Lightning rod ideas

sixdogs · Mar 6, 2013

Lightning once hit a telephone pole 20 ft off the side of the house a number of years ago in northern New England. Impressive sound. We had a lightning "ball" roll around the inside of the living room and up the chimney. Next day we had lightning rods on everything.
My understanding is they don't attract the lightning so much as deflect or defer it so it strikes elsewhere. I recall that conversation once but wasn't fully paying attention.

k0ua · Mar 7, 2013

I can tell you this much or sure. Lightning DOES strike the same place twice and forever. Put up something like a nice cell phone tower on a hill, and watch it strike again and again. I don't know where the old saying about it not striking in the same place twice comes from but I will guarantee you that is not true.

James K0UA

Egon · Mar 7, 2013

Lightning Strikes, check out CN Tower in Toronto.:thumbsup:

Suggest the Lighting Rod system design be done by someone certified in that area.

Diamondpilot · Mar 7, 2013

MacLawn said:
Do those things really work?

I wonder the same. Myth Busters needs to take this on.

Chris

rogerius · Mar 7, 2013

Just find out this thread with good info:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/166147-lightning-ground-rod.html

Egon · Mar 7, 2013

Properly designed and installed they work. :thumbsup:

For evidence google "lightning Strikes" and watch the YouTube videos of lightning hitting tall buildings!

For even better evidenced flying a kite with a wire string. In a lightning storm may impress.

Dr Dave · Mar 7, 2013

My neighbor's home, has been hit many times. The worst, was when the TV antenna on the roof was hit, 3' hole in roof, all apliances, and wiring in the home fried, the lightning jumped from his down spout to his pickup, blew battery and all fuses. So he installed a flag pole about 20 feet from his home, I think its too close. Was hit again 10 years later, fried wiring and cicuit panel,heatpump and TV. Hit 3 years ago 100' from home, he had thrown a 16" peice of chain up on a tree branch when moving. It hit the chain,blew the branch off, burned a 2" wide strip down the tree, into the ground following the roots. The dirt was blown clear of this root. Im sure glad it likes his place.

Most electric sub stations have 4 large poles, one in each corner to direct lightning away from the transformers.

Dave