[MrFlorida]

Originally Posted by Bella6368

Isn't your response somewhat of a contradiction? If they work, then how does everything in your house electronic become toast? I'm sure you understand it better than I, but just seems like a confusing response.

No, not at all. , when a strike happens to hit a lightning rod, the voltage goes to ground, but the EMP (the energy that flows around the voltage) will travel through the air and all of your sensitive electronics will be fried.

[airstreamingypsy]

First hand experience, my horse barn in SC had lightning rods and they took a direct hit. The horses, and the ex husband who was standing in it, were not hurt. I can't speak for Florida, but there's no question that they worked that day. No electrical damage inside the barn too.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by bluecenturian

This is FALSE. Your neighbors house does NOT attract the lightening. The rods by physics produce a negative electric charge, similar to static electricity. If a lighten bolt come within the proximity of the charge it will attract to the rod. There is no way it will attract to your neighbors house.

I have to correct the other point.

Lightning rods do not "produce" anything especially NOT a positive charge. Electricity (lightning) is always trying to find the shortest lowest resistance path back to its source (normally the ground).

Pine trees are notorious for being really good lightning rods, because of the core of conductive (low resistance) sap.

When a lightning rod is struck by lightning the current (lots and lots of it) flowing through the rod (or whatever it hit) generates an Electromagnetic Pulse that will "electrocute" electronic devices nearby. Or it will "induce" a current into any conductors nearby - conductors are things like house wiring, steel or copper pipes, chainlink fences, golf clubs, etc. etc., etc. If you happened to be holding onto one of those when a lightning bolt strikes near by your could have your hair stand up on end, or you could be toasted. It all depends.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by airstreamingypsy

First hand experience, my horse barn in SC had lightning rods and they took a direct hit. The horses, and the ex husband who was standing in it, were not hurt. I can't speak for Florida, but there's no question that they worked that day. No electrical damage inside the barn too.

Thank you, they DO work.

[crash]

Originally Posted by Ritagoyer

Even if you get lighting rods I think it has to be tested every so often to make sure we are working. Not just one and done

Costs $100 for the inspection and should be done every 3 years.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by DAVES

Most everything is full of contradictions. Every issue we expect simple, perfect, solutions.
REALITY, they do not exist.

Ain't it the truth. If only anything were simple!

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by crash

Costs $100 for the inspection and should be done every 3 years.

This is pretty much what is done for the $100 - some other things can be included, like spark gap testing, etc. But, the main points are these:

[*]The resistance to earth of each local earth electrode and, where practical, the resistance to earth of the complete earth termination system.
[*]The results of a visual check of all conductors, bonds, and joints or their measured electrical continuity.

[OhioBuckeye]

Lighting Rods work but not if your house takes a direct hit, then you better call your Insurance Company!

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

No, not at all. I've been a power company lineman for 42 years, and when a strike happens to hit a lightning rod, the voltage goes to ground, but the EMF (the energy that flows around the voltage) will travel through the air and all of your sensitive electronics will be fried.

LOL!

Nice way to put it.

My neighbor (1/2 mile away) where we previously lived in the country put in their own lightning rod. It went up about 6 feet above their roof. It was about ten feet away from a pine tree that went up 30 feet higher.

That lightning rod was perfectly safe! Lightning was almost guaranteed to hit the tree and not the rod. I am sure a lineman you saw many cases of pines hit by lightning while the transmission line next to it had a lightning rod. Although, power companies are getting better about clearing out any trees too close the the transmission lines.

[caroljspears]

Several years ago three homes in The Villages burned to the ground from lightning strikes. It's not just an electronics hazard. Fires follow lighting strikes by the energy following the pipes in your homes to a combustable spot. Especially a hazard if you use gas for heat or cooking. And what about your personal, especially memory items and pets in your home if your house burns? Insurance won't take care of all of that. Right after the third house burned I had lightning rods put in from Triangle Lightning Protection, which is one of the companies that the POA recommended. Peace of mind was well worth the cost, which to me is not that much of a cost.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by OhioBuckeye

Lighting Rods work but not if your house takes a direct hit, then you better call your Insurance Company!

The odds of your house or you being hit by lightning are very low.

VERY LOW.

If you have a properly designed, installed, and maintained lightning control system, the odds of a direct hit on your house are pretty close to zero. Well, actually ZERO for most purposes.

[SacDQ]

I love the next door neighbor approach.

[graciegirl]

I received a very useful P.M. from Robbie...and for some reason or another the system is not allowing me to reply by P.M.

Please, can you tell us the system you had installed and I am guessing that you installed it. Many thanks to your helpful answer.

[DonnaNi4os]

I’m no electrician but it seems to me that the height of a lightning rod would make you more susceptible to a strike. It’s like carrying an umbrella in a thunderstorm, your risk increases as opposed to wearing a raincoat. I had SECO put a whole house surge protector when I purchased my home but soon learned that was just the beginning. Despite a surge protector on my TVs I recently lost my flat screen after a storm. I learned that the cable line also needed a surge protector at the point of entry. Now I have a surge protector on everything including my garage door opener, microwave, garbage disposal, etc, anything powered by electricity. SunKool was here a week ago for my regular maintenance and told me that I should have a surge protector on my ac unit so I agreed. Truth be told, you can attempt to avoid costly surges but if lightning strikes anywhere near your home you can still have your appliances toasted. My prayer is that I don’t get the kind of strike that would burn down my house. I do not intend to get lightning rods installed and I am not a gambler.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by DonnaNi4os

I’m no electrician but it seems to me that the height of a lightning rod would make you more susceptible to a strike. It’s like carrying an umbrella in a thunderstorm, your risk increases as opposed to wearing a raincoat. I had SECO put a whole house surge protector when I purchased my home but soon learned that was just the beginning. Despite a surge protector on my TVs I recently lost my flat screen after a storm. I learned that the cable line also needed a surge protector at the point of entry. Now I have a surge protector on everything including my garage door opener, microwave, garbage disposal, etc, anything powered by electricity. SunKool was here a week ago for my regular maintenance and told me that I should have a surge protector on my ac unit so I agreed. Truth be told, you can attempt to avoid costly surges but if lightning strikes anywhere near your home you can still have your appliances toasted. My prayer is that I don’t get the kind of strike that would burn down my house. I do not intend to get lightning rods installed and I am not a gambler.

True, but that is the point of the lightning rod, to "take the hit". It is intended to be the most likely thing to be hit and too shunt that current down into the ground into LONG rods that are driven into the ground.

If your house gets hit and not the lightning rod, then either you won the lottery or you got taken by an incompetent installer.