[Retiring]

Originally Posted by RickeyD

Taught both my sons that very same thing.

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

[Lightning]

Originally Posted by 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. ...............

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]

Originally Posted by Retiring

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]

Originally Posted by 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!

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]

Originally Posted by Lightning

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by oakback

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

yep
keep your passport in a safety deposit box

[Howard Marsh]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

Originally Posted by Retiring

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]

Originally Posted by RickeyD

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.

Originally Posted by 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!