Investigation of electromagnetic effect of lightning on indoor motion detectors and their cables using FEM

Lightning is known as a discharge of atmospheric electricity that is triggered by a build-up of differing charges within a cloud. The result is a sudden release of energy that causes a distinctive bright flare, followed by a thunderclap. Lightning is a transient, high-current discharge whose path length is measured in kilometers. Each lightning bolt can contain from 3000 to 200000 amperes of electricity. A reliable protection against lightning has become very essential for buildings. Therefore buildings are constructed to include protective elements known as lightning conductor or lightning rod. Lightning conductor is a metal rod or metallic object mounted on top of a building, electrically bonded using a wire or electrical conductor to interface with ground through an electrode. Magnetic induction and magnetic field strength formed as a result of lightning cause motion detector errors and at the same time affect the wires of these motion detectors. This study presents an investigation and the results of electromagnetic coupling effects of the magnetic fields created by flowing high currents in through lightning conductors on indoor motion detectors and their cables using finite element method (FEM).