[thelegges]

Originally Posted by jrref

There have been studies on CMCE lightning suppressors for over 20 years and there is no definitive proof that they actually work. You will see some companies that install them saying that they do but when you ask them for any study documentation, you never get it. They are way more expensive than traditional lightning protections systems. Roughly 2x+ more. With most here in the Villages so price sensitive, I don't understand why anyone would consider a CMCE system.

From my personal point of view, these systems may work with a small storm but with a medium to large storm I don't see how the capacitive element in the head could ever "bleed" off that very high charge. And if it can't, it will act as a normal lightning rod and cover whatever area it can on your roof.

I know one was installed in Osceola Hills. Where is the other?

There are 13 installed in TV to date.

[thelegges]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

What was the damage? Total loss?

You will only see total destruction pics for this thread. Our last 4 villages in 15 years had 29 strikes, (either ground, flag pole or home per each village neighborhood website) but damage didn’t warrant insurance because of higher deductibles. It seems like 29 is high, but also there are thousands of homes in those 4 villages

Current village has had one strike in 2.5 years, with roof damage, requiring repairs. No idea if insurance was involved.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by thelegges

You will only see total destruction pics for this thread. Our last 4 villages in 15 years had 29 strikes, (either ground, flag pole or home per each village neighborhood website) but damage didn’t warrant insurance because of higher deductibles. It seems like 29 is high, but also there are thousands of homes in those 4 villages

Current village has had one strike in 2.5 years, with roof damage, requiring repairs. No idea if insurance was involved.

That's correct because the strikes that you are talking about are not reported and are not in the newspaper. Same with induced power surges you are talking about. They happen all the time but are never reported.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by thelegges

There are 13 installed in TV to date.

Where are you getting this data from and where are these 13 located?
If there are 13 installed, too bad these systems may not work and are providing a false sense of total protection. But at least they will act as a single lightning rod offering some minimal protection.

[thelegges]

Originally Posted by jrref

Where are you getting this data from and where are these 13 located?
If there are 13 installed, too bad these systems may not work and are providing a false sense of total protection. But at least they will act as a single lightning rod offering some minimal protection.

As you have posted research. It is as easy as using a finger it your voice…

As I said we are researching protection, but our first search many years ago was marine protection for sailboats. Once you watch lightning hit a mast, it takes the wind out our your sails

[sounding]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

What was the damage? Total loss?

Residents are no longer living there. It can take up to a year to rebuild. Lightning rods would have prevented the loss. Insurance will never replace the time and money lost.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by jrref

As far as the 1-iron, technically if you earth ground it properly it may provide some protection. I don't believe anyone has tested that yet.

It depends on how small you house is LOL

I don't know where the $600 system came from but typically a LPS can cost about $1,500 for a Villa, to $2,800 for a Designer home to $3,800 for a large Designer or Premier home. Note, there are some very large Premier homes that will be more but I'm sure those Villagers are not concerned with the cost.

$600 is the cost of a 3-day cruise to the Bahamas. That's the "one less cruise" you've said is all someone needs to cover the cost of installing an LPS.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by jrref

So you are a great example of a Villager who based on your analysis, decides not to get a system installed. But, given your several posts would you have done this in-depth analysis for your specific situation if it were not for this thread?

Well, yes. If I had a designer home, I totally would've looked into an LPS, and checked it in depth.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by thelegges

As you have posted research. It is as easy as using a finger it your voice…

As I said we are researching protection, but our first search many years ago was marine protection for sailboats. Once you watch lightning hit a mast, it takes the wind out our your sails

Protecting a boat from lightning is a totally different situation and I believe some use CMCE devices which can work because if the capacitor device gets overwhelmed, it will act just like a plain old lightning rod.

I couldn't find any references to homes equipped with CMCE devices here in the Villages so unless you can produce a source, I know of only one installed. Capital Electronics Inc installs these and when they had a meeting on these devices here in the Villages last year, almost everyone left after they told us how much it costs. And they couldn't produce any documentation or studies other than lab testing that they actually work. After that one installation in Osceola Hills we never saw them again. Interesting, several of the neighbors who were on the street of that lightning strike had A1 install a conventional LPS and no one purchased a CMCE system eventhoug the company had two presentations at that location in an attempt to sell systems.

[thelegges]

Originally Posted by Ignatz

So how do units like the CMCE Lightning Suppressor come into the discussion?

I’ve seen two houses in our Village that have them installed on the roof. There’s never any one outside to stop and chat with.

I haven’t found any independent information about them in the webs.

Do they work?

Originally Posted by jrref

There have been studies on CMCE lightning suppressors for over 20 years and there is no definitive proof that they actually work. You will see some companies that install them saying that they do but when you ask them for any study documentation, you never get it. They are way more expensive than traditional lightning protections systems. Roughly 2x+ more. With most here in the Villages so price sensitive, I don't understand why anyone would consider a CMCE system.

From my personal point of view, these systems may work with a small storm but with a medium to large storm I don't see how the capacitive element in the head could ever "bleed" off that very high charge. And if it can't, it will act as a normal lightning rod and cover whatever area it can on your roof.

I know one was installed in Osceola Hills. Where is the other?

Originally Posted by jrref

Protecting a boat from lightning is a totally different situation and I believe some use CMCE devices which can work because if the capacitor device gets overwhelmed, it will act just like a plain old lightning rod.

I couldn't find any references to homes equipped with CMCE devices here in the Villages so unless you can produce a source, I know of only one installed. Capital Electronics Inc installs these and when they had a meeting on these devices here in the Villages last year, almost everyone left after they told us how much it costs. And they couldn't produce any documentation or studies other than lab testing that they actually work. After that one installation in Osceola Hills we never saw them again. Interesting, several of the neighbors who were on the street of that lightning strike had A1 install a conventional LPS and no one purchased a CMCE system eventhoug the company had two presentations at that location in an attempt to sell systems.

Sometimes it’s good to have excellent memory retention. Here is a post asking about CMCE on 2 homes, in their neighborhood, I copied your response. You only note one that you know of in Osceola Hills. Poster does specify where the Two homes he is asking questions
Maybe you could acquire free research, from posters, since you weren’t able to find any results.

My research time isn’t available for volunteer bases.

[jrref]

I guess we are done? Anyone else pro or con for a Lightning or Surge Protections System?

[jrref]

I keep reading stories here on TOTV and Next Door where people say "My house was hit by lightning and we lost several of our electronic devices" or something to that effect. Well, if your house was actually hit by lightning, you would also probably have a fire as well. What is actually happening is lightning is striking near the home causing an Induced Power Surge which couples to the electrical system in your home causing the damage. This happens all the time since these induced surges can occur every time we have a severe thunder storm and lots of lightning hitting the ground. It's not commonly reported because there is no spectular fire but start talking about power surges and damaged devices at your next dinner party and see how many people start telling you about their experience. For more on the subject see this link -> Nextdoor

As discussed, you don't have to run out and get a Lightning Protection System since that's an individual choice based on your tolerance to risk but I can tell you in addition to the surge protector from Seco on your meter, you need to have the Eaton Ultra or PSP Vortex whole house surge protector installed at your circuit breaker panel to protect you home from these Induced Power Surges that happen all the time. You can use your own electrician or call Dave Robinson on 352-630-3579, he's Lake Deaton Electric. He's installing this protection at a very fair price now that we are in hurricane season. This is not an advertisement but good advice on something every home in the Villages should have installed because we know it works.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by jrref

I keep reading stories here on TOTV and Next Door where people say "My house was hit by lightning and we lost several of our electronic devices" or something to that effect. Well, if your house was actually hit by lightning, you would also probably have a fire as well. What is actually happening is lightning is striking near the home causing an Induced Power Surge which couples to the electrical system in your home causing the damage. This happens all the time since these induced surges can occur every time we have a severe thunder storm and lots of lightning hitting the ground. It's not commonly reported because there is no spectular fire but start talking about power surges and damaged devices at your next dinner party and see how many people start telling you about their experience. For more on the subject see this link -> Nextdoor

Not according to the insurance industry statistics.
Not according to an analysis of LPS-protected strikes.
Not according to my personal experience with two strikes.

Lightning strikes *can* cause fires, particularly if there is a gas line in the attic, but lighting strikes to not always cause fires (perhaps not even frequently).

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Not according to the insurance industry statistics.
Not according to an analysis of LPS-protected strikes.
Not according to my personal experience with two strikes.

Lightning strikes *can* cause fires, particularly if there is a gas line in the attic, but lighting strikes to not always cause fires (perhaps not even frequently).

Right, lightning doesn't always cause a fire, but most of the time it does, at least what we have seen with strikes here in the Villages. I will tell you there was a strike two years ago in Fenney where a home was struck but the heavy rain put our the fire before it got started so there was minimal damage to the roof BUT heavy damage to everything electrical inside the home. That homeowner had electric, HVAC, appliance, you name it, trucks at their home repairing stuff for months after that strike.

But my point is, when you find circuit breakers tripped, sensitive electronic devices damaged, perfectly good appliances all of a sudden stop working after you had a severe thunderstorm and you saw and head a lot of lightning and thunder, you most likely got an Induced Power Surge. Installing one of these whole house surge protectors at your circuit breaker panel is not expensive and they work. Nothing is 100% but they can prevent and or minimize electrical damage to your home and there is no reason not to have one installed living here in Central Florida. In fact, in the 2020 electrical code, it's now mandatory in any new build or renovation to install type 1 or 2 surge protection.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by jrref

Right, lightning doesn't always cause a fire, but most of the time it does, at least what we have seen with strikes here in the Villages.

The statistics imply otherwise... at the minimum they imply that there are few strikes that cause fires that result in insurance claims or newspaper reports.

But my point is, when you find circuit breakers tripped, sensitive electronic devices damaged, perfectly good appliances all of a sudden stop working after you had a severe thunderstorm and you saw and head a lot of lightning and thunder, you most likely got an Induced Power Surge.

I misunderstood again - I thought what was highlighted in the previous post was your point.

Absolutely a close thunderstorm could be the cause of sudden problems with electronics but that doesn't say anything at all about whether lightning struck nearby vice whether it actually struck the home.