Neighbor Got Lightning Rods

[Chatbrat]

A person has just moved in behind us (resale) has had lightning rods & subsequent ground rods installed on his house.

Looks like I have to add even more surge protection to our house. if he gets a hit--everything will be transmitted to our house via his ground rods---to our water & sewer piping and our main underground power lines, and communication lines

[dewilson58]

Lightening is a little bit more than a "surge".............that protection may not help.

[Villager Joyce]

A person has just moved in behind us (resale) has had lightning rods & subsequent ground rods installed on his house.

Looks like I have to add even more surge protection to our house. if he gets a hit--everything will be transmitted to our house via his ground rods---to our water & sewer piping and our main underground power lines, and communication lines

I have never heard this stated before. In the past when I have requested further information following a statement like this, this poster does not respond. Is the information CB posted accurate?

[ajbrown]

I have never heard that...

I will wait for smarter folks than me to respond. My gut feel is that is not the case and is why the rods must be down 10 - 12 feet (I forget depth).

I suppose if it hit the lightening protection system and went to ground rods it was going to hit the house anyway and get to ground, so maybe no difference with or without rods to your question.

:shrug: , but it is fun to take a guess...

[rdhdleo]

A1 Lightning Systems did ours and would be more than happy to explain it all to anyone.

[Uberschaf]

I have read where they have to install a large grid (like chain link) in the soil to dissipate the lightning strike not just a ground rod.I only see them using a ground rod.

[Avista]

A1 Lightning Systems did ours and would be more than happy to explain it all to anyone.

A1 put ours in as well.

[fred53]

While lightening will follow the course of least resistance it can also jump...just because someone else put in lightening rods next door does not mean you will be struck if they are. They could hit a street light outside and then go to the water main and enter your house that way...do what you want, but if it strikes nearby nothing you do will prevent it from damaging your electronics if it comes your way....

[Barefoot]

A1 put ours in as well.

Can you please share an approximate cost?

[jimbo2012]

About $1500 is a ball park

[graciegirl]

I don't think that someone living close to you and having lightning protection endangers the surrounding homes at all.


If you are looking for an excellent, informed speaker contact a person called Lightning on this forum. He does not sell lightning protection and does not endorse anyone who does. He became interested in lightning when he moved here and contacted University of Florida that has special studies on the subject. He shares the considerable valid information with village groups on request.


I found him to be very interesting and extremely well informed with no hidden agenda.

[stiles53]

I have just had a problem with my irrigation system and Massey blamed the program was changed due to a power surge. Has anyone ever heard of this and what is the solution?

[stiles53]

How do I reach Lightening?

[graciegirl]

How do I reach Lightening?







You can send him a PM. Remember to spell it Lightning.

[justjim]

On google, there are several answers regarding odds of your house being hit by lightning. Bottom line it depends on where you live. Duh! In Florida the odds are higher. Duh! Lightning tends to seek out the tallest object in the area. Duh!

The odds are slim. Duh! Etc. etc. etc. ...............

[Retiring]

I have just had a problem with my irrigation system and Massey blamed the program was changed due to a power surge. Has anyone ever heard of this and what is the solution?


I’ve heard of “whole house” surge protectors. Is this common in TV homes?

[Retiring]

In the 1980s as a college student in Daytona Bch, whenever I was home during a lightning filled thunderstorm, I would unplug everything electronic. My beautiful 19in COLOR tv was still fried. I brought it in for service and learned the surge came through the cable coax. I guess I was fortunate the picture tube didn’t explode.

The tv was less than 30 days old so they gave me a new one. I’m sure they didn’t have to do that, but they probably felt sorry for this poor 19yo student. TV, as in television, addiction is a horrible thing.

[jimbo2012]

How do I reach Lightening?

Just hold a 4 iron up in the next storm:1rotfl:

[ajbrown]

How do I reach Lightening?
When I was researching lightning protection , I could not stop spelling it lightening, so I understand the spelling :D

I do not think Lightning (user) will know about your sprinkler system. He may shed light on the Chatbrat's OP.

[dewilson58]

I’ve heard of “whole house” surge protectors. Is this common in TV homes?

Not sure how common, but I have one.

I have a whole house security system (not sure how common) and I had them install the surge protector.

[ajbrown]

I’ve heard of “whole house” surge protectors. Is this common in TV homes?

We have one from SECO. In addition to that we have individual surge protectors at end points like TVs, garage door motor, sprinkler system...

[Retiring]

We have one from SECO. In addition to that we have individual surge protectors at end points like TVs, garage door motor, sprinkler system...

That’s the best advice, don’t think you can go wrong with double protection.

[RickeyD]

That’s the best advice, don’t think you can go wrong with double protection.


Taught both my sons that very same thing.

[Chatbrat]

Going to add another who house surge protector and a wall out let surge protector for a few tv's & the refrig

Honestly if lightning hits my neighbor's house the voltage will travel to his new grounding system and from there no on & I mean no one can predict where its path will be.

What's amazing he has a huge aluminum flag pole in front of his house and his house is not the tallest one near by--bet the flag pole gets it before the rods do.

[Chellybean]

the only thing i have to say with electrical engineering background.
Why in GODS name would someone want to attract lightning to there Home.
JEZZZZZZ;
there is no scientific proof it helps!

[Chatbrat]

Chellybean you are zoo right --the lightning rods do nothing but paint a bull eyes on your house, especially if the rods make you higher than your neighbors

[graciegirl]

Just hold a 4 iron up in the next storm:1rotfl:



Ummm. I think it's a one iron.


And I think some of the suppositions about lightning are wrong. There is a lot to learn and Lightning knows it.

Search Lightning or lightning protection in the search button above. There are many theads on the subject and we do live in the lightning capital of the United States in Central Florida.

Here is one thread, probably not the best.....

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/lightning-protection-118032/?highlight=lightning+protection

[fred53]

If a bolt of lightning hits your house and enters through your wiring no surge protector will stop it from damaging/destroying anything it contacts....even SECO admitted this to me.

Surge protectors help prevent an electrical surge in power from the electrical grid from burning up your wired devices....even then lightning can burn up one circuit board and leave another alone right next to it.

[jimbo2012]

Ummm. I think it's a one iron.




I thought it went God can't hit a one iron ?

[graciegirl]

I thought it went God can't hit a one iron ?



You are right. But most of us golfers can hit a four iron.


But sadly for me anyway, not as far as I used to.

[Retiring]

Taught both my sons that very same thing.

As soon as I hit the send button I knew that was coming :)

[Lightning]

On google, there are several answers regarding odds of your house being hit by lightning. Bottom line it depends on where you live. Duh! In Florida the odds are higher. Duh! Lightning tends to seek out the tallest object in the area. Duh!

The odds are slim. Duh! Etc. etc. etc. ...............
Lightning is highly unpredictable and does not always strike the highest object in the area. Last year a home with a 60 ft live oak within 10 ft of the house was struck. It hit the house and not the tree. It took six months to repair the home.

[RickeyD]

I get it, lightning sucks. And so do the Mets.

[Lightning]

That’s the best advice, don’t think you can go wrong with double protection.
What is generally described is Primary Surge Protection on the electric meter and Secondarily Surge Protection on any valuable appliance or electronic equipment is good protection for the more frequent but less severe INDIRECT lightning strikes. If your concern is the less frequent but potential more severe DIRECT lightning strikes you should consider a lightning protection system from a installer that is listed by Underwriters Laboratories and their craftsman have passed the Master Installer exams offered by the Lightning Protection Institute. Two differed risks and two different solutions.

[Lightning]

the only thing i have to say with electrical engineering background.
Why in GODS name would someone want to attract lightning to there Home.
JEZZZZZZ;
there is no scientific proof it helps!

We often hear the myth that lightning protection systems attract lightning. This has been repeated since Ben Franklin's time over 250 years and unfortunately persists to this day. There is no experience or scientific evidence to support it. Those that believe this myth should read, The Art and Science of Lightning Protection by Dr. Martin Uman from the University of Florida who has been researching lightning for over 40 years. The book can be found in TV Belvedere Library - see page 17.

[RickeyD]

We often hear the myth that lightning protection systems attract lightning. This has been repeated since Ben Franklin's time over 250 years and unfortunately persists to this day. There is no experience or scientific evidence to support it. Those that believe this myth should read, The Art and Science of Lightning Protection by Dr. Martin Uman from the University of Florida who has been researching lightning for over 40 years. The book can be found in TV Belvedere Library - see page 17.


Can you site any other sources for this theory ? One man, one opinion ? Dunno.

[Lightning]

I have read where they have to install a large grid (like chain link) in the soil to dissipate the lightning strike not just a ground rod.I only see them using a ground rod.

The "chain link" described is a grounding mat that is used by electric utilities to ground high voltage transformers at substations like the one off of Belle Meade Circle. The ground rods for residential properties are typically 10 ft long, five eights inch thick steel copper clad rods that are driven two feet below grade. In some soils they may need to go deeper which is the responsibility of a qualified installer of lightning protection systems. The number of ground rods needed is dictated by the national standard on lightning, NFPA-780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems.

[oakback]

If been following this with interest.
We have the SECO installed surge protectors, and on one home we also have lightning rods.

My thought was that lightning rods were like Japanese beetle traps. You want your neighbors to have them, to keep them away from your house. Or...let the lightning hit the rods on all the other houses.

Either way, sounds like a direct hit would be problematic.

[tomwed]

Either way, sounds like a direct hit would be problematic.
yep
keep your passport in a safety deposit box

[Howard Marsh]

A person has just moved in behind us (resale) has had lightning rods & subsequent ground rods installed on his house.

Looks like I have to add even more surge protection to our house. if he gets a hit--everything will be transmitted to our house via his ground rods---to our water & sewer piping and our main underground power lines, and communication lines
Lightning rods will normally discharge the cloud and prevent strikes. But if a strike occurs, it will hit a rod, and there will be a large surge in the ground. Nearby homes can be affected if they don't have appropriate surge protection. We had a lot of experience with lightning rods when we lived on a hill in Maryland. On one occasion, one of our rods did get hit. We lost nothing, but the neighbor several hundred feet away lost all their major appliances. The surge can be many thousands of amperes.

[OhioBuckeye]

CHATBRAT, made a good point that I never thought of, if his comment is true. Maybe lighting rods are great protection but I don't see a big amount of homes with lighting rods. You know since I've lived in the Villages, I couldn't believe the services that people pay for & the companies that talk people into buying a lot of services that I don't think they really need. If I bought every service that came to my door I would have to go back to work, seriously! Lucky, I know how to do a lot of them & some of them I call exercise. I see some things that are a ripoff that people pay for. I love the Villages & I understand a lot of people are to old, have more money than they know what to do with & these handymen to me take advantage of them. Sorry, but it's just my opinion!

[bagboy]

I'm inclined to listen to someone named Lightening on this topic☺ We had a close strike this past summer . With SECO house surge protection and extra surge protection in our outlets, our major appliances were spared any damage, IMO anyway. Our main CenturyLink box didn't fare as well.
But, were my house to take a direct hit, I would expect everything to be damaged if not destroyed.

[Lightning]

I’ve heard of “whole house” surge protectors. Is this common in TV homes?

Be aware that "whole house" can be a misleading term. Just installing a surge protection device on your electric meter or electric panel is only part of the solution. Because lightning can enter your home from other sources you need surge protection on your valuable appliances and electronic equipment.

Also be aware that surge protection is only for the more frequent but less severe INDIRECT lightning strikes. For DIRECT strikes you need a lightning protection system.

[Lightning]

Can you site any other sources for this theory ? One man, one opinion ? Dunno.
Dr Martin Uman has been studying lightning for 40 years and is considered one of the world's leading experts. Check on the University of Florida's web site and you will also find the name of Dr. Vladimir Radkov also an internationally know expert of lightning. You may also wish to check out the 41 members of the NFPA's technical committee on lightning who produce the national standard on lightning, NFPA-780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, 2014 edition. In particular see Annex B, Principles of Lightning Protection that is a good resource to learn about lightning and how it can be controlled.

[biker1]

A couple of random thoughts. The insurance companies do not give you a discount for lightning rods. This can be interpreted several different ways. They haven't bothered figuring out the economic impact or they do not have the data to support a valid economic analysis or they have done an economic analysis and they concluded that providing a discount for lightning rods is not in their best interest. I acknowledge that other possibilities exist. Secondly, your odds of a lightning strike are low. This is reflected in the fact that very few homes have lightning rods. Thirdly, while some of The Villages buildings (rec centers, town squares, etc.) do have lightning rods, many do not. I find this interesting because The Villages seems to spare no expense on their facilities. One interpretation of this is that the management believes the odd of a strike are low.

There seems to be 2-3 homes that are struck directly by lightning, with significant damage, each year. There are roughly 55,000 homes in The Villages. The odds are in your favor. If you sleep better at night then lightning rods make sense.

CHATBRAT, made a good point that I never thought of, if his comment is true. Maybe lighting rods are great protection but I don't see a big amount of homes with lighting rods. You know since I've lived in the Villages, I couldn't believe the services that people pay for & the companies that talk people into buying a lot of services that I don't think they really need. If I bought every service that came to my door I would have to go back to work, seriously! Lucky, I know how to do a lot of them & some of them I call exercise. I see some things that are a ripoff that people pay for. I love the Villages & I understand a lot of people are to old, have more money than they know what to do with & these handymen to me take advantage of them. Sorry, but it's just my opinion!