The Application of Magnetic Tape to Measure Lightning Peak Current in Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia is known as a maritime contingent country, located in the tropical area, so this geographical condition supports the formation of lightning clouds, namely the Cumulonimbus (CB) cloud. Indonesia has many problems related to Lightning. Lightning strikes can cause damage to structures, damage to equipment, fire and human death. To minimize the danger of lightning strikes, it is necessary to design a good lightning protection system, which uses lightning parameters that are in accordance with the lightning characteristics of the area to be protected. The characteristics of lightning can be obtained using various measurement methods, including direct and indirect current measurements. Research on the Characteristics of Lightning in Indonesia is still carried out using indirect measurements. The previous study uses Lightning Detection System using Time of Arrival and Magnetic Direction Finder. The lightning data obtained from direct measurement is still a little. Direct measurement of lightning currents can be done using an instrumented tower equipped with a measuring instrument. To get more local data, Peak Current Measurement System (PCM) that consist of magnetic tape and lightning event counter (LEC) can be used, especially to get lightning peak current in Indonesia.