Another lightning strike another Well Control Box

[bmaverick]

Is this what you are suggesting?

Amazon.com

Yes, but the wire looks too THIN to really do anything. 6mm or 1/4-inch wire is NOT going to save the building from a strong violent lightening strike. 3/8 to 5/8 thick will survive multiple hits before needing a replacement. Think of the wire as a fuse. The thicker the wire, the more power can run thru it. 5A fuse vs 20A fuse. In this case, what can withstand a bad strike and function if the storm hits 2 or 3 times more!

Another option to save cost is, buy long threaded black pipe, run it up along the house with standoffs, and connect the THICK cable from the lightening rod mast to the pipe.

The black pipe acts as the down conductor.

The image above needs stand-offs. WHY? well, who wants to scrub or repaint the wall after the strike happens! Even plaster outside walls will show the char.

So stand-offs saves you from plenty of cleaning and painting.

 

[bmaverick]

My great aunt had an old lightning rod system on her old farmhouse. It had the globe on each rod and twisted wrought iron all the way down to the ground. Come to think of it she had the old standing seam metal roof too.

Metal roofs for down conducts are done this way. I laugh when being inside a building with them as the whole place shakes violently when it takes a strike.

 

[bmaverick]

For people who need more into to protect their homes, workshops, garages, barns, or solar installation, this here is an easy read.

Lightning Protection Overview - Lightning Protection Institute

IF the wire needs to BEND, it has to be a certain minimum radius, else it will not move the energy properly.

Once you are educated in the simplicity of how these work, make a parts list and make one for your needs.

 

[5030]

Sounds to me like you need to install some type of clamping device on your input feed to the control box.

 

[bmaverick]

Sounds to me like you need to install some type of clamping device on your input feed to the control box.

And to be in the opposite ground field from the lightening strike earth ground field drawn away from the house.

The higher the joule clamping rating the better the protection on electrical powered devices.

 

[steve tym]

When the national electrical code made us ground motors in 1990 and casing in 1993, we thought lightning strikes would multiply, they did not, they deminished.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

The one I see goes by the main breaker box, have to have a open spot for a breaker for the surge protector.

some wire them in with the mains incoming, some people will piggy back on a breaker. maybe not code, but works the same.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

@WoodChuckDad congratulations on diagnosing the issue and getting it fixed. But, wow 177F seems like a dangerous default for the water heater to jump to.

Isn't rapid shipping wonderful?

All the best,

Peter

Very dangerous. Pex tubing is rated to 180 degrees at 100 PSI

 

[WoodChuckDad]

Sounds to me like you need to install some type of clamping device on your input feed to the control box.

I’m not sure what you mean.