Enhanced lightning surge resistance doubled! A case study of a communication equipment manufacturer that achieved zero equipment failures from lightning strikes using a custom power supply to protect outdoor communication devices.

Outdoor communication equipment is constantly at risk of failure from lightning surges, which may lead to service outages and reduced customer satisfaction. This article introduces a case study of a reinforced power supply solution provided by Unifive to supplement the insufficient resistance of standard adapters. In real-world testing, it achieved zero lightning-related failures, contributing to improved uptime and reduced maintenance costs.

“Concerned about service outages caused by lightning damage to communication devices?”

Outdoor communication devices are constantly exposed to the risk of lightning strikes.

"I want to power outdoor communication equipment, but I’m worried it might break due to surges caused by lightning." We received such concerns from a communication equipment manufacturer. Especially in environments such as those for base stations where devices are vulnerable to lightning surges, standard AC/DC power adapters — desktop & wall-mount — leave reliability concerns unaddressed.

This time, we introduce a case where the reliability of communication devices was ensured through custom power supplies with enhanced lightning surge resistance.

Customer Challenges and Background

Standard AC/DC power adapters — desktop & wall-mount — have insufficient surge resistance, increasing the risk of equipment failure during lightning strikes.

- Service interruptions due to lightning could lead to lower customer satisfaction

- Outdoor installation requires minimizing maintenance frequency

Step	Initiative	Effect
1	Detailed surge requirement hearing and analysis of environmental conditions	Set optimal protection level
2	Use of surge absorbers + reinforced insulation design	Achieved twice the surge resistance of standard products
3	High-voltage testing simulating real environments	Capable of handling surges beyond expectations

Point: Surge protection completely reinforced using only the power supply — no changes to the existing equipment design!

Results After Implementation

1. Achieved zero equipment failures due to lightning during field tests

2. Improved operation rates of communication services, leading to increased customer satisfaction

3. Reduced maintenance frequency, lowering running costs

Customer Feedback

"Even during actual field testing, there were zero issues due to lightning. Now we can confidently provide our products even in areas with frequent thunderstorms!"

─ Development Representative, Communication Equipment Manufacturer

For Those with Similar Challenges

Inadequate lightning protection for installed equipment
Increased maintenance costs due to surge-related failures
Urgent need to improve communication reliability

If any of these apply to you, feel free to contact Unifive. Our power solutions ensure reliability even in harsh environments and support you in solving your challenges.