Lightning Strike Protection

[ApS]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

No signs of strike on the property that I could see. The strike was large enough to set off my glass break alarm on my security system. I'm hoping to recover whatever my DVR recorded which may tell me where the strike occurred. We were not at home during the storm...

Based on a lightning strike to a nearby house, my guess is that your Gilford house was built in a spot of high exposure and high elevation. There's probably not much that can be done to prevent another strike in the future; however, sailboats have some lightning countermeasures that might be worth exploring.

That nearby house was built at a high elevation and surrounded by open fields. Copper flashing, popular at the time it was built, seemed to have attracted the lightning: one lightning bolt took out much of it!

Our own house is surrounded closely with big trees. One birch took a "strike out of the blue", and re-directed the charge into the lake. At the time, I was seated typing on my laptop outdoors—about 25 feet away!

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[Not to Worry]

I did not read all of the posts so please do not shoot me if I am repeating something already said.
My house has been hit several times with damages well over $100,000. Surge protection wether at the meter or anyone else only protects you from surge that enters from the power lines but it cannot protect you from a lightning strike coming in the back door, irrigation lines for example. Nor could they protect you from backfeeding from your electrical outlets, lights, outdoor cameras or speakers etc.

I still have surge protection throughout my house but have never lost one to a surge or lightning strike.

BTW lightning rods unless made from massive amount of copper, away from house, drilled hundreds of feet down and maybe 100 feet above the ground will help. That solution probably would work...

[Biggd]

How about a flag pole? I don't have this problem but maybe a 30' flag pole will take the hit and save the house. Just a thought, and you can be patriotic while protecting your home. My next door neighbor in Mass has a flag pole in his yard and that was struck by lighting a few years ago.






'

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by Biggd

How about a flag pole? I don't have this problem but maybe a 30' flag pole will take the hit and save the house. Just a thought, and you can be patriotic while protecting your home. My next door neighbor in Mass has a flag pole in his yard and that was struck by lighting a few years ago. '

Doubt it.Sounds like his house and immediate surroundings didn't show any signs of a strike.I'll bet it came under or along the ground.

[Slickcraft]

Sorry to hear about all the damage


Ok, a time varying electromagnetic field can induce current in a nearby conductor. That is how AC motors and transformers work. Even far away EM sources can induce small current hence we have broadcast radio, TV and cell phones. A current is induced in the receiving antenna, amplified and the information is recovered. Wireless communication as they say.

A lightning strike is a time varying EM field of huge proportions, very intense and capable on inducing a very large flow of current in any nearby conductors. A strike far away may send a surge down the power lines and cable lines and surge protectors may protect your electronics. What about a nearby strike?

A strike near your house can induce very large current in any conductive material. House wiring for electric or cable are good antennas and an underground dog fence is a perfect antenna as well as wiring to a driveway gate. This kind of surge does not come in via power lines but is induced or generated right within the local conductive wiring. Little or nothing can be done to stop it.

http://www.sto-p.com/pfp/pfp-iemf.htm

Alan

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by ApS

Based on a lightning strike to a nearby house, my guess is that your Gilford house was built in a spot of high exposure and high elevation. There's probably not much that can be done to prevent another strike in the future; however, sailboats have some lightning countermeasures that might be worth exploring. :look.

Your pretty much spot on APS, high exposure, just off the lake, higher elevation...

it was determined the majority of the strike came through Metrocast internet cable. Even though the cable was grounded and screwed into a surge protector it blew right past it and did tons of damage trying to find more ground. From what I am hearing, there is not much I could of done when a strike this large hits.

It also came through an underground dog fence, blew apart the surge protector that it was plugged into.

Luckily I have a full replacement value homeowners policy and they have been great to work with thus far. No increase in policy for filing claim which is really nice!

Dan

[LakeTimes]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Your pretty much spot on APS, high exposure, just off the lake, higher elevation...

it was determined the majority of the strike came through Metrocast internet cable. Even though the cable was grounded and screwed into a surge protector it blew right past it and did tons of damage trying to find more ground. From what I am hearing, there is not much I could of done when a strike this large hits.

It also came through an underground dog fence, blew apart the surge protector that it was plugged into.

Luckily I have a full replacement value homeowners policy and they have been great to work with thus far. No increase in policy for filing claim which is really nice!

Dan

Good to know. If you dont' mind sharing, which insurance provider do you have?

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Your pretty much spot on APS, high exposure, just off the lake, higher elevation...

it was determined the majority of the strike came through Metrocast internet cable. Even though the cable was grounded and screwed into a surge protector it blew right past it and did tons of damage trying to find more ground. From what I am hearing, there is not much I could of done when a strike this large hits.

It also came through an underground dog fence, blew apart the surge protector that it was plugged into.

Luckily I have a full replacement value homeowners policy and they have been great to work with thus far. No increase in policy for filing claim which is really nice!

Dan

Hi Dan
there should not be an increase in premium for filing the claim, the only thing you could expect to see is upon renewal, if you had one, a loss free credit, usually about 8-10% off the premium (not all parts of the premium are subject to the credit) might be removed. But a small price to pay to offset the damage

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by AC2717

Hi Dan
there should not be an increase in premium for filing the claim, the only thing you could expect to see is upon renewal, if you had one, a loss free credit, usually about 8-10% off the premium (not all parts of the premium are subject to the credit) might be removed. But a small price to pay to offset the damage

Thanks for the info! Yes its a small price for the free credit loss as right now I am at 20 grand worth of damage!

Dan