The Power Of Lightning

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A/A Fuel GTX

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WI & AZ
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Electrician
I'm in the process of a complete re-wire on a house that took a lightning strike. Here are some surprises that were revealed after the sheet rock came off.
 

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Nice photos, thanks for sharing.

After some lightning strikes found 2 to 3 ft long pieces of unsplit individual wire insulation WITHOUT any wire in them. Interesting phenomenon.

Have seen the grounding conductor BROKEN, not fused, where it had been routed around a corner. Assume the break was due to magnetic forces.
 
Nice photos, thanks for sharing.

After some lightning strikes found 2 to 3 ft long pieces of unsplit individual wire insulation WITHOUT any wire in them. Interesting phenomenon.

Have seen the grounding conductor BROKEN, not fused, where it had been routed around a corner. Assume the break was due to magnetic forces.

That there is X-Files freaky. :eek:hmy:
 
This house was only 4 years old. Had a CEE. I noticed a lot of scorch marks under staples for whatever reason. Maybe because the energy was concentrated at one point where the wire wasn't able to flex? The damage was totally random. No telltale point of the actual strike. Neighboring houses also sustained some minor damage, trashed GFCI's etc. but nothing like this house. Damage estimate is in excess of 70K.
 
I'm in the process of a complete re-wire on a house that took a lightning strike. Here are some surprises that were revealed after the sheet rock came off.


About 20 years ago a friend of mine went to a house right after a lightning strike to assess the damage and give an estimate for repairs. Things were not looking bad in the main part of the house so he opens up the attic. When he opens things up this lets fresh air in and a fire starts (smoldering until then). He get's his extinguisher and keeps the fire in check until the fire department comes.

You never know what you are going to find with a lightning strike.

He doesn't even get the job to do the repairs.
 
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