Reality check initiative on the equivalency of 8/20 versus 10/350 waveforms for testing surge-protective devices

A reality check initiative was launched to assess the merit and possible pitfall consequences of accepting that the parameter of charge transfer (Q) associated with a lightning flash, stipulated in IEC 61643-1, might be the sole significant parameter. Reverse computations were performed to determine the other parameters associated with the classical 8/20 waveform and the more recently introduced 10/350 waveform. These computations demonstrated that the consensus-derived compromise "equivalency" of the two waveforms, via a simple multiplying factor, was not a realistic endeavor