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OK - so install a separate earth ground copper rod at the observatory but only attach all the grounds, boxes, etc. to it and leave the neutrals on a separate non-grounded bus bar in the observatory - right? The neutrals would be tied to the ground bus bar at the main breaker box but not at the observatory?
Mike

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I wouldn't, Mike.
There is still the possibility of differing ground potentials and the havoc that they can cause.
You realize, of course, that having a ground rod at the observatory offers virtually no protection from a lightning strike. You could spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a Faraday cage linked to huge, buried copper plates and still lose your equipment to a lightning strike.
I believe that you would be better off wiring your observatory according to code and following the easy, practical suggestions: unplugging equipment, using UPS, etc. Most important would be making sure that you're covered by insurance.
This is a case where Mother Nature can trump any of Man's efforts to thwart her.

dan

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