Lighting rod to sub panel in NJ

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whofrankw

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milford nj
Im on an addition where a lighting rod company added a rod and ran the wire to the ground and crimped on a wire and they say its supposed to go to our panel. to me that means if a strike hits the rod its going to our panel and doesnt make sense. Im in new jersey if that makes a difference. Ill have to see what the AHJ will say but wanted your guys input too. thanks
 
I’ve always been told it is a totally separate system, any interconnection would be incidental such as structural steel or rebar, or rooftop equipment. Been a long time since I’ve done a building with lightning protection. When I done high rises, the conductor ran up with the concrete support column rebar. That was 30 years ago, so things may have changed.
 
whofrankw said:
Im on an addition where a lighting rod company added a rod and ran the wire to the ground and crimped on a wire and they say its supposed to go to our panel. to me that means if a strike hits the rod its going to our panel and doesnt make sense. Im in new jersey if that makes a difference. Ill have to see what the AHJ will say but wanted your guys input too. thanks
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250.106 Lightning Protection Systems. The lightning protection
system ground terminals shall be bonded to the building
or structure grounding electrode system.
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All grounding electrodes must be bonded together. If this is not done, than your lightning protection system could paradoxically increase risk by shunting soil currents from nearby strikes into your building.

With that said, the topology of the connection should be considered to minimize the risk of lightning currents going where they are not wanted. The goal is for the strike current to flow to earth while all of the bonded metal in the structure 'floats' at the same potential.

Jon
 
Lightning strikes create what are effectively huge step-potential areas, and two separate electrodes or electrode systems can have a large voltage differences imposed between them. Not bonding can bring those voltages into the building.

This is why gas systems with CSST need to be bonded from the supply (meter) side to the electrical service grounding system, which gas appliances are bonded to. Bonding makes sure both ends of the CSST are always at the same potential.
 
Thanks for the response. So this big braided wire has to go into my panel or is there a lug that can be used outside. The main panel is located in a garage that is about 150-200ft away and I’m just adding the sub panel for the addition
 
whofrankw said:
The main panel is located in a garage that is about 150-200ft away and I’m just adding the sub panel for the addition
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The sub-panel, being in a separate building, needs an electrode system. Place your rods near the lightning rods, and jump from your nearer rod to theirs with typical wire and hardware.
 
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