or control system. You
must never use PopovThunder for the purpose of protecting the body of the person from
thunder.
*PopovThunder is a thunder detector to use for the control of an electric and the machinery.
You can use PopovThunder for only this purpose.
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Applications
*PopovThunder is Lightning prediction and detection device, which uses coherer for thunder
detecting element.
Features
* High reliability
*The detection reliability for 1,000,000 times of lightning affecting the electric circuit
exceeds 95%. (As a result of own company test) When you used PopovThunder for the
electric circuit definitely, the high detection reliability of PopovThunder offers the defense
success rate more than 95% to your facilities for 1,000,000 times of lightning. The accident
to be caused by PopovThunder having misjudged does not happen in Japan for 1000 years.
(The total number of used PopovThunder × The number of years without an accident ＞
1000 years)
* PopovThunder prediction lightning.
* When the outbreak of the lightning, voltage gradient increase between overhead lines
and the earth. PopovThunder detects this voltage gradient, and put warning signal.
* PopovThunder detect surge which choose thunder or of equal strength.
* PopovThunder choose high surge of the fear to have an influence on electric facilities and
detect it. PopovThunder put warning signal. PopovThunder detect surge by lightning and
other, such as cable-earth fault.
* PopovThunder can use under strong transmitted waves.
*Coherer doesn’t detect normal transmitted and received waves. Therefore, PopovThunder
can use under and near transmitting station. For example, wireless communication,
broadcasting, and microwave link, mobile telephone.
* External antenna not need.
* PopovThunder detect surge from transmission lines directly.
Products
* Thunder detection unit
HW-PR-101A
1
* Detection coil unit
HW-PRPT-1
1
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Standard specifications
○ Thunder detection unit
HW-PR-101A
Specifications
Descriptions
Notice
Operating Temperature
0～50(℃) No freezing.
Range
Operating Humidity
10～90 (%Rh)
Range
No condensation.
Operating Condition
No inflammable / corrosive gas,
No dust, No vibration condition.
3000 (m) below ground level.
Required Power Supply
Maximum Surge
Voltage
DC 24 (V) ±10 (%)
For stable movement, power
Nominal 50 (mA) Current draw.
supplies more than 3 (A) are
(When detected 200 (mA))
necessary.
2 (kV) 1 (μs) square wave.
(SIGNAL IN)
500 (V) 1.2/50 (μs) (OTHER)
Sensitivity
Impulse voltage to ground.
(*1)(*2)(*3)
become over 30～120（Vpp）
Thunder warning
Make at detected.
Output
break at detected.
(no-voltage make contact.)
30（V）1（A）Max.
Shortest
Default time is 8 minutes. It is
Adjustable within 3-13min
Thunder warning output
not necessary for you to adjust
Difference ±20％
Time
this time generally.
*1 By a difference of the impedance of the line where you fitted, sensitivity of the voltage
changes. If a detection unit works in this voltage range, PopovThunder is normal.
*2 This is equivalent as follows. Both it is in case of use PopovThunder by normally standard
transmission lines.
*3 When real thunder hazardous zone of the moment comes close to about 10km,
PopovThunder detects lightning occurring in Hazardous zone and outputs a warning signal.
When real thunder hazardous zone of the moment comes close to about 1km,
PopovThunder outputs a warning signal without lightning.
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○ Detection coil unit
HW-PRPT-1
Specifications
Description
Notice
Operating Temperature
－10～＋60 (℃) No freezing.
Range
Operating Humidity
10～90 (%Rh) No condensation.
Range
Operating Condition
No inflammable / corrosive gas,
No dust, No vibration condition.
3000 (m) below ground level.
Withstand voltage
2000（V）1（Min）to ground.
Applicable transmission
100(V) / 200(V) transmission
By connection like
line
lines. (Single-phase, Split-phase,
100(V) Single-phase,
Three-phase 3 Wire)
you can apply to a metal
Require neutral line.
telephone wire.
(Require neutral line.)
Current draw
5 (mA) Max
Maximum Surge
Depend on connected SPD
Voltage and Current
Recommend SPD
IEC 61643‐1 Class2 or higher
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Detail of PopovThunder
Dimensions
○ Thunder detection unit
HW-PR-101A
※Notice install direction
5φ Mounting Hole
Maintenance space over 50mm
Install it with this aspect as up or down.
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○ Detection coil unit
HW-PRPT-1
Maintenance
space
Over 50mm
Maintenance space over 50mm
If this unit put up, replace mounting ears to “Put up tap screw” at previous figure.
Then holes of mounting ears are next figure.
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Connections
○ Thunder detection unit
HW-PR-101A
DC, DETECT, SQ, and other terminals
Terminal connector: SATO Parts CO., LTD. ML-820-S1BYH-15(Non-screw type)
Cable range: AWG26 – AWG16
Wire strip length: Show side of Terminal.
Connect and
Disconnect Button
○ Detection coil Unit HW-PRPT-1
L1 ~ L3 , E terminal
OSADA Co., LTD. VB-7.62 and VC-7.62 (Separated Outer and Inner)
Solder-less Terminal.
Cable range: AWG30 – AWG10
Wire strip length: 7mm ~ 8mm
DO NOT insert above 2 wires into 1 terminal.
Connect and Disconnect
Screw
(Slotted screwdriver)
L1
L2
L3
E
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○ Connect with Thunder detection unit, and Signal Specification
(1) SIGNAL IN
Connect 75 (Ω) RF coaxial cable with F type connector to Detection coil unit. Shorten
this cable as much as possible.
(2) 24V IN (+ -)
Connect power supply which voltage is DC 24(V) and load currents is above 3(A).
Recommend to install varistor at near side of device between + and –.
(Recommend varistor: Varistor voltage is 56(V). (for example: Panasonic ERZV20D560)
Connect 96（℃）10（A）thermal fuse series.)
(3) 24V IN (G)
Connect to earth. Earth impedance should be low as much as possible.
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(4) SQ (R+ R-)
Use this if external control unit connect.
If R+ is 24(V) and R- is 0(V), SQ (DET) output is available. When thunder detect at once,
SQ (DET) make and hold. If R+ sets 0(V) or R+ between R- short, SQ (DET) restarts
detected output.
Do not connect if PopovThunder uses standalone.
(5) DETECT (ON OFF)
This is thunder warning output. This consider relay switch. If thunder detect, DETECT
ON is make, and DETECT OFF is break.
About
3 ~ 13 minutes
Detect
Detection Inhibit
(about 30 second)
Detect
Warning time is about 3-13 minutes (adjustable: difference ±20%) since thunder is not
detect. Warning time can adjust TIME ADJ knob. If warning time is short, rotate TIME
ADJ knob clockwise. (Default time is 8 minutes. It is not necessary for you to adjust this
time generally. )
If next thunder detect during warning output, internal timer restart, and warning time add
about 3 – 13 minutes.
After 30 seconds since warning turn off (DETECT ON is break, DETECT OFF is make),
thunder detection inhibit.
During warning output, DETECT lamp (front panel of Thunder detection unit) light on.
If coherer is broken (short) by very strong surge, SENSOR lamp (front panel of Thunder
detection unit) light off. And the Thunder detection unit does not do the thunder detection
after having finished the movement that a Thunder detection unit performs now.
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(6) SQ (OK)
Use this if external control unit connect.
If coherer is broken (short) by very strong surge, this transistor becomes open circuit,
and SENSOR lamp (front panel of Detection Unit) light off.
(7) SQ (INH)
Use this if external control unit connect.
This is open collector transistor circuit. If this is short circuit, thunder detection is
inhibited.
(8) SQ (DET)
Use this if external control unit connect.
This is open collector transistor circuit. When thunder detect at once, SQ (DET) make
and hold. If R+ sets 0(V) or R+ between R- short, SQ (DET) restarts detected output.
(9) SQ (+ - E)
Use this if external control unit connect.
This is power supply for external unit. This power supplies from 24V IN (+ -) through
2 (A) circuit protector. SQ (E) is earth.
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Construction examples
○ Overview
Connect Detection coil unit and SPD (recommend IEC 61643‐1 Class2 or higher) as
shown in figure below. When this is connected to the transmission lines, this unit detects the
surge such as the lightning of the transmission lines.
Connect Detection coil unit, Thunder detection unit, and SPD to the bonding earth.
The following figure is a working example using the earthing bar.
Detective section
Thunder warning
Fuse
output
Detection
SPD
*4
coil unit
E
E
Thunder
detection unit
G
*1
*2
*3
Transmission
Lines
Earthing Bar *5
Earth *6
*1 Use this earthing wire large and short as much as possible. (Use AWG16, length of
30(cm) or shorter)
*2 Use this earthing wire short as much as possible. (Use length of 30(cm) or shorter.)
*3 Use this earthing wire large as much as possible. (Use AWG10 or larger, length of 30(cm)
or shorter.)
*4 Use 5C-2V or higher RF coaxial cable. Use this wire short as much as possible. (Length
recommend 1(m) or shorter.)
*5 Use this earthing bar wide and thick as much as possible. (If you use copper bar, use
width of 25(mm) or more, and this thickness is 5(mm) or more), and make this length short
as much as possible. (Use length of 50(cm) or shorter.) And recommend contact resistances
low as much as possible. (50(mΩ) or lower)
*6 Use earthing resistance low as much as possible. This resistance recommend 30(Ω) or
lower.
All wire recommend UL3266, UL1430, or higher, and Operating voltage is 600(V) or higher.
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○ Connection transmission lines to detective section
*Connect neutral line to L2 of Detection coil unit.
(1) Detect from single-phase power transmission line
AWG16 or larger
AWG16, 30cm or shorter
N
Metal box
N
N
FUSE 10A
SPD
L1 L2 L3
PRPT-1
E
AWG10 or larger
E
AWG16, 30cm or shorter
To SIGNAL IN of
Thunder detection unit
(2) Detect from sprit-phase power transmission line
AWG16 or larger
AWG16, 30cm or shorter
N
Metal box
N
N
FUSE 10A
SPD
PRPT-1
E
AWG10 or larger
L1 L2 L3
E
AWG16, 30cm or shorter
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To SIGNAL IN of
Thunder detection unit
(3) Detect from three-phase power transmission line
AWG16 or larger
AWG16, 30cm or shorter
W
Metal box
W
W
FUSE 10A
L1 L2 L3
SPD
PRPT-1
E
AWG10 or larger
E
AWG16, 30cm or shorter
To SIGNAL IN of
Thunder detection unit
* Connect transmission lines to SPD that based on specifications of SPD.
* Use typical glass tube fuse before Detection coil unit as protection.
(φ6.4×30(mm) or φ6.35×31.8(mm) 250(V)) When there is a rule in your country, you obey
this.
* When you installed PopovThunder in the following environment, PopovThunder may
do unexpected movement. Please confirm movement beforehand.
* A very strong electromagnetic field of follows.
* Electric field intensity(effective value): over 275（V/m)
* Magnetic field intensity (effective value): over 2.18/f (Hz) (A/m)
* The environment that the impulse voltage at cable-earth resisting a neutral of the
transmission line (Over 20 (Vpp) (100 (kHz) – 1 (MHz))
* PopovThunder detects high voltage noise very well, such as cable-earth fault, earth
leakage, and contact discharge. Many of these noises are the voltage like the lightning
surge, therefore those noises may cause malfunction to other normal electric system. Check
the whole circuit beforehand, and solve all problems.
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