Hi Gerald, I am a qualified electrician with an engineering degree to boot and am quite aware of Ground currents and the dangers they impart on Astro and computer equipment but to add another earth stake is opening the door to a very dangerous situation. In the event of requiring an earth stake at your observatory you really should disconnect the earth which is in the cable leading out to the observatory and turn the observatory into a seperate MEN system (Multiple earthed neutral). You will also require a switchboard to provide the protection of your observatory cabling. By far the best way to protect any electrical or electronic equipment, be it in your observatory or your house during an electrical storm is to physically disconnect it fron all sources of supply and earth by unplugging it.
Much of the commercial surge protection equipment sold is only good for minor transient rises in voltage and provides little protection from a very close lightning strike or one on the local reticulation grid.
Please be careful adding extra earth stakes to your electrical installation without the advice of a qualified electrical contractor.
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