[bluecenturian]

Wrong

[MidWestIA]

My friend had lightning rods got hit anyway small fire in attic

[jrref]

Originally Posted by TVTVTV

Great info, jrref. If lightning rods are such a desirable and beneficial item, why are there only a few licensed companies around here? Are the two you noted really large companies?

I'm not sure why there are not more licensed and certified companies installing LPS systems here in the Villages but I do know many people either are not aware of the risk or choose to ignore it saying it won't happen to them.

I had a friend who wouldn't install a system until the house across the street got hit.

Lightning Protection Systems installed correctly do work.

Look at this report https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...12-post37.html

The two companies I mentioned are very busy and expect a lead time to get installed.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Yes & No,

I noticed Brownwood does not have protection.

On the drive back from BW, I noticed the following did NOT have protection:
Fire Station
Two Rec Centers
Guard Shacks
Two mail box stations

The hospital and hotel at BW did have protection.

Look closer, most commercial buildings including Villages buildings have LPS systems.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Why whole house surge protector at main circuit box?

We got one from Seco and they do it outside your house with the idea being stop surge before it gets inside.

Stu, good question. The Seco surge protector will protect your home from any voltage spikes coming from the Utility Power Line. It will also clamp voltage spikes on your panel from any of the branch circuits to some extent. The problem is say for example there is a lightning strike near by and a large voltage spike is induced on to one of your branch circuits like in the garage with is common, if the voltage spike is fast, which most are, the Surge Protector installed in the circuit breaker panel which is usually rated similar to the Seco protector, will catch the spike and clamp it before it goes to the rest of the branch circuits in the rest of the panel. The Seco surge protector is farther away from the event so depending on how fast the spike is will determine if the Seco protector will see it and clamp it quick enough to prevent the spike from traveling to the other branch circuits in your home. Most voltage spikes are quick enough that the length of wire beteen the surge protector and the source of the voltage spike becomes significant.

I can tell you there is a lot of discussion on this very topic meaning do I need only the Seco or the panel protector or both. My personal suggestion is to get both becasue it's a known fact that the more layers of surge protection you have the better. Remember the Seco OR the protector installed in the panel is the first line of defense and will reduce the voltage spike down to a level were your level-3 (point-of-use) protectors can manage what remains.

Also remember, what I'm saying applies most of the time meaning if the spike is large enough, it probably will overwhelm whatever surge protection you have installed but fortunately this is not common. An example is if your home took a direct hit by lightning, no surge protection system will be able to block or shunt that amount of energy. You would need a Lightning Protection Syetem to deal with that event.

I'll be talking about surge protection at the POA meeting Tuesday night, 7PM at Laurel Manor. Come by and we can talk more.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

There is a house on the left side of #5 on the Amelia 9 at Mallory that had severe damage from lightning maybe 6-9 months ago---it is still under reconstruction, but getting there.

Yes, that happened right before our lifestyle visit last summer in June. It’s my cousin’s village so we saw the house while we were here. That village is hilly and the home that was struck was up on the higher end of the village. I heard the couple moved up north to be with family so the home will be sold once completed (or maybe already sold?).

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

I have driven by three houses in this area that were struck by lightning. Or, at least, burned down. I would have to research the reasons but there were stories about them in The Villages Daily Sun.

One home recently suffered major fire damage down here below 44 because of a spark from a worker setting their roof on fire while having a room addition constructed.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by Wondering

You/we live in the lightening capital of the US. Twenty years ago when they ran gas line into the attics and lightening hit a house, it would burn the entire structure if wood framed and entire roof if it was block and stucco. Then they went to all electric. So, if you have plastic gas lines in your attic, you will be susceptible to serious damage if hit by lightening.

All of the new builds down south of 44 have gas lines in the attic. I love gas stoves, but wish the gas line wasn’t in our attic.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by bluecenturian

One of the first things we got on our house. Cost varies based on the roof shape/peeks. Have a woodside and paid $1800 in 2019.

I believe they work, it does not attract lightening to your house, if it is within 15 feet it will attract it to the rod and give it a safe passage to the ground.

Look and see how many houses with rods caught fire vs how many without.

Thank you for this helpful info. We have a new Veranda Mason, which is the same floorplan as the Woodside. We’d likely be looking at about $2500 now.

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by sounding

The first thing I did upon moving to The Villages was: 1. Install lightning rods. 2. Install a whole-house surge protector at the main circuit box. 3. Replace the flexible yellow gas lines in the attic with black iron pipe.

Who changed your gas lines to iron pipe please?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by bluecenturian

Wrong

How is one to know what you are talking about?

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

Who changed your gas lines to iron pipe please?

Previous thread on gas lines in the attic.

Galvanized Gas Pipes in Attic

Gas lines in the attic in lightning-prone areas

[pikeselectric]

Hello to all from your local, trusted electrical company, Pike's Electric! Central Florida is known as a highly active area in the U.S. for lightning strikes. Did you know the average lightning strike can carry up to 300 million volts/30,000 amps? Consider this: The average circuit current in a residential home is 120 volts and 15 amps! This is just one of the many reasons to consider Whole Home Surge Protection to protect your home's major appliances and sensitive electronics. We offer the Eaton Ultra Whole Home Surge Protector and so many Villages Residents/Customers of ours have invested in this protection for over 10 years. We highly recommend it, and right now, we are running 10% OFF our already lowest pricing in the area. Give us a call if this is of interest to you and mention this post! Do not wait until it's too late.
(352) 748-6251
- Casandra with Pike's Electric

[pikeselectric]

Originally Posted by asianthree

I know of one home that was struck by lightning, on their moving day. All classic cars in the 4 car garage, furniture in place, boxes not yet unpacked. Tired, they went to grab something to eat, storm came in while they were out. Lighting struck, home, classic cars, total loss, along with losing their pet. Since 07 it is the only home I knew of personally, that lightning destroyed a home. I am sure there have been others, but this home in our circle of people.

So yes it does happen, but with the thousands of home in such a large area, it’s just bad luck. Nope we don’t have lighting rods

Asianthree, WOW what a story We have seen and heard of a lot of nearby and direct lightning strikes in the area and responded to damage caused by these instances, even within the year or so. We do not provide or recommend lightning rods. Instead we feel whole home surge protection is the best plan of action, in case of a nearby strike or surges into the home in case of such issues. What some homeowners do not realize is such occurance can cause serious damage if you are next door or even in the same Village. - Casandra from Pike's Electric 352-748-6251

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by pikeselectric

Asianthree, WOW what a story We have seen and heard of a lot of nearby and direct lightning strikes in the area and responded to damage caused by these instances, even within the year or so. We do not provide or recommend lightning rods. Instead we feel whole home surge protection is the best plan of action, in case of a nearby strike or surges into the home in case of such issues. What some homeowners do not realize is such occurance can cause serious damage if you are next door or even in the same Village. - Casandra from Pike's Electric 352-748-6251

Very poor advise, surge protection will not protect a direct strike to a gas line.