Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [lightning]

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

27 questions
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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 14/2 iirc), which comes into the house and…
Zero
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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 garage door opener circuit boards, a hot tub…
Lee E
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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 case in two separate rooms. Any idea what is…
Whitney
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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 some research, I opted to go with Lutron Casetas…
Sandersonerson
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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 (Power over Ethernet / PoE). Do the cameras need to be…
Frank Lesniak
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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 measures can I take to reduce the risk of harm? More…
hazymat
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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 end is fed through a window and connected to…
Anna L Daugherty
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How smart is it to use a ligntening rod cable to evacuate water?

My parents live in an apartment. They have a split AC, the main part is on the balcony. From this main part hangs a flexible tube from which the condensation water is expelled to a bucket. Getting the bucket from the balcony to the bathroom to empty…
WoJ
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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 lightning. But if it is coming in through your wires,…
Fred
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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 lightning strikes the spiked air rod, part of the…
user16731842
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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 electricians but I don't think they are certified and…
Daniel Denny Dillan
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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 tree and fried the electrical wiring and…
Outsider
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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 pulls down the entire "socket", tried to pry the…
Aida Paul
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Not sure what red wire for combination bathroom light/exhaust is for

I’m replacing the original switch with a smart switch. When I opened it up, it seems whoever installed it previously used a regular light switch. The red wire went straight into the old light switch (where a black wire would usually go). One black…
Thank you
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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 houses had SDP installed indeed on their main…
CuriousMan
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