Lightning strike protection?

[Dave_Karon]

Anyone have any ideas about protecting AI and MultiFunction DAQ boards from power surge and / or nearby lightning strike related power surge events.

Hardware: PCI-6224, SCB68  (2 each)

Background: Recent lightning strike related power surge caused damage to a number of instruments.

Fortunately, teh PC with the PCI-6224 cards was not connected to mains or the SCB68s.

We do not yet know that the SCB68s are NOT damaged, but there is a chance that they are not.

The DAQ cards are used in a remote location to measure a combination of low level signals (thermocouples) and

+/- 10V signals (other sensors).  Article under Test is in one trailer, data acq hardware in another which is connected by power cable.  Test system is normally powered by 85KVA generator when operating a test.  When idle, heaters are powered by

circuit from a nearby power line.

Now that we've committed to using this location for our test (potentially long term test program), we learn that it is

prone to lightning strikes in the area.

Anyone have any ideas if it is possible to adequately protect the DAQ cards & termination panels, other than by disconnecting

when not in use?  While not compromising the integrity of the low level signals?

Also, Any ideas about protecting other instrumentation.

Thanks
Dave

[AnalogKid2DigitalMan]

Cool (lightning) but bummer that the HW got damaged.

General tips- all not cheap, I realize that they may not be practical for you, but dealing with a lightning prone site is a bugger- even nearby strikes that do not hit any wiring can induce enough voltage on any wiring or conduit to fry electronics.

Lightning rods installed properly around sight.

Bury inter-trailer wiring in metal conduit.

Proper cabling/signal grounding.

Power mains surge protection or operate off of isolated battery source.

Use of grounded conduit on all signal and control lines.

Separate the signal wiring from the power/control wiring.

Fiber optic or radio modem to isolate sensors and acquisiton hardware.