Questions tagged [lightning]

For questions about lightning protection such as lightning rod installation and electrical lightning protection.

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Why Surge Protection Device (SDP) fails and how to deal with that

The power surge from the electrical line has taken out electrical appliances from many houses not sure if it's a power sub station fault or primary lightning strike on power pole. But some of the ...
CuriousMan's user avatar
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1 answer
50 views

Should we install lightning arrestor at building when it's between two mobile towers

I'd like to protect my building from lightning strikes , Hence neither building and electrical appliances nor people get impacted. I can see there are two cell phone towers one is 400 metres south ...
Shravan's user avatar
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1 answer
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Converting 3-way Switch to Single Pole Smart Switch

(Reposted from a guest account I lost access to somehow) I recently moved into a new home built in the 1970's and am looking to upgrade some no-neutral dumb switches to smart switches. After doing ...
Sandersonerson's user avatar
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2 answers
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What caused hvac outside component roar after a quick outage

During thunderstorm our home had an instant power loss. Then one of the hvac's outside machines started roaring sound that was audible from inside of house, which I have rarely heard even when hvac is ...
IsaacS's user avatar
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How does lightning get to your ground rods directly without first traveling through your electrical system and then back through neutral/ground?

Let's say there is a lightning strike on a nearby power line and the excessive voltage/current makes it to your house. I often read that grounding rods are there to protect against surges like ...
Fred's user avatar
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3 answers
390 views

Should I unplug my TV(which is turned off) during thunderstorm

There is a common sense to unplug the expensive electronic devices during thunderstorm as lighting strike can affect the power lines and anything that's connected to powerline is going to be wasted. ...
King's user avatar
  • 107
3 votes
1 answer
134 views

One of several recessed lights on a dimmer making a faint ringing noise

I have compatible, dimmable LED light bulbs for my recessed fixtures and they are the correct watts. However, when on, one of the recessed lights makes a distinct but faint ringing noise. This is the ...
Whitney's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
373 views

What are the grounding/bonding requirements for outdoor-mounted power over Ethernet (PoE) security cameras?

I am planning a construction project; as part of it, I will install several security cameras mounted to the underside of my soffits. The cameras will be connected and powered via a wired network (...
Frank Lesniak's user avatar
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2 answers
1k views

Nonworking light begins working after lightning strike

We've had an electrical issue in one room where the outlets on two walls as well as the overhead light had quit working. Last night, we had a nearby lightning strike. It was so close that there was no ...
Dawn Roberson's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
113 views

Does a lightning rod need a porcelain insulator when installed on a metal rooftop?

I am installing a conventional copper rod on the top of a metal roof top. I am concerned whether the roof top and the spike rod base are to be insulated with porcelain insulator? Scenario: When ...
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1 answer
195 views

Surge Arrester/Surge Protection Device (SPD) Type 2 Installation and its external Short Circuit Protection Device

BACKGROUND I live in a small town where it is difficult to find certified electricians. In fact, electrician certification is not common for residential installations. I did find some experienced ...
Daniel Denny Dillan's user avatar
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1 answer
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Protecting a circut from an attached device, in case of direct lightning strike

I am trying to figure out a good (but inexpensive) way to protect a house's electrical circuits from a highly unlikely lightning strike to an outdoor antenna. Here is the setup: There is an antenna on ...
DavidB's user avatar
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4 votes
5 answers
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Should I ground outdoor speaker wire? If so, how?

[I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask or if I should ask over in the electrical SE but…] I have outdoor speakers in my backyard that are all connected via the same copper run (speaker wire ...
Zero's user avatar
  • 321
0 votes
2 answers
239 views

What surge protector should be used for various home electronics/appliances? [closed]

A- How do I choose the right surge protector for a garage door opener? I recently experienced the effect of a power surge after a lightning and lost a few items. So my question is how to prevent ...
Maesumi's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Does a lightning arrester considerably reduce the chance of a lightning bolt striking the trees?

We have two tall coconut trees at our residence. The trees are, unfortunately, very close to a neighbors house. There has been a recent case in our locality where a bolt of lightning struck a coconut ...
Outsider's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
103 views

Reduce risk of harm from electric storm in hot tub in covered area

TL;DR we have a hot tub in a covered area outside and want to take measures to mitigate against harm to us or the electrics if a storm strikes us unawares. (We’d get straight out of course.) What ...
hazymat's user avatar
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0 answers
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The circuit breaker does not stay on after lightning!

After lightning, one of the circuit breakers does not stay on. The breaker is connected to 4 different sets of lights in living /dining room. All receptacle are working in that area (connected to ...
Mike Gryloo's user avatar
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3 answers
937 views

Wall outlet in house are burnt in wall

Wall outlet in house are burnt in wall. How do I fix it?
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0 votes
2 answers
40 views

Wiring with source at the box

I am an avid DIY guy. I have tackled many projects in my new home of three years. Just recently installed a new dome light in the center of my son's bedroom. So here's my issue. Originally there was a ...
Bryan Harris's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
155 views

Lightning surge protection advice

The surge from a nearby lightning strike has resulted in multiple fried electronic devices at our house. Damaged items include a cable modem, 2 cable set top boxes, a cable amplifier, a WiFi router, 2 ...
Lee E's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
109 views

How to protect sumbersible pump ‘pumpsaver’ device

I have a 600 ft well and submersible pump in a mountain home at 9500 ft elevation prone to lightning storms. I typically have to replace the ‘pump protector’ relay (i.e., protects pump from either ...
MntnDwlr's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
469 views

Will a galvanized tin roof act as a ground for a magnetic rooftop antenna

I just installed a magnetic based antenna on my galvanized tin porch roof. Will the metal roof act as a ground for the antenna? I am unable to attach a ground block to the antenna cable, because the ...
Anna L Daugherty's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
134 views

How to replace a light bulb in ceiling light

So I have those lights out of which most lightbulbs burned down, thus I want to replace them. Problem is that I have no idea how to get to them, tried to pull down the entire thing - but that just ...
Tymoteusz Paul's user avatar
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1 answer
83 views

What steps to install a lightning rod on my 1 story home?

I have two chimneys, one of which sticks up much higher than the other and the rest of the house. Is installing a lightning rod as simple as attaching it to the taller chimney and running a suitably ...
Yehuda_NYC's user avatar
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