Lightning Rod ?

[phwrd]

Hello ya'll,

Really different problem. The admiral requires a lightning rod system on the house. We live in Tampa, lightning is a problem. We both grew up in Indiana where barns have burnt down because of thunderstorms.

Cooper wire, copper connectors, roof rods, brackets and ?. Anyone ever do something like this. I understand the installation and theory. Anyone know of a reliable source for these materials ?

Thanks well in advance . . .

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Lightning Rod ?

Nah, haven't ever done it. Every place I ever lived in Fla had tall trees around it. More important to have ample lightning protection on the incoming power lines, telephone lines, and TV cable than anything.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Lightning Rod ?

They do work but pretty much of the past. Where I worked, we had a water well that ran off of 240 3 phase open delta. Just about anytime lightning would strike, it would blow holes through the pump like a cutting torch. I installed a 4 gauge solid copper wire from one foot above the top of the power pole to a ground rod at the bottom of the pole. The ground rod was isolated from the power supplies ground rod. Since that time. lightning has struck it many times and the pump continued to operate.

The rods for on the house's that I have seen (pre 70's) was made of aluminum and connected to ground in copper braided cable. I would think as long as it is a good conductive material, it would work.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Lightning Rod ?

Here's some links:
http://www.lightningrodparts.com/surge.html
http://www.smarthome.com/4839/Panamax-Primax-Whole-House-Surge-Suppressor-GPP8005/p.aspx

 

[phwrd]

Re: Lightning Rod ?

We both grew up in the Midwest, me in the city watching tornado's roll by,. She on the farm, watching barns burn down because of lightning.

I picture a Rooster with a big spike coming out of it's head.

Probably put a wind mill on top just for fun.

Thanks

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Lightning Rod ?

You know, Florida averages 1 person struck by lighning a day, right? So leave your umbrella at home!
I just had someone ask me the other day why new houses here in Illinois don't have lightning rods anymore.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Lightning Rod ?

I remember the lightning rods on barns would have a stack of 3 glass bulb and supposably each time lightning struck the rod a bulb would explode off.
When we re-roofed my grandparents barn we took the 3 lightning rods and the copper cabling off, pretty heavy duty stuff probably costs a fortune to buy now-em-days.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Lightning Rod ?

Lightning rods are not designed to attract lightning.
They are intended to dissipate the static electrical charge that would otherwise attract the lightning.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Lightning Rod ?

Lightning rods are not designed to attract lightning.
They are intended to dissipate the static electrical charge that would otherwise attract the lightning.

Roscoe is correct. The point shape will create a voltage potential near it that is higher than the surrounding area. This causes the static electricity to "drain" at that point and flow harmlessly to ground in small currents.

This lowers the potential in the area of the structure being protected and the lightning strikes elsewhere.

They used to make a kind of metal cap that would be mounted to the top of broadcast towers with a lot of points on it. This would reduce the strikes to hit the tower. You might be able to see one if you look for it.

Now they make "dissapators" that have hundreds or thousands of fine points on them kind of like taking fine stranded wire and fanning it out. Take a look at this for an example of one system: http://www.seratech.com.sg/als1000.htm