[Lightning]

Originally Posted by Shirleevee

Our next door neighbor has them and we had a nasty hit!

There is no scientific evidence that supports the claim that you receive a benefit from a neighbors lightning protection system. Lightning is highly unpredictable. We have seen a home here in The Villages destroyed by a lightning strike and fire where the next door neighbor and the home across the street both a had lightning protection systems.

Another myth is the home owner that has a large tree that towers over the home with the mistaken belief that lightning would hit the tree and not the house. On Sept 5, 2014, a home in Mira Mesa was struck with ensuing fire rendering the home uninhabitable for six months. A large tree towers over the home and provided no lightning protection benefit to the home. Again, you need to have a healthy respect for nature because lightning is unpredictable!

[Lightning]

Originally Posted by red tail

Lightning Strike Probabilities - National Lightning Safety Institute

The web site you reference is a commercial business. A better source is the Lightning Protection Institute at lightning .org and the National Fire Protection Association.

[red tail]

Originally Posted by Lightning

If anyone would like to learn about the science behind lightning protection systems that has evolved over the last 263 years and why they are effective and widely used throughout the world may wish to sign up for the Lifelong Learning College's course, Lightning Tips for Villagers. Dr Martin Uman's book, The Art and Science of Lightning Protection, is one of the key references for this course. Dr. Uman has been studying lightning at the University of Florida for over 40 years.

seems your dr uman also is connected to a commercial endeavour

[2BNTV]

Triangle Lightning did my 2B/2B, patio villa, approx 1100 sq ft, for $1025.

It was worth it, for my peace of mind. I would feel really terrible if I were hit with lightning and didn't do everything, to protect myself.

[ajbrown]

As I drive around The Villages now, I check out lightning systems. One question I will ask a qualified installer is how it is to code to wrap the wire around a gutter to attach to the down wire?

Now that I am an expert , the code seems clear about this, yet I see homes done by reputable installers using this wrap around technique. I see some that wrap around a gutter do not look like it keeps that 90 degree minimum. Something I am missing or something will learn along the way I assume...

The picture came from the site: http://www.uscg.mil/petaluma/TPF/ET_...s/NFPA_780.pdf

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

As I drive around The Villages now, I check out lightning systems. One question I will ask a qualified installer is how it is to code to wrap the wire around a gutter to attach to the down wire?

Now that I am an expert , the code seems clear about this, yet I see homes done by reputable installers using this wrap around technique. I see some that wrap around a gutter do not look like it keeps that 90 degree minimum. Something I am missing or something will learn along the way I assume...

The picture came from the site: http://www.uscg.mil/petaluma/TPF/ET_...s/NFPA_780.pdf

This has been explained to me by someone who actually is an expert. They never bend the wire in such a way that does not exceed requirements in code.

In fact Triangle will not do it any other way. Per his words, I am not a roofer and not interested in putting holes in your roof.

[ddharrold]

We had a complete lighting protection system installed on our home (Begonia) 4+ years ago. Yes, it has copper rods, down-lines, and 5/8" x 20' ground rods. What my system has that I don't see mentioned on this forum is protection of the secondary wiring systems (i.e., irrigation system, phone/cable system, etc.) (We don't have gas lines in our area.)
Often the lighting damage you hear/read about is TV's, garage door openers, irrigation controls, wired & wireless phones, computers, and so forth. This is often the result of lightning hitting the ground nearby and entering through one or more of these secondary wiring systems. We had a neighbor where the lighting clearly entered via the irrigation wiring. The control box exploded but not before it surged the 120VAC. Took out one of two garage door openers, TV, microwave AND the electric golf cart. Yes, it somehow got through the cart charger and fried the mother board.
Anyway, when talking to any of these lightning protection companies, ask them about 1) bonding of everything metal within 10' of the system into the system; 2) their plans to protect all the secondary wiring systems. If you get that "deer in the headlights" look. Move on.

[jimbo2012]

Dave you sure about 20' rods?
that length is hard to transport in fact

if so how did anyone get high enough to bang them into the ground?

Most are 8-10'

[Lightning]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

This has been explained to me by someone who actually is an expert. They never bend the wire in such a way that does not exceed requirements in code.

In fact Triangle will not do it any other way. Per his words, I am not a roofer and not interested in putting holes in your roof.

The holes are actually drilled thorough the roof overhang and therefore are not drilled where they penetrate into any part of the living space. It adds to the cost because special fittings are used to make the transition of the wiring off the roof and routed down the exterior of the home into the driven ground rods. Some homeowners prefer this method as they don't like the aesthetics of the conductors wrapped around the gutters.