Amplifier Surge Protection

Outdoor speaker systems create the potential for lightning to enter the structure on speaker wires. Once this unwanted energy gets on the line, it goes directly through the amplifier on its way to the building's earth ground unless diverted around the amplifier. See our design diagram here. Outdoor speakers are typically in non-conductive enclosures and somewhat isolated from ground; therefore, it is not common to surge protect that end of the line in most installations. The amplifiers that power the outdoor speakers, however, are another matter.  Running speaker wires out to numerous outdoor speakers is like creating a giant copper antenna that attracts lightning. It does not take a direct strike to inject surge energy into the speaker wires. Strikes as far as one quarter mile away generate enough EMP energy for the surge to travel through the air and inductively couple onto speaker wires and travel into homes or other structures. Once lightning finds itself inside the building it can easily destroy the amp and migrate to other equipment in the rack or in the electrical panel feeding the rack.

We would love to help you with any surge protection applications. Please reach out to info@tpdsurge.com or 717-436-2856 with questions.