David All of the type UF cable presently sold in the US is listed and labeled as sunlight resistant and is perfectly acceptable for exposed runs except were subject to physical damage. I have used a fair amount of type UF as indoor wiring in barns were it's resistance to moisture and the corrosive fumes of animal waste make it the cost effective cable of choice.
-- Tom Horne
That's the part that doesn't do anything for me. What's the real point in any ground rods, etc at the building. Isn't there a ground rod of some sort at the transformer 100' away. How much potential difference could develop between the house and the transformer?
A bunch. We typically measured 25-35 volt spikes on our dranitz logger between 2 grounding electrode systems in separate buildings. That is why I always suggest bonding the GES if you are stringing data cables between them.
If you have a water pipe or concrete encased electrode you have a much better earthing electrode than is at the transformer.
If there is a very near lightning strike, like at a tree, the potential of the earth at the transformer and your house could be many tens of thousands of volts different. Grounding electrodes at your house pull the potential of the wiring in your house nearer the earth potential at your house (which is the potential of concrete basement floors and walls). Even though your garage is very near your house, there could be a difference of many thousands of volts between the earth at the house and garage.
If lightning hits the utility pole there is an even bigger difference between the earth potential at the pole (and utility wires) and your house.
Earthing at the house helps protect against surges coming in on power, cable and phone wires.
Around here I have seen missing copper wire to the earthing electrode at utility poles where it has been stolen.
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