Preventing lightening strikes through the phone line

   / Preventing lightening strikes through the phone line #1  

Jstpssng

Epic Contributor
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Aug 7, 2005
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22,310
Location
Maine
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Kubota L3301
I've lost the base sets from two cordless phonesin as many months to lightening. The power feeds were plugged into my surge protector and since nothing else blew I assume that it's coming through the phone line. I just bought yet another, and this time I hooked it up an old surge protector which also has a plug for the phone, although I doubt that it will stop that much juice.
I'm not sure if it's because of the temporary gump job that I used to temporarily bring the line from the pole to the house or if it's something the phone company could fix. Contacting them is less fun than having your teeth pulled without novicane. The strange thing is that my router is plugged into the same phone line, yet doesn't get fried.
 
   / Preventing lightening strikes through the phone line #2  
I've lost a number of electronic items due to lightning, includes several cordless telephone sets, TVs, etc. Small (but expensive) surge protectors did not phase the nearby lightning strikes.

My solution was to have the power company install a whole-house surge protectors. Cost is $11/month, maintained by them, and anything damaged is replaced by them.
 
   / Preventing lightening strikes through the phone line #3  
I've lost the base sets from two cordless phonesin as many months to lightening. The power feeds were plugged into my surge protector and since nothing else blew I assume that it's coming through the phone line. I just bought yet another, and this time I hooked it up an old surge protector which also has a plug for the phone, although I doubt that it will stop that much juice.
I'm not sure if it's because of the temporary gump job that I used to temporarily bring the line from the pole to the house or if it's something the phone company could fix. Contacting them is less fun than having your teeth pulled without novicane. The strange thing is that my router is plugged into the same phone line, yet doesn't get fried.
Most phone companies ground to your house ground rod by your meter socket.Drive a separate ground rod for your phone to be on..
 
   / Preventing lightening strikes through the phone line #4  
Most phone companies ground to your house ground rod by your meter socket.Drive a separate ground rod for your phone to be on..

Bingo

And it’s time to read the fine print on your surge protectors. Their is a difference. You could add a whole house surge protector too.
 
   / Preventing lightening strikes through the phone line #5  
On MY HOUSE the phone AND electric box's have a separate ground rod..
MY NEIGHBORS house doesn't & has replaced ALL his appliances SEVERAL times in 25 years
I tell ya what.. a whole house a/c unit isn't cheap.. especially if your doing it over & over..
 
   / Preventing lightening strikes through the phone line #6  
In my part of Arkansas, it seems that it can't rain without lightning,
so even though I have a whole house surge protector
and individual surge protectors for each item,
I always unplug EVERYTHING when a storm is approaching.

For items like heat pump, electric stove, that don't plug in, I turn off the breakers.
For the phone line (internet DSL in my case), I unplug that as well.

For my submersible well pump which is 120 volt and set up to plug into an outlet,
I especially make sure to unplug it.

No problems thus far.
 
   / Preventing lightening strikes through the phone line #7  
Can not stop lightening damage but it can be reduced . A drilled well casing makes a regular ground rod look about as useless as a plastic straw . Ground wire has to be ran in a straight line with gradual curves instead of 90 degree bends .
Most electrical panels can be outfitted with a pair of surge suppressors that look similar to breakers .
 
   / Preventing lightening strikes through the phone line #8  
Ha - that's the reason - nothing what-so-ever lost to lightning. I've got no phone lines. And since power is brought in @ full line voltage - there is a large lightning suppressor right at the last pole and transformer. I've sure lost a few of my ancient Ponderosa pines to lightning though.
 
   / Preventing lightening strikes through the phone line #9  
I have seen several well pumps destroyed, because I guess, they represent such a good ground. I would look for ways to avoid this. Very costly and inconvenient when your submersible pump gets taken out!

Having more than one ground IS THE PROBLEM, not the solution.

Having a whole house arrestor with phone line in/out ports is the answer. Then any difference in potential between Utility and Telephone, regardless of which way the lightning came in, will be dissipated through the device, not your phones.
 
   / Preventing lightening strikes through the phone line #10  
My solution was to have the power company install a whole-house surge protectors. Cost is $11/month, maintained by them, and anything damaged is replaced by them.

Thanks for the post. Will investigate whole-home protector from our power company. :thumbsup:
 

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