QUESTION Sprinkler Controllers

[Dpsterling]

I am Dirk a "Home Inspector" and have a degree in residential electrical along with other certifications. I had a customer call me that her controllers for the irrigation has blown out 4 times in the last 2 years due to electrical interference from lightning. Living in Florida "the capital of lightning strikes," I was wondering if there is something or anyone have an idea that can be done to prevent this? She has a whole house surge protector. I thought maybe adding lightning rods on the home or possibly a separate surge protector for the remote for the system may help. A friend suggested I come here to ask.

 

[hbiss]

The best advice I could give is to contact an irrigation company that deals in the brand of equipment she has. (Hunter or Rain Bird probably.) Admittedly I am not familiar with the problem being in the Northeast. A lawn irrigation pro in your area (the lightning capitol of the world) certainty would know with what the system manufacturer has for lightning protection for the type of system she has as well as what is required for installation.

-Hal