We have a lot of trees, taller than the house. Recently lightning hit a tree close to the house, nuked the hammock attached, then nuked the coax 6" underground maybe 10' away and also nuked the cable modem.

Was thinking I could get a lightning rod, put it in a tree on the other side of the house where no utilities or wires run, and draw any future strikes away.

Is this a good idea?

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Posted by LEASTBAY

Member since Aug 2007

16659 posts

Posted on 8/1/26 at 7:16 am to tadman

Can you switch to fiber? I also had a lot of damage from coax a few years ago.

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Posted by mchias1

Member since Dec 2009

1003 posts

Posted on 8/1/26 at 7:57 am to tadman

If it nuked the coax underground, adding a lightning rod won't do anything. The tree acting as a lightning rod conducting the electricity into the ground. Once there it fans out and that's how it found the coax.

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Posted by tadman

Member since Jun 2020

5576 posts

Posted on 8/1/26 at 12:46 pm to mchias1

quote:
If it nuked the coax underground, adding a lightning rod won't do anything. The tree acting as a lightning rod conducting the electricity into the ground. Once there it fans out and that's how it found the coax.

But what if I put it on the other side of the house? The water, internet, and power all come in on the north side. How about a tree on the south side maybe 50-100' away? We live in the woods so there is space and trees.

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Posted by Spankum

The Sip

Member since Jan 2007

63232 posts

Posted on 8/1/26 at 1:56 pm to tadman

quote:
Should I get a lightning rod

Won’t work at all.

Most of the electronics damages come from induced voltage as opposed to the lightning strike itself (which nothing can survive). Lightning rod may save an individual pine tree, but it will not save voltages induced on wiring in your house.

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Posted by calcotron

Member since Nov 2007

10858 posts

Posted on 8/1/26 at 3:56 pm to Spankum

I've had a router and switches fried from a nearby hit, not even direct. Ethernet is sensitive, but it likes it some action.

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Posted by Cool Hand Luke

Member since Oct 2008

2060 posts

Posted on 8/1/26 at 10:39 pm to calcotron

We just had a bolt hit the house. Put a hole about the size of a softball in the roof. Luckily it didn't catch on fire, but did damage a lot of appliances.

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Posted by Jmcc64