Lightning protection for home LAN

[bigboy529]

Hi all
I'm planning to install a few network points in my house and need advice on lightning protection.

The center of this install will be a TP-Link Archer D9 modem / router, this router is plugged in to a online UPS and the ADSL cable also runs threw the UPS. There is also a computer wired directly to the router, the computer also gets its power threw the UPS.

From my study where the router is located, I want to pull Ethernet cable threw the roof to a few other places in the house, the plan is to use CAT5E cable running threw trunking in the ceiling to the other rooms, where I will install Ethernet plug boxes. In rooms where I need more than 1 Ethernet point, I'll probably add gigabit switches in future.

What am I to do in terms of lightning protection with a balance between best / cost effective? Do I put a data line surge protector on each of the Ethernet cable runs? http://www.takealot.com/apc-protectnet-standalone-surge-protector-for-10-100-1000-base-t/PLID32715461

 

[HvRooyen]

I installed similar units 6 years ago, after losing multiple pieces of equipment due to induced current from a nearby lightning strike (to the south of my house, and all the damage occurred on equipment that was connected to cables running North-South). I recall the advice at the time was that I had to install protectors on either side of all cable runs. As this became very pricey very quickly, I only ended up placing protectors between any particularly long cable run and a switch, or in front of expensive equipment.

 

[bigboy529]

I installed similar units 6 years ago, after losing multiple pieces of equipment due to induced current from a nearby lightning strike (to the south of my house, and all the damage occurred on equipment that was connected to cables running North-South). I recall the advice at the time was that I had to install protectors on either side of all cable runs. As this became very pricey very quickly, I only ended up placing protectors between any particularly long cable run and a switch, or in front of expensive equipment.

One on each side of a cable run will get very expensive yes. I wonder what the reason is for one on each side as surely it acts like a fuse which protects from both sides?
What do you consider a long cable run, 20m, 50m? Also have they saved anything since you installed them or failed to save something, happy with this specific model?

 

[upup]

I saw a dentist last week, put a metal cage around his roof, with normal round bar going down to earth. 20 years later no problems yet.

 

[HvRooyen]

One on each side of a cable run will get very expensive yes. I wonder what the reason is for one on each side as surely it acts like a fuse which protects from both sides?
What do you consider a long cable run, 20m, 50m? Also have they saved anything since you installed them or failed to save something, happy with this specific model?

The way I understand what happened in my case was induced current i.e. lightning strike nearby, inducing a current in any wire that happens to be aligned to the strike. Equipment on either side can be damaged (as current is induced in the wire, not flowing through it), so both sides need to be protected. I pretty much put protection on wires with a long run in any specific direction, i.e. not restricted to one room or so. No fixed rules I can quote, more a decision based on what is on the end of the cable - cheap switches are not protected, expensive cameras are. The problem is that it is a statistical game - you can protect against high risk events, but not against all events. You can even sprinkle holy water over the cables and never again have any problems...

As far as the metal cage around the roof (Faraday cage?) is concerned: The way I understand this, I suspect it will protect against direct strikes but not against induced current. (I have a similar setup on my roof, for an entirely different reason - my solar panels are on a metal frame). A quick google search on how lightning rods protect will show you this is far from completely understood.

 

[sajunky]

What am I to do in terms of lightning protection with a balance between best / cost effective? Do I put a data line surge protector on each of the Ethernet cable runs? http://www.takealot.com/apc-protectnet-standalone-surge-protector-for-10-100-1000-base-t/PLID32715461

Such device will give very little protection. Look carefully at the photo: the ground wire which goes to PC is forming a loop (almost full circle). Even if it is in a straght line, there is a following problem. If you have some other self powered devices like USB printers, there will be a loop over power lines affecting PC and interconnected peripheral device.

The properly designed lightning protection has to be a part of the power distribution multiplug, it will be the place where PC and all peripherals (connected to the PC) take power from.

Finally, yes, lightning protector must be on both sides of the LAN cable.