{"id":5311,"date":"2025-12-26T15:06:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T07:06:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=5311"},"modified":"2025-12-26T15:07:38","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T07:07:38","slug":"why-does-a-circuit-breaker-trip-during-lightning-strikes","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/news\/why-does-a-circuit-breaker-trip-during-lightning-strikes","title":{"rendered":"Pourquoi un disjoncteur se d\u00e9clenche-t-il lors d\u2019un coup de foudre ?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Electrical abnormalities caused by lightning strikes,\u00a0are a situation that is relatively easy to be misunderstood among the reasons for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/circuit-breaker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">disjoncteur<\/a> trips.<\/p>\n<p>Many users believe that circuit breakers will only trip when they are overloaded or have problems with themselves. However, during thunderstorms, even if the circuit breaker is correctly selected and installed properly, tripping may still occur.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, this situation is often not a fault; instead, it indicates that the circuit breaker is working properly.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5313\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-DC-circuit-breaker-MCB.webp?quality=85&strip=all\" alt=\"YRO DC circuit breaker MCB\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-DC-circuit-breaker-MCB.webp?quality=85&strip=all 800w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-DC-circuit-breaker-MCB-300x300.webp?quality=85&strip=all 300w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-DC-circuit-breaker-MCB-150x150.webp?quality=85&strip=all 150w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-DC-circuit-breaker-MCB-768x768.webp?quality=85&strip=all 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table des mati\u00e8res<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table des mati\u00e8res\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Basculer<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/news\/why-does-a-circuit-breaker-trip-during-lightning-strikes\/#Why_Can_Distant_Lightning_Strikes_Also_Cause_Damage\" >Why Can Distant Lightning Strikes Also Cause Damage?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/news\/why-does-a-circuit-breaker-trip-during-lightning-strikes\/#How_Does_Transient_Overvoltage_Affect_Circuit_Breaker_Operation\" >How Does Transient Overvoltage Affect Circuit Breaker Operation?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/news\/why-does-a-circuit-breaker-trip-during-lightning-strikes\/#The_More_Sensitive_the_Load_The_More_Prone_It_Is_to_Tripping_During_a_Lightning_Strike\" >The More Sensitive the Load, The More Prone It Is to Tripping During a Lightning Strike<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/news\/why-does-a-circuit-breaker-trip-during-lightning-strikes\/#Characteristics_of_Sensitive_Loads\" >Characteristics of Sensitive Loads<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/news\/why-does-a-circuit-breaker-trip-during-lightning-strikes\/#Why_Are_Sensitive_Loads_More_Likely_to_Cause_Circuit_Breaker_Tripping\" >Why Are Sensitive Loads More Likely to Cause Circuit Breaker Tripping?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/news\/why-does-a-circuit-breaker-trip-during-lightning-strikes\/#The_Importance_of_System_Coordination_in_Lightning_Protection\" >The Importance of System Coordination in Lightning Protection<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/news\/why-does-a-circuit-breaker-trip-during-lightning-strikes\/#The_Importance_of_Circuit_Breaker_Design_and_Quality_Under_Lightning_Strike_Conditions\" >The Importance of Circuit Breaker Design and Quality Under Lightning Strike Conditions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/news\/why-does-a-circuit-breaker-trip-during-lightning-strikes\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Can_Distant_Lightning_Strikes_Also_Cause_Damage\"><\/span><strong>Why Can Distant Lightning Strikes Also Cause Damage?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There is an easily overlooked scenario in lightning protection: even if lightning does not directly strike a building or power lines, it can still affect the electrical system.<\/p>\n<p>The voltage waves generated during a thunderstorm travel rapidly along transmission lines, lightning protection wires, or underground metal pipelines, reaching distribution equipment hundreds of meters or even kilometers away. The voltage on the line rises sharply within an extremely short period, creating a transient overvoltage (surge) that enters the building&#8217;s internal power grid.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, most lightning-induced<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/dc-circuit-breaker\/miniature-circuit-breaker-dc550v-high-quality-yrl7-63dc-2p-popular-choice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> disjoncteur<\/a> tripping is<strong> not<\/strong> due to direct lightning strikes but rather surges generated by lightning induction.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_Transient_Overvoltage_Affect_Circuit_Breaker_Operation\"><\/span><strong>How Does Transient Overvoltage Affect Circuit Breaker Operation?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Although transient overvoltage lasts only at the microsecond or millisecond level, its amplitude far exceeds the normal operating level of the system.<\/p>\n<p>In this case, the following changes may occur simultaneously inside the circuit breaker:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sudden voltage changes cause abnormal instantaneous current<\/li>\n<li>The internal electromagnetic force increases sharply<\/li>\n<li>The security protection agency has detected an abnormal operating status<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Overvoltage or inrush current can be detected by the overcurrent\/overvoltage relay inside the circuit breaker. These protection mechanisms will send abnormal signals to the tripping coil or control system, thereby triggering a trip.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5315 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Transient-Overvoltage.jpg?quality=85&strip=all\" alt=\"Transient Overvoltage\" width=\"600\" height=\"552\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Transient-Overvoltage.jpg?quality=85&strip=all 600w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Transient-Overvoltage-300x276.jpg?quality=85&strip=all 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_More_Sensitive_the_Load_The_More_Prone_It_Is_to_Tripping_During_a_Lightning_Strike\"><\/span><strong>The More Sensitive the Load, The More Prone It Is to Tripping During a Lightning Strike<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Under the influence of transient overvoltage or surge currents generated by lightning, the more sensitive the load (i.e., the lower its tolerance to voltage and current fluctuations), the more likely the circuit breaker is to trip.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Characteristics_of_Sensitive_Loads\"><\/span><strong>Characteristics of Sensitive Loads<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><strong><b>Load Type<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><strong><b>Tolerance to Voltage\/Current Fluctuations<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><strong><b>Common Examples<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Electronic\/Communication Equipment (PLCs, servers, inverters, PV inverters, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Rated voltage deviation \u00b15\u202f% or even smaller; highly sensitive to transient surge currents<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Data centers, industrial automation systems<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Precision Instruments (measuring instruments, experimental equipment)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Extremely low tolerance to transient overvoltage, often equipped with surge protectors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Laboratory instruments, measurement devices<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>Motors\/Frequency Drives<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Higher tolerance requirements for voltage dips and transient voltage spikes; surge currents can cause loss of synchronization or damage to power components<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Large fans, pumps, compressors<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>General Lighting, Socket Loads<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Relatively higher tolerance to transient voltages; occasional surges are less likely to cause tripping<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p>Household lighting, standard sockets<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Are_Sensitive_Loads_More_Likely_to_Cause_Circuit_Breaker_Tripping\"><\/span><strong>Why Are Sensitive Loads More Likely to Cause Circuit Breaker Tripping?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When a lightning strike occurs, the transient overvoltage it causes will generate inrush current, transient recovery voltage and high-frequency oscillation inside the circuit breaker. The more sensitive the load equipment is to voltage and current fluctuations, the more likely its internal protection circuit is to be triggered when subjected to an impact, and it will feed back a fault signal to the power grid, causing the circuit breaker to trip.<\/p>\n<p>To reduce the risk of false tripping caused by load sensitivity, a series of protective measures can be taken, including installing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/surge-protective-device\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">surge protection devices<\/a>, selecting equipment with overvoltage protection functions, and establishing a complete lightning protection grounding system. These measures can effectively enhance the overall reliability and operational stability of the electrical system.<\/p>\n<h3><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5314 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-lightning-rods-and-surge-protectors.webp?quality=85&strip=all\" alt=\"YRO lightning rods and surge protectors\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-lightning-rods-and-surge-protectors.webp?quality=85&strip=all 800w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-lightning-rods-and-surge-protectors-300x300.webp?quality=85&strip=all 300w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-lightning-rods-and-surge-protectors-150x150.webp?quality=85&strip=all 150w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-lightning-rods-and-surge-protectors-768x768.webp?quality=85&strip=all 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Importance_of_System_Coordination_in_Lightning_Protection\"><\/span><strong>The Importance of System Coordination in Lightning Protection<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/circuit-breaker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disjoncteurs<\/a> are only one part of the electrical protection system, not the entirety.<\/p>\n<p>When lightning surges occur, the stability of the system largely depends on whether there is good coordination among different protective devices.<\/p>\n<p>Reasonable System Coordination Can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Divert energy before surges reach the circuit breaker.<\/li>\n<li>Reduce the instantaneous impact on the circuit breaker.<\/li>\n<li>Improve the overall stability of the power supply system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Without such an integrated design, the circuit breaker may be forced to withstand surge pressures beyond its intended role, leading to more frequent tripping.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Importance_of_Circuit_Breaker_Design_and_Quality_Under_Lightning_Strike_Conditions\"><\/span><strong>The Importance of Circuit Breaker Design and Quality Under Lightning Strike Conditions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The performance of different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/circuit-breaker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">disjoncteurs<\/a> in lightning strike environments is not exactly the same.<\/p>\n<p>Design details such as contact structure, arc extinguishing system, and tripping setting method will all affect the response mode of circuit breakers in transient events.<\/p>\n<p>Circuit breakers with stable performance and mature design usually have the following characteristics:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It can remain stable in short-term electrical disturbances<\/li>\n<li>Act quickly and decisively when the threshold is exceeded<\/li>\n<li>Still has reliable reset capability after a lightning strike event<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Overly sluggish circuit breakers may amplify the risk of equipment damage.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5312 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-AC-molded-case-circuit-breaker-MCCB.webp?quality=85&strip=all\" alt=\"YRO AC molded case circuit breaker MCCB\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-AC-molded-case-circuit-breaker-MCCB.webp?quality=85&strip=all 800w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-AC-molded-case-circuit-breaker-MCCB-300x300.webp?quality=85&strip=all 300w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-AC-molded-case-circuit-breaker-MCCB-150x150.webp?quality=85&strip=all 150w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.yroele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/YRO-AC-molded-case-circuit-breaker-MCCB-768x768.webp?quality=85&strip=all 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Lightning strikes causing circuit breakers to trip are usually the result of the combined influence of multiple factors, including transient overvoltage and responsible sensitivity.<\/p>\n<p>In most cases, this kind of tripping is not a device failure but a normal response of the electrical protection system under abnormal conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Through reasonable system design, appropriate protective measures and stable-performance circuit breakers, the number of trips caused by lightning strikes can be reduced while ensuring safety.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many users believe that circuit breakers will only trip when they are overloaded or have problems with themselves. However, during thunderstorms, even if the circuit breaker is correctly selected and installed properly, tripping may still occur.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":5317,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"blog_category":[20],"class_list":["post-5311","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blog_category-knowledge"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/5311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/5311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5320,"href":"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/5311\/revisions\/5320"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blog_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yroele.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_category?post=5311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}