[Villages Kahuna]

In response to my inquiry on the same subject, a local electrician told me not to waste my money. He explained that lightning rods have a solid metal "fuse" on the roof near each rod. If hit by lightning, the electrical charge is transmitted to ground by the ground cables. But the fuse is designed to melt with a strike, requiring an inspection of the system to assure it is still intact, along with a replacement of the solid metal fuse. He pointed out that the lightning rod systems on the commercial buildings in and around TV are inspected by qualified personnel quarterly or after severe localized lightning storms to assure their integrity. He pointed out that the contractors selling home lightning rod installations never offer periodic inspections. And homeowners either don't know or aren't inclined to climb up on their roofs every few months to look at cabling and fuses, even if they knew what to look for.

Beyond that, my electrician friend explained, if lightning enters the house thru underground electrical, phone or TV cable or thru your birdcage or gutters, the roof-mounted rods provide no protection whatsoever.

He did suggest that in lieu of lightning rods every Villages home should be protected with a total house ground fault and surge protection at a fraction of the cost of lightning rods. He forewarned not to buy the system offered by the electric company. He said it's designed to protect their equipment from lightning or surges moreso than your house. I had the electrical sub that built my house install whole house ground fault/surge protection for about $500. The box is in my garage near where the electrical line enters the structure. It has two green lights which, if either one is out you call the electrician. They will come out and inspect at no cost. If the system has experienced a "hit", the box will be replaced for a period of ten years after installation at no cost to me.