Thanks for the details. Two work crews putting up panels and reworking power … and it is raining. Electrician comes Friday so all is good. Bob Wilson
Found a better solution: Ridge cable in rafters joints at the apex Space rods 25 ft apart Mount fixtures for cable and rod anchors Route ground cable at each end, out and down to two ground rods away from service line and cable modem coax I'll probably practice with the Southeast fence to prevent flash-over from their trees. They are on just the other side of the property line and the only ones close enough to cast a shadow over the backyard. I can mount the "owl" over the center one which should keep the birds away. Bob Wilson
I was in a rural fire station in Tennessee that had a bird-entry problem. They had installed an owl replica. Wish I had access to my photo of that covered with bird poop. Birds learn.
I used rubber snakes to keep birds out of the Cherokee 140 engine. Not only bird poop but even pin feathers and once on the ground. The owl will get 'bombarded' much like crow and raptors suffer in the Spring. However, I may install it on a weather-vane 'perch'. I suspect the bird poop won't affect the 'feathered fear factor.' Bob Wilson
Rough estimate for home lightning protection: Since my insurance company doesn't care (I called) if I have lightning protection, I can do it myself. Regardless, the electrician and I may have an easy discussion. Yes, I know aluminum has an oxidation challenge but properly torqued and sprayed with a hydroscopic coating, no problem. Bob Wilson
That LPI 175 standard (PDF linked in an earlier post), the 78-page condensed version of NFPA 780 (it leaves out the latter's extra info on hard cases and weird industrial buildings and such) really is a good read. It has a lot of information on the appropriate material choices, locations of terminals and electrodes, corrosion considerations, and more.
Thanks for the PDF. I was finally able to enter the right search text for a local LPI contractor. They plan to visit to understand my requirements. I'll ask for 30 day quote and we'll go from there. I'm not against qualified folks getting my business but I was having no luck finding one. Per the standard: Two tall "strike termination" rods would work fine 150 ft radius protection sphere means a single rod might work Two rods would nicely overlap Mixed copper and aluminum is OK provided water is blocked at the aluminum fittings Keep braided grounding cable close to straight (lighting makes them straighten) Two or more earth ground rods should avoid utility services including buried lines There are three candidate locations in the clay soil for the grounding rods which also get concentrated roof runoff. The utility line lighting cable is too far away to provide any coverage. Service line surge protectors now come with lights to easily identify if they need to be replaced. Something like this: Those are ~50' circles, nominal is 150' protection Two ground pads away from service lines above and below Tall tree to East and Southeast should be OK but might do a ground wire along top of fence Bob Wilson
Bob, Interesting thread with great information. I had a follow up on a thought you mentioned in this thread concerning lightening protection. You mentioned you were going to ask the solar installers if lightening protection was included with the solar panels. I wondered what you found out? Also I doubt the average person is as knowledgeable or thorough as yourself and would even think of lightening or surge protection. Is it mainly the electronic equipment such as inverters etc that need the protection in a solar system or is there a risk in the panels themselves in the photelectric etc of damage? Do solar panels increase the risk of a lightning strike on a home? Thank you in advance if you have time to answer!
When I asked the solar electricians two days ago, he said "I wouldn't." But I have unique background with lightning: 1960s - we had a 20 ft, CB antenna to contact my Dad who was a physician (and made house calls!) Lightning struck it and though the radio survived, the aluminum antenna no longer worked. 1990s - our last CRT based, color TV had the cable coax directly connected. A nearby strike took it out. So using a schematic inside the case and Radio Shack parts, I got it working up to the tuner. At that point, it went to the curb. Every year there are 2-3 houses on the news that catch fire either from a known or suspected lightning strike. A house fire burns up everything including the lightning surge protectors. Murphy's law, solar panels are 'invisible' to lightning as burnable house materials are especially attractive to lightning. Having taken out two front yard trees, one 184 ft tall with 54 rings, removed my 'natural' lightning rods: Google earth image taken before 2020. So taken yesterday from my drone: So I want a practical lightning system: GOOD ENOUGH - protect the house from most likely lightning ignition points Neighbor to West is higher; neighbor to South has 50-100 ft trees at property line, and; back yard property line is ~70 ft away with many tall trees. Front yard has power poles, about 70 ft away, with a lightning cables on the top to protect transformers Two or three lightning rods with two solid grounds should protect the house CHEAP ENOUGH - a "code" house would have seven lightning rods and four grounds. Over phone, $3,000-$4,000, with aluminum being the cheapest with a corrosion risk FAST ENOUGH - after Permit To Operate, look at cash flow and choose Found one LPI rated installer in Tennessee but he only visits Huntsville. Amazon sells the simple parts for about $200 that I can buy and install Bob Wilson
Thank you. Wish you much success with your project - it is exciting to hear about projects where people become masters of their energy needs.
Third benefit of opening up this site would be vegetable garden planted would be well illuminated. I am still at the nagging phase on that
things your solar installer never told you: 1) you need lightning protection 2) you need to clean the panels periodically
Taking down the front yard trees clued me about lightning protection. As for cleaning the panels, knew that would be a thing too. Mostly because it looks like a bird nest habitat. Bob Wilson
1) is a good idea for any home considering all the electronics and appliances in addition to the home itself. Knew guy who had a lightning bolt hit the ground between the house and detached garage, then the underground electric cable between them, and then out from the TV screen. Not just fry the TV, actually continue into the room. 2) is only a need in the sense of keeping max performance from the panels up, and it comes down to the installation(flat bad for dirt build up) and environment. "The UCSD study also found that normal debris such as dust, dirt, and pollen have a minimal effect on efficiency. Less than 0.05 percent efficiency is lost on average. For a homeowner, that adds up to saving about $20 a year by cleaning their solar panels halfway through the summer. Essentially, under normal circumstances, you’ll likely pay more to have your panels cleaned than you’ll earn back in solar efficiency." Solar Panel Cleaning: Best Practices and Simple Guide | Solar.com
Yeah, finished the cleaning panels article. As long as the panels are mounted at an angle and it rains regularly, they are self cleaning.
My roof pitch is 28°, not quite enough to have the former pine tree needles blow off. Regardless, I'll inspect until it become boring. Bob Wilson
It looked like where the needles was the result of that roof gully being sheltered from most of the wind.
