Indelec — Prevectron 3 early streamer emission (ESE) lightning conductor
A well-documented ESE air terminal with a published protection-radius formula — made under a French standard rather than IEC 62305, so check what your design requires.
Reviewed 6 October 2026
An early streamer emission (ESE) lightning conductor is an air terminal that the maker says triggers an upward leader earlier than a plain rod, so it protects a larger area. Indelec’s Prevectron 3 comes in five versions (S 60, S 50, S 40, TS 25, TS 10, named after the advance in triggering time, ΔT, in microseconds) and needs no external power — it charges from the ambient electric field.
The brochure is specific: protection radius is calculated under the French standard NF C 17-102:2011 with a published formula and tables for four protection levels (r = 20, 30, 45 or 60 m); the model passed the full NF C 17-102 Annex C test sequence, including a 100 kA (10/350 µs) withstand test and salt-mist and humid-sulphur environmental tests, with results witnessed by Bureau Veritas. It also lists UL certification, CE marking, a >200 kA lightning-current test at UNICAMP in Brazil and a five-year warranty.
What the brochure does not say matters for an Indian buyer. It names NF C 17-102 and UNE 21-186 — not IEC 62305, the international lightning-protection series, and no Indian standard. ESE terminals are specified under national standards like these rather than IEC 62305, and the claimed benefit over a conventional rod has been debated in the lightning-protection community. We have not independently assessed those performance claims. Ask your designer or the authority specifying your lightning-protection system which standard the design follows before buying one.
For Installers & Engineers
Deeper technical detail beyond the homeowner-facing summary above.
We checked the brochure’s formula: Rp = √(2rh − h² + Δ(2r + Δ)) for h ≥ 5 m, with Δ = ΔT × 10⁶ (ΔT in seconds, so 60 µs gives Δ = 60 m). For an S 60 at h = 5 m and protection level I (r = 20 m) that gives about 78.6 m, matching the 79 m in the table.
The table shows how strongly the claimed radius depends on the assumed protection level and height: for level I at 5 m, the S 60 is listed at 79 m and the TS 10 at 26 m. A radius is only as good as the risk analysis (NF C 17-102 Annex A) behind the chosen level, and h is measured from the horizontal plane through the furthest point of the area to be protected.
The brochure’s “40% reduction of the standard deviations measured in the High Voltage Laboratory” for its OptiMax feature is the manufacturer’s own lab result, and standard deviation is a measure of spread, not of protection area.
Maintenance is addressed: the unit is modular, and an Indelec Tester (stated to meet NF C 17-102 maintenance requirements) can check it on site without removing it. Periodic testing is part of owning one.
Dimensions and weight are published: S range 365 mm high, 200 mm body diameter, 317 mm maximum diameter, 3.9 / 3.3 / 3.0 kg; TS range 320 mm high, 140 mm body, 261 mm maximum, 2.0 / 1.8 kg; M20 connection.
A lightning terminal on or near a PV array interacts with the array’s earthing, separation distances and DC surge protection. That is a design task for a lightning-protection engineer, not something a product sheet settles.
The Scorecard
How we scoreStandards & Safety Compliance
Thoroughly tested and documented under NF C 17-102 with independent witnessing, but that is a national standard; no IEC 62305 or Indian-standard basis is stated, and ESE performance claims are debated.
Build Quality & Durability
Salt-mist and humid-sulphur environmental tests, a 100 kA withstand test and a >200 kA discharge test are stated, all manufacturer-reported.
Fit & Ease of Use
Modular, self-powered and testable on site, but it needs a proper risk analysis, down-conductor and earthing design around it.
Documentation, Warranty & Support
Formulae, tables, tests, tester and a five-year warranty are all stated; the brochure is undated and names no India support.
Value for Money
Not assessed — we have not sourced a current India price.
Strengths
- Published formula and radius tables for four protection levels, so the claim can be checked
- Tested to the NF C 17-102 Annex C sequence including a 100 kA 10/350 µs withstand, witnessed by Bureau Veritas (as stated)
- Self-powered; modular, with an on-site tester for periodic checks
- Five-year warranty stated; UL and CE marks listed
Watch-outs
- Specified under NF C 17-102 / UNE 21-186, not IEC 62305; the brochure names no Indian standard
- ESE performance claims are the maker’s and are debated; we have not assessed them
- Protection radius depends on a site risk analysis, protection level and height — not a fixed number
- The brochure is undated; no India distributor, price or installation guidance for rooftop PV is given
Datasheet Specifications
| Type / versions | ESE lightning conductor · S 60, S 50, S 40 (ΔT 60/50/40 µs), TS 25, TS 10 (25/10 µs) |
|---|---|
| Governing standard | NF C 17-102:2011 and UNE 21-186:2011 |
| Protection radius (level I, r = 20 m, h = 5 m) | S 60: 79 m · S 50: 68 m · S 40: 58 m · TS 25: 42 m · TS 10: 26 m |
| Protection levels | r = 20 / 30 / 45 / 60 m for levels I–IV |
| Tests stated | Annex C sequence: marking, mechanical, salt mist and humid sulphur, 100 kA 10/350 µs withstand, triggering-time measurement; witnessed by Bureau Veritas |
| Other certifications listed | UL, CE, Qualifoudre, Russian RTN; > 200 kA discharge tests at UNICAMP |
| Size / weight | S range 365 mm, 3.9 / 3.3 / 3.0 kg · TS range 320 mm, 2.0 / 1.8 kg · M20 |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| IEC 62305 / Indian standard | Not mentioned in the brochure |
Specifications marked “datasheet-stated” are manufacturer figures we have not independently measured. Always confirm the exact model on its current datasheet before purchase.
Open the manufacturer’s datasheet for Indelec Prevectron 3 early streamer emission (ESE) lightning conductorWho It’s For
- Projects where a designer has chosen an ESE terminal under NF C 17-102 and wants a documented, testable product
- Buyers comparing ESE offers who want formulas, tests and a warranty to check against
- Not a drop-in answer for a typical home rooftop — get a lightning-protection design first
Our Verdict
A transparently documented ESE terminal whose claims you can check against a published formula and test list — but a product sheet cannot tell you whether an ESE terminal is the right choice. Have a lightning-protection design done first, confirm which standard governs it, and treat the radius figures as design inputs, not guarantees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ESE lightning arrester?
An early streamer emission air terminal is a lightning rod that the maker says triggers an upward streamer earlier than a plain rod, giving a larger protected radius. Its performance is specified under national standards such as the French NF C 17-102 and the benefit is debated, so check what your design standard allows.
How is the Prevectron 3 protection radius calculated?
By the NF C 17-102:2011 formula using the terminal’s installed height, the protection level (r = 20, 30, 45 or 60 m) and its advance in triggering time. For an S 60 at 5 m and level I the brochure gives 79 m.
Does a rooftop solar plant need a lightning arrester?
It depends on the building’s lightning exposure and risk assessment, and on what your DISCOM or designer specifies. Surge protection on the DC and AC sides is a separate question from an external air terminal.
Data Provenance
- Verified on
- 6 October 2026
- ALMM status
- Unknown — verify directly
- Source datasheet
- View official manufacturer datasheet
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