Lightning Protection

Rugger

We have a customer with a gate/telephone entry system 500+ yards away from his house and service. The 120v comes underground (#10-UF) to the gate. He has just suffered another hit from lightning that took out the tele-entry board and the power board on the operator. We installed surge suppression on the phone lines and the power but still get hit. This is the 3rd time he has been hit. There is a ground rod at the gate with a #12 Cu. to the controller. All grounds/bonds are bugged together there. I am not sure what to try next. We did not install the system originally but were called out to repair it for the unqualified installer. Even with the length of the 120v circuit there is still 122v at the equip. I am wondering if seperating the grounds would help? ie. Attach the surge grounds to the ground rod but keep the equip bonds tied to the UF/electric service. Any suggestions? Thanks, Rugger

RobertWilber

I would think the ground rod at the gate and the related conductor to the controller would be an invitation to get hit by lightning ... sort of like waving a flag at a bull ...
It may be that the gate is what is drawing the lightning [stands above surroundings, conductive ...]
They may need a lightning rod on a pillar or post connected to the ground rod, but I would think you should get that controller wiring away from that rod.
[Lightning is NOT an area in which I have ANY expertise whatsoever, BTW]
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=3&gl=us

http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_lhm/lpts.html

good luck

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Philadelphia electrician