Is your safety ground actually grounded (with a ground rod) at
the main box, and therein also securely bonded to the neutral
lead of the incoming utility power? with a #4 wire or better?
This keeps the lightning voltage which is coming in from from the
ground, at or near the same potential as your neutral lead,
thereby minimizing the voltage between GND and NEUT during a
lightning strike.
The REC's protector, is it something sold commercially? Sounds
interesting.
Patrick
Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 18:18:49 -0500
From: "Sara & Wayne Steiner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Somewhat Off topic - lightning protection
My semi rural home has all wiring , power, telephone and cable
all under ground. Over the years there have been several been
several cases where I have sustained damage caused by lighting
strikes in the area. None at the house. I purchased a surge
protector from the rural elec co-op which is guraranteed to work.
The last strike about 1200 ft away put a crater in the ground and
took out the surge protector which was furnished by the rural
electric co-op. They replaced the protector at no cost. I had
no damage.
Before the REC protector, one of my cases of damage was the
refrigerator wiring harness. It was toast!. The high potential
seemed to come in through the safety ground! Didn't trip the
breaker! I have no explanation. The potential created by a
lighting strike induced into under ground wiring is
huge! Check with with your elec company for their surge
protectors, at least they may guaranty their product as mine does.
