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I'm fishing for ideas - lightening protection

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tkamiya:
As the title says, I'm fishing for ideas for lightening protection.  Power source side is covered.  Expanded ground system way beyond rules require, two layers of whole-house surge protector, and UPS.

What I am concerned about is a cable TV/Internet connection.  Where I am, coax comes to my cable modem, and cable modem requires power.  Only protection I have here is coax is bonded to the house ground.  I'd like more.

It would be the best if I can convert copper coax to fiber optic line outside my house but that's beyond my control.  Ethernet side, I can go from Ethernet to fiber and back to Ethernet.  Then there is a concern of powering up those little things.  If I connect it directly to the outlet, that's another path that needs to be protected.

How would I isolate power?  (120V in our area)  Medical grade isolation transformer is the best I can come up with.  Does anyone have ideas you can share?  I am in Central Florida, the lightening capital of the United States.

Gyro:
I don't know how much it helps, but surge protection has become a key part of the IET 18th Edition Wiring Regs used in the UK. It includes things like site survey / geographical and other risk assessment (sounds like a no-brainer where you are!) and various degrees of protection, from Surge protection devices (SPDs) in the consumer unit (breaker box?), to additional bonded protection devices on telecom, antenna cables etc.

Unfortunately the IET wiring regs (BS 7671) aren't freely available on-line, but if you do a search for 'IET 18th Edition' you should find lots of guides, explanations, videos etc. from equipment suppliers and other sources. Hopefully you will find some of it applicable, even though you're in the US.

tkamiya:
Unfortunately, in our area at least, "whole house protection" is not mandated or automatic.  Power company will be glad to install one but they will charge monthly fee.  I did my modification myself.  (I am a licensed electrician)  Also, reg calls for two ground rods and call it done.  It's a joke! 

Glad situation is better in UK. 

In US, we are quite regulation heavy but they tend to miss what's really important.

Gyro:

--- Quote ---Power company will be glad to install one but they will charge monthly fee.
--- End quote ---

Wow!  :o

tkamiya:
That was my first impression.  Something like 10 dollars a month.  It is a kind of unit that installs UNDER power usage meter.  Takes 5 minutes to install, and the device not that expensive.  They get revenue forever.  Tampering with the meter is against the law, too.

So I did it at the main circuit breaker which is my property and right next to the meter.

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