Quote:
Originally Posted by paullynnchetti
We ended up going with Lenhart Electric and are having them install a 72,000 Amp suppressor for $225 rather than the 18KA unit for $150. IEEE recommends a suppressor that will protect for strokes in the 40KA to 120KA range. With our area being in one of the highest lightning areas in the Country I would rather have the unit rated for the higher surge. The higher rated unit also comes with a damage protection guarantee from the manufacturer (Cutler Hammer) for damages to any of your equipment up to $50,000 due to surges.
Basically we need to protect from 3 potential problems,
1) Direct lightning hit. The surge protector won't help us for this, The only possible protection would involve a lightning rod installation surrounding your house with a grounding system that ensures everything is properly tied together. This is expensive and in my opinion, not necessary. The one in a million chance you take a direct hit doesn't justify the cost for these systems. However some people probably walk around with helmuts on just in case they may get hit with a stray meteor and wouldn't sleep unless they have 100% protection.
2) A surge from the Ulilities electric system that supplies your home. Many things can cause a surge including lightning strikes on the utilities facilities, improper grounding on the utility system and accidental high voltage energizing of our lower supply voltage. Utilities do a lot to avoid this problem but problems still occur from time to time. Utilities will generally cover any damages caused by their errors or faulty equipment on their system that cause an overvoltage but most won't cover an overvoltage traveling through their system due to a lightning strike on their lines.
3) A surge from a lightning strike next to your home that discharges through a grounded point that is tied to the ground in your home. The strike will raise the ground voltage temporarily causing high voltage on your internal wiring and possibly damaging any equipment you may have connected at the time. The strike could hit a TV dish, a fence post or anything else that may allow it to tie in with your grounding system.
Generally a surge protector at the electric service point (meter or breaker box) should give you pretty good protection if your grounding system is all properly connected. The only other extra protection you should consider is simple surge protection plugs or strips for your TV's, computers and stereos. If you put in a properly rated surge protector (72KA in my opinion and use the plug in surge protectors at some of your outlets where you have sensitive electrical equipment I would't lose any sleep.
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Well done. Your have provided a lot of good information. However, I would like to comment on lightning protection systems (LPS) commonly called lightning rods. Based on your "1 in a million" comment you obviously have a high tolerance for risk and you have chosen not to install a LPS and rely on your homeowners policy if the worst does happen. That is fine in your case and for others with a high tolerance for risk. There are some folks who have a low tolerance for risk and do choose to intall them for peace of mind. A direct strike that destroys a home is a very very low frequncy event but it has hapended 7 times in the last 7 years here in The Villages. It has not happended since 2009, when two homes were destroyed. But we know of several "near misses" this summer where homes were struck and fortunately for the homeowner did not result in a destructive fire. We are living in the "Lightning Capital of the US" and according to the National Weather Service we expereince on average 80 thunderstorm days a year. Each homeowner needs to access their own tolerance for risk and determine what is best for their family and home.