DO I NEED A LICENSE TO INSTALLED .A LIGHTNING RODS.FOR CHURCH CROSS.

I had lightning hit very close to my house about 5 months ago.it hit my gas line, an electircal line, phone line and cable line all we burnt and traveled in to my house At the time alot of my electrical devices we no longer working tvs phone cable boxes ect Insurance payed for them. Now other things that arn\'t that old are starting to go out dyer,fridge, ect is that from the lightning could there unseen things wrong with these devices that showed up later? and will could more things go out?

This is also an opportunity to upgrade your thermal insulation and bypass rusty nails. A lot of houses have absolutely no insulation or only 2 inches of glass fiber insulation. You can also correct a lot of hidden water problems and rotting lumber.

You can also get rid of a lot of utter cretinisms by rewiring and fixing the woodwork.

If you upgrade to 2x4+2x2 construction using construction adhesive you will bypass rusty nails and have room for R-19 insulation in the walls. Plus, the new wires will have more clearance from drywall screws and so forth.

Also, I have reached the point where I would rather install quad outlets than duplex outlets because a 2 gang box has so much more room in it and so forth. If I am wiring a commercial wood frame building where romex is allowed I use 12/3 with ground to put in a double capacity branch circuit to power the quads. makes for a harder to overload system.

the megger or hy pot (prefferably) thru all circuits from the the main panel out, check all circuits for bonding and grounds where required ,energize test and sleep well. (visual inspection goes without saying)

There are people who have spent most of their life in the scientific research of lightning that could not answer this question with assurance. Some of their findings suggest-

1. Nothing attracts lightning

2. Lightning Protection does not protect you from lightning

3.Bonding of ALL metalic systems will reduce the damage that lightning can cause.

4. Lightning may or may not hit the highest point in an area

5. Lightning events hit with so much power and speed, that they follow no rules. i.e., if you could recreate an event exactly as another in the exact same place, etc. etc. two totally different outcomes could be expected.

My point, We don't know enough about lightning to give you quality advise about your situation, so the only way to sleep in peace is to rewire your house. IMHO.

There are pleanty of sites on the web to research this info.

Mike why dont you answer this question?

I am shure some people will like to hear your opinion.

I have had the opportunity in the past of determining the extent of damage and providing recommendations for corrections to residences damaged by lightning and several that were incidences of high voltage damage to residences caused the the High voltage line falling across the secondary service drop serving the residence.

In addition I have investigated lightning damage to commercial and industrial facilities, usually to roof top equipment, towers and high structures.

The net result is usually always the same. There will be three types of damage that usually results from higher than normal voltage entering the facility and in some cases phyical damage to the structure itself.

Aside from the structural physical damage, your tasks will be: 1. Identify the point or points of entry of the lightning or high voltage to the residence. The most likely points are: a. Main electrical service entrance fron the utility. b. Telephone service point of entry. c. Cable TV service point of entry. d. Free standing antennas for TV, radio or satellite e. Domestic water service point of entry. f. Gas piping from street or tank. f. Any overhead or underground electric feeder lines to outbuildings or garages. 2. To identify the extent of damage to the electrical system, its components and the appliances. 3. Define and identify the wiring, components and appliances that need to be replaced and those that are safe to remain.

4. The following three basic types of damage at a minimum should be investigated and tests conducted to confirm, rule out and determine the extent of damage. a. Arc and/or flash damage to cables, panels and electrical system components. which leaves conductive residue, tracking and in some cases holes in the cables or enclosures. b. Insulation overvoltage stress damage to cables, electrical panels, disconnects and breakers. c. Internal damage to the appliances, light fixures and components that were connected or plugged into the system at the time of the lightning or high voltage event. (Note damage can occur anytime a component is connected even if not running or on at the time.)

At a minimum the following should be performed by a qualified electrician or certified testing technician. 1. Conduct a visual inspection of all exposed wiring, cables, piping, ground rods and water pipe ground connections for evidence of arcing or heat damage. Pay particilar attention to any termination points and where cables or wires pass over or near other pipes or heat ducts. Lightning induced voltages will arc over to other items with a path to ground causing visible arc damage to both at that point. 2. Open and visually inspect for arc and flash damage in all Electrical panels, sub panels, meter enclosures and feeder junction boxes to all appliances such as ranges, stoves, surface units, dryers, washing machines, Air Conditioning units out side and inside including the ac/blower & heating units. 3. While all of the above are open, systematicly unplug and/or disconnect the terminations between the appliances and the feeders after turning off the power to each and verifying that each has been deenergized. 4. Once isolated all feeder cables should have insulation resistance tests performed on each conductor with respect to ground and to each other. The applied potential should be 500 volts DC for 300 volt rated cable and 1000 volts Dc for 600 volt rated cable. The test duration should be for one minute. Minimum test values should be in accordance with manufacturers published values, comparable with new cable of equal size, type and length but not less than TWO megohms. 5. The branch circuit wiring feeding recepticle outlets, and lighting fixtures should be tested in the same manner and levels as stated above in item #4. Before preceeding with testing, verify the following: a. Circuits are de-energized, and verified as having no voltage present. b. Circuits are isolated by opening each breaker, and/or disconnect. c. Unplug all appliances and utilization equipment from all outlets on the premise. d. Disconnect all ceiling fans and remove all fixture lamps and bulbs. 6. After deenergizing and verifying no voltage is present, perform same tests on all electrical panels, sub panels, breakers and disconnects. 7. After deenergizing and verifying no voltage or other hazard exists perform insulation resistance integrity tests and/or leakage tests on each appliance individually at the voltage level, duration and by the method specified by each manufacturer. 8. Replace all wiring cables, panels, breakers, dicconnects, fixtures, components and appliances that do not past the visual inspections and testing described above and in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. 9. Require that a permit is secured from the local authority by the persons performing the testing prior to the beginning of any testing and verifications. 10. Request a copy of the completed permit bearing the signature of the approving local authority following the completition of the work. Forward this to the home insurance policy carrier.

11. Further consideration should be given to making a recommendation(s) to the home owner for cetain preventive measures against the possibility of future occurances or events of the same type encountered. The recommendations as approiate may include the following: a. Upgrades to the system grounding and bonding of all metal components to lessen the damage and hazard. b. Installation of Transient Voltage Surge Suppression (TVSS) devices at the main electrical service entrance, telephone service and cable TV service entrances, any out building electrical panels and on any high value electronic devices, TV, audio and recording equipment. c. Ask the utility to verify the integrity of ground connections and any surge arrestors at their pole or undergroung service transformer serving the residence.

Note: Each event or occurance of damage caused by lightning induced or other abnormal source of high voltage will be different with respect to the many different types of home constructions, proximity to other structures, trees, towers and the configuration of each homes electrical system as well as the utility system configuration and protective devices. The diagnostics of such damage and recommendations for corrections should be performed only by qualified and experienced professionals.

Thank you for the opportunity to post these comments. I sincerely hope they will be of some value to those with the need.

Larry LeSueur CPQ, CBCP Barrett Woodyard & Associates, Inc. Electrical and Mechanical Consulting Engineers. 3495 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Norcross, Ga. 30092 770-810-8800 llesueur@barrettwoodyard.com

Question is how must testing enough for safety and peace of mind, not caring what insurance will except. Everything should be look at, one way or another by a qualified person.

I agree with the meg. test on all the circuits. But it is hard to give advice not knowing the extent of damage you sustained.Most of the time what we do, Is buy a safety inspection,The local AHJ meets at the job-site with the Electrician They look at the job together Acess damages & Decide what course needs to be taken to make nescessary repairs.Then when the repairs are made the State Inspecter (AHJ) comes back and inspects the work. Liscensed Electrician Camden,Tn.

There are only two ways to do this. 1) remove all sheet rock and/or siding and look for problems or 2) megger test and load test the circuits.

Removing sheet rock and siding is visual only (looking for discoloration). Discoloration does not necessary mean it's bad.

If you do remove the sheet rock / siding, I would still do the megger test and load test, but also use an IR scanner (looking for hot spots).

Hi, just for your info, as long as you used a certified electrician, they all can stand at the main electrical box and Megger the circuits one by one to see if there is a break down in the insulation, bear in mind when this is done nothing can be connected to any circuit, because he is going to put 500 volts DC on the each circuit. If he finds a break down in the insulation of any circuit then that circuit has to be replaced... After this is done you can sleep easier.. Also for your info this is not a major project minimum 2 Hours... I am telling you this because I asume you are lost and need help....Maybe you know this al ready.. In any event if you have a question you can reach me at J_GIOIA@HOTMAIL.COM or GIOIAGA@STATE.GOV either e-mail I will get, hope this helps you. Jerry

Have your house completely rewired. Lightning will have made your insulation on your conductors suspect through your entire house let alone the damage the conductors may have sustained. Check appliances to see if they are running at their name plate specs. Check and replace any lighting fixtures showing the slightest damage and motors (fans) acting "funny" or show electrical scoring or burning should be replaced. The style and size of construction your house will determine price to rewire. Hope you have good insurance. There are no shortcuts.

Hope this helps.

Edward East LA SC Instructor

MOST OF THE TIME LIGHTNING WILL TAKE 1 PATH TO GROUND. (BUT SOMETIMES IT WILL TRAVEL THROUGH MANY DURING ITS DISCHARGE ) ! I RECOMMEND A REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED WIRING AND EQUIPMENT ONLY AFTER REPLACEMENT OF GROUNDING EQUIPMENT, ADDITION OF A LIGHTNING ARRESTERS TO INCOMING AC POWER, PHONE, CABLE / SATELITE LINES. ALSO LIGHTNING RODS WERE INVENTED LONG AGO AND THEY DO WORK.

Mike,

You have already received a lot of advice let me add this.

1. There are electrical contractors out there who spealize in this type of work get one. This will save you money and is something the insurance company will be quicker to accept. These contractors usually know what each insurance company will accept.

2. With rare exceptions do not add any lightning protection in the form of a lightning rod and down conductors. Lightning rods do not prevent lightning, they are for tall buildings that are hit on a regular basis and to to carry the discharge to ground, not normally for houses.

I have run into this before. I disconnect everything in the house; pull out light bulbs; take all wires off the breakers, and megger the wiring with all switches in the on position. It is a good idea to megger the panel and breakers and do a visual check of the bussing. Any damage is usually limited to 1 or 2 circuits.

I would be suspicious of any wiring or electrical devices that have been involved in a fire; temperatures can reach extreme levels which will damage electical insulation. The water used to extinguish the fire can carry corrosives into devices an cables (most of which are not listed for exposure to water). When we work on fire remediation, we always rewire.

I do not understand why any electricians are turning down work.Myself of course I have been in the business since June of 1993,I would first see if your meter box is safely grounded with a ground rod.and with the correct size of coducter from grond rod .Well the first question is how old is the house ,and how much fire damage was done and if it were electrical.Does your house have natural gas and is you gas meter gronded?

All Circuits/Wires should be inspected! If the house is over 10 years old replacing the switches and outlets would not be a bad thing. (Also just as expensive to replace as to inspect each switch and outlet.)

You probably do not need all outlets and switches replaced, just to the circuits that were effected. You probably do not need all of your fans, light fixtures, etc replaced. That seems a little over doing it. Obviuosly replace anything that has been scorched, or effected.

Electrical companies should be able to pull their own permits to do the work concerned, In California a permit is needed when the work done alters the structure. In other words replacing hat was there does not need a permit. (How it works in other states I do not know.)

Get multiple (2-4) estimates, and go with the company that seems the most honest. Add-ons are where the scumbag companies try to get you. Find out the hourly rate is and keep track of the hours worked. This wll help you determine if the company is on schedule to get the job done on the estimate.

Have Fun!

As an Electrical Engineer and not an electrician, I can only comment from my engineering point of view which says, "consider the worst case scenario". In your case, the lightning strike caused considerable damage indicating significant energy dissipation. This dissipation was in the form of heat (fire). Such heating was caused by significant electrical current. This current, no doubt, traveled through most of the house wiring (the electrical panel provided the bridge). Overheating wiring melts the insulation. Melted insulation means short circuits. Conclusion: Replace all electrical wiring, fixtures, panels, and load devices (washers, refridgerator, etc.). Sorry.

Also do a load test for voltage drop

Use a 2000-5000 Vac megger to test all the branch circuits Note; all appliance disconnected, lights removed and any loads when testing (check with an ohm meter before megging), all circuit breakers open and all Switches in the on position, replaces wiring that fails check for loads or replace wire.

VFD can have as high as 2500 vp, but in saying this home owners do not have 480 Vac VFD in their homes.

Question #1 - My questions are: * What should an electrical company do? Answer - A master electrician needs to find out where the lightning hit and entered the home, the path(s) it traveled and ALL the electrical components that were affected. This is similar to diagnosing any accident. One needs to know details. Did the lightning damage all the electrical/electronic appliances in the home, where & which ones, how were they damaged. This technical accessments, physical inspection, and electrical insulation testing along with the extent of the electrical/electronic damage will reveal the approximate duration of the high energy pulse. Also whether the high energy traveled along the conductors (house wiring) or was introduced through the grounding system, or possibly neither. Usually appliances are the cause of a fire, not the internal electrical wiring.

Question #2 - * What certification or license should they possess or subcontract out to do all the work and testing to make me and my family feel safe? Answer - That is a good question.

Question #3 - * Should all the wiring be replaced that is on each run including all switches, outlets, light fixtures, and fans? Answer - The answer to Question #1 needs to be performed to answer this. Usually the answer is NO, but ALL wiring & devices involved in the area of a fire must absolutely be replaced due to physical damage (heat) of the fire. And you "DO NEED TO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL INSPECTION" if any wiring is replaced.

John

with that kind of voltage going threw your wiring you going to have to replace some wiring.all the wiring i don't think but it takes less time to just yank it all out then to figure out what wire is good or not.then you need a lighting rod.

Permits are for adding additional electrical wiring. I don't think you'll find a permit to test the insulation of your system. You didn't really indicate that this was new construction. Anyway megger test the wiring. If any wiring shows up bad, replace it.

All wiring, devices, and equipment involved in a fire or otherwise damaged should be replaced. Lightning Protection should be installed by an experienced contractor certified as a master installer and installed in compliance with the National Electric Code, NFPA 78 Lightning Protection Code, and the Lightning Protection Institute standard 175-Standard of Practice.

If your insurance covers against the lightning then my suggestion is to ask for full wire replacement. The wiring may be good at insulation today but you cannot see the weak spots and foresee and insulation failure. The insulation failure can lead to arcing and fire. To avoid future hassle it may be a good idea to talk all options with your insurer and explain the risk of fire damage which he will cover as well. For a dispute you may want to retain a certified building inspector.

As tech. manager for a submersible pump company, I was contacted by the insurance agent for a customer who had claimed lightning strike damage to a 30hp submersible electric pump. The agent wanted my input on this. I was somewhat surprised, but offered testimony based on past experience and research I have done, supporting the customer's claim. This customer operated a small quarry (at the far end of a power grid) and has been with this insurance company for several years. This changed the somewhat negative opinion I had concerning insurance companies.

Thanks,

There's more to this story than what has been stated by the person seeking advice. Who did not want to pull permits? The homeowner, builder, or the three electrical contractors? I've never heard of contacting 25 electrical contractors and not receiving attention from any of them. As far as the repair work, I don't see a big problem. Houses damaged by fire are repaired every day. I assume the house was damaged to the point that it is no longer habitable. The first thing for this type of restoration project would be to remove all wall coverings and insulation. After the walls have been opened then a visual inspection of the wiring can be accomplished. It would be very easy to determine if Romex was damaged by fire. It might be a little harder to determine water damage but it can be done. All damaged wiring and devices would have to be replaced. Permits need to be pulled and the work inspected. Only properly licensed electrical contractors should be used. If the work is to be done in an area of the country that does not have licensing then the contractor"s references need to be checked. It is also a positive sign if the contractor is a member of a trade assoication such as IEC or NECA.

Your insurance company should have a qualified inspector (PE, master electrician) inspect your system - they will anyway if they are going to pay. A lightning strike may or may not have damaged the electrical system in the house. The fire may or may not have damaged the electrical system directly or indirectly. Lightning may or may not have damaged the circuit breakers or wiring, as may have short circuits from the fire. A proper inspection is the only way to be sure.

As a PE with both power distribution and utility company experience, I have seen many lightning events. Lightning is unpredictable, but it rarely destroys all of the wiring in a building. I would recommend that the homeowner hire a licensed electrician and ask him to megger the building wiring from the service entrance with all branch circuits connected. He should check both line to neutral and line to ground. If it doesn't check out, then he should sectionalize the wiring and repeat the megger tests until he isolates the defective wiring. If everything checks out with a megger and there are no obvious burned areas, I think the wiring would be safe to energize. I also agree with adding surge protection at the service entrance and on critical loads such as computers, and consider installing some type of lightning protection system for the house, especially if it is on high ground.

1. I do that sort of investigation for insurance adjusters. - See if your adjuster can get an engineer assigned by the insurance company to investigate the scope of damage and recommend a scope of repair. With that in hand, some contractor can give you a price. Testing can determine which circuits need replacing.

2. Once the county is involved, their inspector has the last word. Try to get your preferences and documents in front of him before he makes a decision.

Something doesn't sound right here. If the electrical contractors are licensed they will have no problem with pulling permits. But permits are not pulled until they get a signed contract. Having a non-response from 25 contractors is not believable unless there is more to the story. At least some would give you a price but will charge for their time.

We would classify this work as troubleshooting with time and material rates then test the insulation of each wire with a megger. Then either replace it or deam it safe. Motor loads can be checked and if load is within the name-plate rating deamed safe. Of course we would pull a permit before starting but after we are comfortable that we will get paid.

sometimes the insurance company will hire a licensed PE or forensic engineer to come in and evaluate the condition of the wiring or oversee the megaohm test with a licensed electrical ontractor. If there is direct physical damage to any wiring, fixtures, switches, outlets, etc., they need to be replaced. If the system passes the megaohm test there is no reason to replace the wiring, if the results are poor or marginal, the wiring needs to be replaced.

... First,... I would find someone with an electrical license, (you don't need someone with a degree in electrical engineering), but someone who has the proper equipment to test your existing wiring,..in this case, a "megger" would be the instrument of choice.. and finally, make him take out a permit, and have his work, as well as his findings inspected by your local electrical inspector. Then he may send the power company a "cut-in" card saying that it's ok to restore power,..I'm assuming the power has been disconnected..if you were in Jersey, I'd be more than happy to help you out... Good Luck!!

You have a unque problem. in most cases you will turn power back on than do your testing. Lightning has a tendacy to complete its destrutive path, turning power on will probaly show you everything. I can see why you are having difficultly getting a electrician to certify this system. You need a electrical engeneer to certify the system. The only test you can do to ensure that your wiring is safe is a Hi Pot test on your wires to see if there was damage to the insulation on wires that lighting attacked. Your panel box should be inspected to be sure no damage has occured. Be sure that your smoke dectors have been properly tested.

Don't forget the water line problems that could be waiting to surprise you. If your service was bonded to the water line, check for damage at the bonding point. Copper and Galvanized pipe makes no difference.

Great advice to use a Neta Contractor. Sorry for your lose

If I needed an electrician, I would contact the nearest office of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). Any union journeyman electrician should be able to diagnose and repair this problem and suggest ways to prevent it from happening again.

I am an electrical contractor in upstate New York. I am always amazed how insurance companies are so quick to collect the premiums but ......

I agree with the county electrician in advising you to replace all the wiring in the home. I am not certain as to how you would definitively test and be able to certify ,as such, each and every conductor. Then there are the liability issues that might have scared off many of the contractors you contacted.

My advice to you is to replace everything; wiring, devices, fixtures, service and whatever appliances may be suspect. Have a certified agency inspect the work as per your local codes or laws. It may cost a little more now but you will have peace of mind.

Good Luck

If I had my contractor's license in that state, I would help them out. There are some things that are more important than money.

Scott Wheat Journey Wireman Mobile, Alabama

I would at least have all cables and wires insulation tested and the results documented. Any questionable results from test should be double checked and if still read lower than 1 megohm the entire piece of wire or cable should be replaced. After finishing all tests, one circuit at a time should be returned to service.

I am interested as a electrical contractor, I live in Colorado Springs and we get a lot of lightning

I agree with all of the above responses, with the exception of having a PE certify your wiring or the electrician having to be from the IBEW. Just make sure whoever you hire, they are licensed in your jurisdiction. You will need to find a reputable licensed electrical contractor, have them pull a permit, have them perform & document all of the tests recommended above, forward a copy of the aforementioned to your insurance company, along with your electrical contractors complete quotation, for approval by your insurance company, replace & repair what is necessary & have your residence inspected by the local authority having jurisdiction.

It's not that the electricians in your area don't want to take on the work, it's the insurance company they will have to deal with. Insurance companies primary function is to collect premiums & limit claims payout. Your insurance adjuster or whatever "expert" they send to you does not know the first thing about lightning strikes & the long term damages it can cause, let alone electricity itself. The red tape & the hurdles your chosen electrical contractor will have to go through with your insurance company is absolutely horrendous & a majority of the time, the time they spend going around in circles with your insurance company, will not even cover their overhead costs. Good luck.

Did this property have any lightning protection ? to what extent was the structural damage ? I ask this as i am in the middle of a large house construction and the project director does not want to install a lightning protection system as he says it can cause structural damage if lightning strikes. Whats the alternative ?

to make me and my family feel safe? That a lone says it all, if you do not have everything replaced, You already have it in your mind, that you will not feel safe, can I leave my house and everthing will be okay?? My opionion is yes to everything a good union electrical contractor says replace

*1 WILL THE INSURANCE COMPANY COVER FULL ELECTRICAL REPAIRS? *2 IF THE ROMEX CABLE LOOKS GOOD AND PAST ALL REQUIRED TEST, WHO'S TO SAY THAT THE CONDUCTOR HAS'ENT REACHED ITS AMP LEVEL AND DETERIATED THE SHIELDING AND POSSIBLE HAVING A POTENTIAL FOR A GROUND FAULT.

*3 AND LAST HAVE AN EARTH TEST DONE. I BET YOUR NOT UP TO CODE.

Hire a reputable electrical contracting firm. Arrange to pay the bill "up-front". Take photos of all the work as well as collect documentation from the contractor of work done / completed. To the extent possible, save all discarded / trashed electrical components. A reputable contractor will know all the procedures that need to be done and how to file all the required paperwork. When the work is completed, you can file on your insurance. If you have kept all of your duck in a row they will pay. As the ambulance chasers say, "they are not your good neighbors and they are not on your side". You, as a policy holder, are put in the position that you must prove to the insurance company that they are required to live up to their end of the deal. Good Luck.

The comment posted regarding your grounding is a good one. You may not have a good ground system. The engineer can look at this and advise you and the test company can test this. It is typically in-expensive to make it better, however, you insurance company may not pay for this. Also you can look into installing lightning protection and then you can also look at installing surge protection. Some utility companies offer a meter mounted surge protector - these are generally very good units as the fit in line with your meter and will out perform anything you can buy for the panel, however, installing a main panel device is also a good option. You will also want additional surge suppression devices (plug in) on your sensitive electronics - look for a device that is UL 1449 rated. Remember the insurance company puts their interest before you so don't get too excited when they say they will pay. You will need an engineer's report to prescribe the work and a contractor's estimate to back it up. They generally will not argue with the engineer's prescription, but what they will do is try to get and adjuster out to put an arbitrary dollar limit on the claim.

You did not say if the adjuster is setting a price ceiling, if he is there is your problem. Did any of the electrical contractors want to even give you a bid? Try to find out if there are any like cases recorded with the permit office, public records, and call those electrical contractors.

Russell A. Danos

What should an electrical company do? Megger all circuits, Verify all main grounding electrical conductors & points(Test Ground rod ), Test all GFCI units with proper tester, Install surge suppression on Main power, Cable TV, & Phone line Document all findings due to Insurance being involved, If needed for the insurance pull a Lightning Strike report.

What certification or license should they possess or subcontract out to do all the work and testing to make me and my family feel safe? Should have experience in this field & check with Local authority to find out what they require. Most time when Fire Dept has been called they require Inspections and the testing I a have listed.

Should all the wiring be replaced that is on each run including all switches, outlets, light fixtures, and fans?

I've elevated up directly to my insurance company and they will have their subcontract manager call me back to get me help. What tips can you give me to help me out? Test all appliances (very good) Some appliances won’t fail for 6 months & then Insurance don’t want to cover!!

Electronic Testing Company Inc.

Mike Elam

Suite D 11060 Kenwood Rd

Cincinnati, OH 45242

Ph/Fax 513-891-8758

CP 513-266-0882

Federal Tax ID # 31-1232820

The electrical contractor should pull the permit, meg all circuits, and replace the damaged equipment. The project should be supervised by a master electrician. It is probably cheapeer to replace switches and receptacles than it would be to test them. Fans and lighting fixtures can be function tested and verified that the case is grounded and isolated from hot and neutral, or replaced. The panelboard may also require replacement depending on the damage, soot must be removed if possible, or replaced.

First queston is, Chesapeake Beach? Are you referring to the Chick's Beach area of Virginia Beach? If the answer is yes, then call American Electric of Virginia, Inc. (look in the yellow pages) and ask forJoe. I will be glad to discuss this with you and offer my advise.

If you are not in this area, then all I can say is that lightning can be strange. Each time we/I have investigated a strike, it seems te damage can vary from just hitting a circuit or two, to running through the whole electrical system. If you are not in this area, hopefully you can find the qualified help you need locally. Either way, I feel for your delema. Best wishes, Joe

At the very least all the wiring should be megger tested that could possibly have been affected to detect bad spots or burn through of the insulation. You should look for a reputable licensed (if required) electrician, ask your friends or even better the local wiring inspector or electrical distributors may be able to help you. If licensing is required in your area, you can get a copy of the licensed electricians in your area from the county or city. Make sure to get a copy of their liability insurance naming you as the insured. Good luck.

I have seen lightning do some strange things, I have seen it weld fencing to metal posts, and then blow out concrete around a fence post. I have seen it destroy a tv set and harm nothing else in the house. I would have an electrical contractor meg all lines. and replace all receptacles, switches and other devices. The panel showed be inspected by AHJ and cleaned or replaced if neccessary. All lighting showed be checked for grounding. All junction boxes should be opened and checked for damage.

Q: What should an electrical company do?

A: You need an electrical testing firm. Look for one that is a full NETA certified company that has professional electrical engineers on staff. See the following link: http://netaworld.org/Category.cfm?CategoryID=4 or call my firm at (800) 992-3826.

Q: What certification or license should they possess or subcontract out to do all the work and testing to make me and my family feel safe?

A: A Full NETA certified test company will have the appropriate equipment, training and experience to do proper investigation and testing. They are a third-party test entity who will "certify" the conditions. You then want a Professional Engineer's opinion, either an engineer from the NETA company or another. The engineer needs to be an electrical engineer experienced in this field and licensed (P.E.) in your state. Do not accept an engineer sent by the insurance company - you need an independent test company with a test technician who is NETA certified and a professional engineer two individuals but can be from the same company.

3. Should all the wiring be replaced that is on each run including all switches, outlets, light fixtures, and fans?

Work should be prescribed based on the testing and findings of the NETA test firm and the comments from the engineer. When in doubt replace it. I've elevated up directly to my insurance company and they will have their subcontract manager call me back to get me help. What tips can you give me to help me out?

Contact your home owner's insurance representative and report the damage. Ask the insurance representative if they wish to call an electrical contractor themselves, recommend some or have you call a contractor. The electrical contractor will be able to determine the extent of damage, if any, to your wiring. If repairs are needed the contractor will give you and your insurance company a bid and if that is accepted the necessary permits will be acquired by the contractor.

My gosh, the electrical utility business is sure competitive in your area.

Bob

All the comment I have read are good advice and Im sure you insurance co., is in it to save money if they can. The question you asked at the end is what stuck in my mind the most,what should I do to make my family save. I would'nt spent any time or money checking anything!!! I would put my money into replacing everything, and I think you would sleep better at night and possibly be less expensive in the long run.Thats my take without seeing it. Good luck................:o)

Hi. I think any licensed electrician person should be able to do the work right after he pull out a permit. you don't have to get an big electrical contractor to do the work. get a couple licensed ones to give you an estimate and go from there. I hope the insurance company can agree with the price and help you out.Good luck. Santo Nina.NC licensed electrician.

I just inspected a light strike at a home and the Power company will not re-connect the service until a State certified electrical inspector has inspected the repair job. Lightning is looking for a ground path and you will see where the lighting goes until it see ground (earth) it will leave damage path .My case it blow up the Utility meter and burn off the neutral to the customer service main , no damage to the customer main panel or any wiring., the house had no grounding electrodes. replace the meter and provide (3) electrode grounding path for lighting strike. I would suggest meggar wire and check voltage before turning on power. This was surpose to be do on my job but electricain didn't do the checking and owner turn the main without checking and everything worked o.k. John.

I have seen lightning do weird stuff also. i worked for an electronic loss analysis company that reported to insurance agencies. I never talked to any of the over 500 Agencies we dealt with that never got right to the problem. i have seen Phone Key switching units sit there with not a mark and blow every phone in a building.

We always ran insulation Megger tests and TDR scans to find the damage hidden inside of wire nuts and insulation. Every switch and receptacle that has smoke damage or burn marks needs tossed. The run to that point should be removed also.

I have to agree with the other comments that have been posted. Call a reputable Electrical contractor. Have all the switches and receptacles removed and do a Meggar Ohm test on the wiring. and replace all the devices with new. The lighting fixtures and fans if they are in question as to there electrical integrity should also be replaced. I would not hesitate to change the Electrical Service and circuit breakers. For the cost of a new panel and devices, It would be feasible. Any wiring that has failed a Meggar Ohm test, should be isolated and replaced. A lightning protection sytem should also be considered for future prevention.

W. Croteau

I wouldn't have any repaires done until every circuit is megged. Lightning can cause microscopic blisters on the conductor insulation which can lead to arc-tracking and subseqent fir. I' ve seen it happen.