LIghtning Strike
#1
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LIghtning Strike
Hello All,
Our house received a lightning strike a couple days ago. My internet service provider came out to check things out and said that it appears that the satellite television company didn't have the correct strap attached to the pole which caused the problem of the surge.
This photo shows where the two come in, the top one is the satellite and the bottom is the internet service provider. Notice that the straps are different and that there is some charring around the top strap.
Their feeling was that because of the incorrect strap that the satellite company is responsible.
Before I proceed with contacting the satellite company I want to verify if this is true or not.
Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom!
#2
It would appear that your dish may have been hit with lightning.
It also appears that..... although that strap wasn't tight.... it is the correct one.
The satellite company is not responsible for your house getting hit by lightning.
What to you want them to do ?
What are the problems ?
It also appears that..... although that strap wasn't tight.... it is the correct one.
The satellite company is not responsible for your house getting hit by lightning.
What to you want them to do ?
What are the problems ?
#3
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Yes, the dish was hit by lightning, the Internet Service Provider said that because of the strap that it was not grounded correctly, and therefore the electricity did not ground and then went through the coaxial cable.
I lost several outlets, the router, the satellite, etc. The ISP said that because of the grounding the satellite company should pay.
I lost several outlets, the router, the satellite, etc. The ISP said that because of the grounding the satellite company should pay.
#4
Technically..... the ISP provider and the satellite companies are both wrong.
As far as I know... connecting to a service pipe like that is not a code approved grounding method.
I know everyone does it.
I'm going to check further.
The other pros will check in too.
As far as I know... connecting to a service pipe like that is not a code approved grounding method.
I know everyone does it.
I'm going to check further.
The other pros will check in too.
#7
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Spring of '15, I had an antenna directly struck and it took out my cable modem, and a few other things. it wasn't a sat antenna, but a local/ham antenna. My wife took the modem in and had it replaced. The surge also took out some cable head end equipment not on my premises.
But, you are asking for wisdom. First off, if you can keep the service providers off your property whenever possible you will be ahead. It sounds like now the ISP is going to keep you off grid until the sat company pays them?? The sat company is going to say that the modem can't handle a surge and therefore why should they pay. The sat company certainly didn't cause the strike.
Technically, what LOOKS to have happened is the sat green wire conducted lots of current into mains ground, just what it is supposed to do. Your local ground shot up and caused lots of coax shield current as it is exiting your property towards the ISP feeds.
These 10 or 12awg green conductors and thin steel ground straps for either service are not designed to handle full lightning currents.
I'm going to assume the ISP, without a working modem in your home, will no longer get there monthly fee. There is certainly an incentive for the ISP to get you back on line. AND, since neither sat company OR the ISP is installing lightning proof systems, they need to not be in the mode of finger pointing. Because down the street they may have a situation where the coax let IN a surge that takes out the sat equipment. This blame the other guy thing will only cause tit for tat litigation and cost each out of pocket.
But, you are asking for wisdom. First off, if you can keep the service providers off your property whenever possible you will be ahead. It sounds like now the ISP is going to keep you off grid until the sat company pays them?? The sat company is going to say that the modem can't handle a surge and therefore why should they pay. The sat company certainly didn't cause the strike.
Technically, what LOOKS to have happened is the sat green wire conducted lots of current into mains ground, just what it is supposed to do. Your local ground shot up and caused lots of coax shield current as it is exiting your property towards the ISP feeds.
These 10 or 12awg green conductors and thin steel ground straps for either service are not designed to handle full lightning currents.
I'm going to assume the ISP, without a working modem in your home, will no longer get there monthly fee. There is certainly an incentive for the ISP to get you back on line. AND, since neither sat company OR the ISP is installing lightning proof systems, they need to not be in the mode of finger pointing. Because down the street they may have a situation where the coax let IN a surge that takes out the sat equipment. This blame the other guy thing will only cause tit for tat litigation and cost each out of pocket.
#8
I lost several outlets, the router, the satellite, etc. The ISP said that because of the grounding the satellite company should pay.
#9
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Thanks all for the information. I had already called my insurance company and was prepared to eat everything until I met the deductible, that is, until the ISP said that the grounding wasn't correct.
I guess I'll give up the fight and move on.
I guess I'll give up the fight and move on.
#10
Just as an aside..... even if the satellite dish and the ISP service were connected directly to a ground rod..... with a direct lightning hit.... anything is possible. You would have still lost the dish. Just from the sheer amount of energy released you would probably have lost the modem/router.
I know you don't feel lucky..... but you are. I've been on many lightning hit calls. You can't imagine the damage that can occur. I've seen half the alarm contacts on an alarm system vaporized.
I know you don't feel lucky..... but you are. I've been on many lightning hit calls. You can't imagine the damage that can occur. I've seen half the alarm contacts on an alarm system vaporized.
#11
Are the internet service provider's and the satellite TV company's equipment connected to each other in any way other than their green equipment grounding conductors meeting at the conduit pipe and the branch circuits they are plugged into??
How are the various coax cables connected?
Still, the lightning strike is an act of God and unless some other party assumed responsibility, the owner of each piece of equipment or wire is initially responsible for that piece.
This may already be concluded by looking at the picture but the electrical contact of any kind of connection including grounding straps can be impaired by corrosion. Proper installation retards such corrosion and may prolong a good contact for decades.
How are the various coax cables connected?
Still, the lightning strike is an act of God and unless some other party assumed responsibility, the owner of each piece of equipment or wire is initially responsible for that piece.
This may already be concluded by looking at the picture but the electrical contact of any kind of connection including grounding straps can be impaired by corrosion. Proper installation retards such corrosion and may prolong a good contact for decades.