[Taltarzac725]

Last night as my Mom and Dad were watching Drew Barrymore and the TCM host, Robert Osbourne, introduce On The Waterfront http://www.tcm.com/essentials/articl...ticleId=961689 there was an extremely loud boom. My Mom said Beau leaped up three feet in the air from off her lap. I was watching a taped Cross Bones episode in my room when the lights and TV went out.

We looked around for damage but did not find any except for no power going to a few rooms. The smoke alarms in the main room had gone off for a few seconds.

We went to the two TEST circuit breakers but pushing these did not help getting the power back on so my Dad called an electrician who came at 9:30 P.M. and pulled out the two fried circuit breakers and advised us to watch the appliances and such for residual damage to their computer chips over the next week.

Our neighbors lost quite a lot more of their appliances but their circuit breaker survived.

It must have grounded next door would be my guess.

Quite a storm last night. I did manage to get onto FunTrivia to play the TOTV FunTrivia game but it was a late night.

[pooh]

I'm glad no one was hurt and the damage at this point seems minimal.
Beau okay?

[BarryRX]

Glad everyone is ok.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by pooh

I'm glad no one was hurt and the damage at this point seems minimal.
Beau okay?

He really liked the electrician. He is fine, thanks. It sounds like it is very important to document that you had a lightning strike and this needs to be by a licensed electrician. We are not sure we are out of the woods yet because some of the computer chips could be damaged. The electrician told us to watch the computer, TVs, microwave, etc. for any chip damage.

[graciegirl]

We need to get lightning rods. 7 houses here in The Villages in the last eight years have burnt to the ground due to a direct lightning hit.

[EnglishJW]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

We need to get lightning rods. 7 houses here in The Villages in the last eight years have burnt to the ground due to a direct lightning hit.

Since lightning is common, is there any reason why more lightning rods aren't installed in TV?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by EnglishJW

Since lightning is common, is there any reason why more lightning rods aren't installed in TV?

The ones that really WORK are several thousand dollars and there are many misconceptions about them. There are two men, villagers who are expert on lightning, having gone to University of Florida to find out and as a public service will present information on lightning to any group at no charge. They have NO link to any contractors who install equipment. They have a regular column in the POA bullitin.

[Fanman]

We had lightning rods installed in May and it pays to seek out a reputable installer. Our contractor gave us a 1 hour presentation of the how's and why's of the why things have to be done a certain way. It was quite an education.

[Taltarzac725]

In Southeast, Ground Rods May Not Protect Homes Against Lightning » News » University of Florida

The electrician was pushing power surge blockers at numerous points-- AC, Electrical box, strips for computer room, etc.

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by EnglishJW

Since lightning is common, is there any reason why more lightning rods aren't installed in TV?

Yes, there is a very good reason why you don't see more lightning rods in The Villages.

$$$$$

[rdhdleo]

We had them installed 7 or 8 years ago plus had a whole house surge protector installed and have surge protectors on everything. As an added precaution we unplug computers etc during bad storms.

[raynan]

What Village was this in? We were on the patio at Palmer CC at that time and we saw some incredible lightening to the northeast.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by raynan

What Village was this in? We were on the patio at Palmer CC at that time and we saw some incredible lightening to the northeast.

I am in Lynnhaven near the Lynnhaven pool.

[EnglishJW]

Originally Posted by rdhdleo

We had them installed 7 or 8 years ago plus had a whole house surge protector installed and have surge protectors on everything. As an added precaution we unplug computers etc during bad storms.

That (surge protectors) would have been my next question, with or without lightning rods. Thanks.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by EnglishJW

That (surge protectors) would have been my next question, with or without lightning rods. Thanks.

Seco will install a whole house surge protector but you still need individual ones too.