About Unicorn Energy Systems
1. What does Unicorn Energy Systems do?
Unicorn Energy Systems is a Lahore-based electrical engineering company specializing in earthing solutions and solar PV (photovoltaic) systems. The company designs and installs complete earthing systems, lightning protection, and solar power solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial clients across Pakistan.
2. Is Unicorn Energy Systems really Pakistan’s first earthing chemicals manufacturer?
Yes. Unicorn Energy Systems is recognized as Pakistan’s first manufacturer of earthing chemicals, producing locally formulated compounds used to achieve low-resistance, long-lasting earth pits suitable for Pakistan’s varying soil conditions.
3. What areas does Unicorn Energy Systems serve?
The company is based in Lahore and serves clients throughout Punjab and other regions of Pakistan, covering both residential earthing/solar installations and larger commercial and industrial projects.
Earthing Systems
4. What is an earthing system and why is it important?
An earthing (grounding) system provides a safe, low-resistance path for fault currents, surges, and lightning strikes to dissipate safely into the ground. Without proper earthing, electrical faults and surges can travel through walls, wiring, and appliances, causing equipment damage, fire hazards, and risk to human life.
5. What are earthing chemicals and why are they used?
Earthing chemicals are conductive compounds applied around an earth electrode (earth rod or plate) to reduce soil resistivity. They help maintain low earth resistance even during dry seasons, extend the life of the earth pit, and reduce the need for frequent maintenance compared to traditional charcoal-and-salt earthing methods.
6. How is earthing chemical different from traditional charcoal and salt earthing?
Traditional charcoal-and-salt earthing degrades over time, requires regular topping up, and is highly dependent on soil moisture. Earthing chemicals are designed to be chemically stable, retain moisture better, and provide consistent low resistance for a much longer service life, reducing long-term maintenance costs.
7. Should AC earthing, DC earthing, and lightning earthing be combined into one pit?
No. AC earthing, DC earthing, and lightning protection earthing should each have their own separate, independently designed earth pit. Commoning all three into a single pit is a common installation mistake that allows a lightning surge to spread current into the entire electrical system instead of being safely contained, increasing the risk of damage to appliances, inverters, and building wiring.
8. How often should an earthing system be tested or maintained?
Earth resistance should ideally be tested at least once a year, and more frequently in areas with dry soil or high lightning activity. Testing ensures the earth pit still provides the low resistance value required for safe fault current dissipation.
Lightning Protection
9. Does having a nearby water tank, mobile tower, or transmission line protect my building from lightning?
Not automatically. A nearby tall structure only provides protection if your building falls within its calculated protection radius — a specific zone determined by the structure’s height and recognized lightning protection standards. Assuming protection without this calculation is a common and risky misconception.
10. What is a lightning arrester and do I really need one?
A lightning arrester (or air terminal) is a device designed to intercept a lightning strike and safely direct its current to ground through a dedicated earthing system. For buildings with solar installations, rooftop equipment, or in areas with frequent thunderstorms, a properly designed lightning arrester is a fundamental safety component, not an optional extra.
11. Can a lightning strike really damage a solar inverter and home appliances?
Yes. When a lightning strike hits an unprotected structure, it seeks the fastest path to ground. Without a proper lightning arrester and earthing system, the surge can travel through concrete, walls, and wiring, severely damaging solar inverters, household appliances, and electrical circuits.
12. What is a surge protection device (SPD) and is it different from a lightning arrester?
A surge protection device (SPD) protects electrical equipment from voltage spikes, including those induced by nearby lightning strikes, by diverting excess voltage to ground. A lightning arrester intercepts a direct strike, while an SPD protects connected equipment from surge effects. A complete protection system typically uses both together.
Solar PV Systems
13. Does every solar installation need lightning protection and proper earthing?
Yes. A solar PV system is not just panels and an inverter — it is a complete electrical system. Proper earthing (with AC, DC, and lightning earths kept separate) and a correctly sized lightning arrester are essential parts of a safe, code-compliant solar installation, not optional add-ons.
14. Why do some solar companies skip lightning protection and proper earthing?
In many cases, both customers and installers try to reduce upfront costs by skipping protective components. Some installers also use inadequate or improperly designed earthing, commoning AC, DC, and lightning earths into a single pit to save on materials and labor. These shortcuts significantly increase the risk of costly damage during a lightning event.
15. How can I check if my existing solar installation has proper lightning protection?
A qualified electrical engineer should inspect your installation to verify the presence and sizing of a lightning arrester, confirm that AC, DC, and lightning earthing are kept separate, and calculate whether your building falls within the protection radius of any nearby structures. Unicorn Energy Systems offers site assessments for this purpose.
16. What maintenance does a solar PV system need to stay protected?
Beyond routine panel cleaning and inverter checks, the earthing system and lightning arrester should be inspected and tested periodically, especially before monsoon season, to confirm they still provide adequate protection.
Working with Unicorn Energy Systems
17. How do I get a site assessment or quotation from Unicorn Energy Systems?
You can contact Unicorn Energy Systems directly through the company website or listed contact details to request a site visit, protection radius calculation, or a quotation for earthing, lightning protection, or solar installation services.
18. Does Unicorn Energy Systems only install new systems, or can it fix existing faulty earthing/lightning protection?
Unicorn Energy Systems provides both new installations and corrective work for existing systems, including replacing improperly commoned earthing setups with correctly separated AC, DC, and lightning earth pits.
19. What makes Unicorn Energy Systems different from other solar or earthing companies in Pakistan?
As Pakistan’s first earthing chemicals manufacturer, Unicorn Energy Systems designs every solar and electrical installation with lightning protection and proper earthing built in from the start, rather than treating them as optional extras added only on request.
Have a question that isn’t answered here? Contact Unicorn Energy Systems for a personalized consultation on earthing, lightning protection, or solar PV systems.