:doggie::)

For an inexplicable reason, now our pool and irrigation system are working. We fidgeted with breakers, wires etc. and both systems started working. The irrigation control box in the midst of the fray was showing odd settings. That has now reverted to normal. Thanks for your helpful suggestions.

I'm new to TV. Bought my house June 30 and haven't moved in yet, but I'm headed in that direction. As I was reading this thread, I was so impressed by all the good common sense suggestions. Then the little miracle, the systems started working. So glad for your good luck. I see there are so many good neighbors. I know I've made the right choice and can't wait to start participating.

Welcome to TV, glad we have made a good impression.

Good advice on the need to consider surge protection living here in the Lightning Capital of the US (not the world as you often hear). But a caution about "whole house surge protection". Surge protection is for an Indirect Lightning Strike.



To protect against damage to your sensitive electronic equipment such as computers, televisions, microwave ovens, telephone answering machines, games, refrigerators, garage door operators, irrigation controllers, pool controllers, motorized recliners & sofas, etc. you may wish to consider both primary and secondary surge protection. Remember lightning loves technology!



Primary Surge Protection

This is surge protection installed on your electric meter by your electric utility. For example, SECO will lease a surge protector on your meter for $5.95 per month or purchase for $349. It can also be achieved by engaging a licensed electrician to install a surge protector on a dedicated two-pole breaker on your electrical panel. This level of protection is to prevent surge damage to hard-wired equipment that you do not plug into a 120-volt wall outlet. This is not “whole house” surge protection.



Secondary Surge Protection

This level of surge protection is called point-of-use and the devices are sometimes referred to as “plug ins.” These surge protectors plug into a 120-volt wall outlet to protect microwave ovens, garage door openers, refrigerators. Power strips are another form of secondary surge protection for televisions and computers. These devices can be purchased from electronics, hardware, and big box stores.



Surges can also enter your home from other sources such as telephone and satellite/cable TV lines. Therefore, it is vitally important that telephone lines to an answering machine or computer be routed through a secondary surge protector. This is also true for the coaxial cable line for a television.



If your concern is a Direct Lightning Strike to your home consider a lightning protection system installed by a UL listed firm that employs installers who qualify for Master Installer by the Lightning Protection Institute.

Can anyone recommend a firm/person who would install a lightening protection system? Any idea of approximate cost? We did opt yes for the surge protection offered by SECO. Thanks

We used A1 Lightning Protection. A1Lightning - Home to do our designer... cost about 2200.00. A neighbor used Triangle Lightning Triangle Lightning Protection - Home . Don't know their cost.

A1 meets the qualifications Lighting mentioned and I think Triangle does too.

Both A-1 Lightning and Triangle Lightning are UL listed and employ installers that have passed the four closed book exams to qualify for Master Installer offered by the Lightning Protection Institute. Both have advertisements in the POA Bulletin and can be found on the POA web site poa4us.org. A-1 will come to your home and give you a presentation and a quote. Triangle offers a special price of $1,295 (aluminum conductors for copper add $200 to $300) for any home of less than 2,100 square feet. These firms do not engage in door-to-door sales. This is a buyer beware market place as there is no local, state, or federal oversight for residential properties. Door-to-door installers who flaunt The Villages solicitation rules may tell you that they use UL components but that does mean that the system they will install will meet NFPA 780, National Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, which is a model code adopted by Florida for health care and educational facilities.