Difference in Lightning Current Estimated by Lightning Location System Between Triggered Lightning to Ground and Distribution Line

In this article, we analyzed the difference in the estimated currents from the Foshan Total Lightning Location System (FTLLS) under two triggered lightning situations, i.e., triggered lightning to ground and triggered lightning to the distribution line. FTLLS underestimated the peak currents of triggered lightning to the distribution line, which is reflected in the peak far electric field. The peak far electric field of triggered lightning to the distribution line is about 12% lower than that of triggered lightning to ground. However, this difference in estimated current is not reflected in the far electric field waveform parameters, at least for the three field parameters: zero to peak risetime, 10%–90% risetime, and half-peak width time. The presence of distribution line will increase the risetime of the lightning return stroke current, the arithmetic mean of the current risetime of triggered lightning to distribution line is 0.46
μ
s, and that of triggered lightning to ground is 0.27
μ
s. Clarification of this underestimation phenomenon is beneficial for the application of the lightning location system in power systems.