Lightning Conductor
A lightning rod or lightning conductor is a metal rod or metallic object mounted on top of an elevated structure, such as a building, a ship, or even a tree, electrically bonded using a wire or electrical conductor to interface with ground or "earth" through an electrode, engineered to protect the structure in the event of lightning strike.
If lightning hits the structure, it will preferentially strike the rod and be conducted to ground through the wire, instead of passing through the structure, where it could start a fire or cause electrocution. Lightning rods are also called finials, air terminals or strike termination devices.
In a lightning protection system, a lightning rod is a single component of the system.
The lightning rod requires a connection to earth to perform its protective function.
Lightning rods come in many different forms, including hollow, solid, pointed, rounded, flat strips or even bristle brush-like.
The main attribute common to all lightning rods is that they are all made of conductive materials, such as copper and aluminum.
Copper and its alloys are the most common materials used in lightning protection.
`text(Lightning Conductor Working :)`
During a thunderstorm charges collect on clouds until a field which is more than the air's dielectric strength is created. Because now there is a potential difference between the ground (0 Volts) and the clouds, electric current flows through the now conducting air.
It is better stated to say that lightning rods provide a low-resistance path to ground that can be used to conduct the enormous electrical currents when lightning strikes occur.
If lightning strikes, the system attempts to carry the harmful electrical current away from the structure and safely to ground.
The lightning-rod system is an excellent conductor and thus allows the current to flow to ground without causing any heat damage.
`text(Components of a lightning protection system)`
`text(1. Rods or 'Air Terminals' -)` The small, vertical protrusions designed to act as the 'terminal' for a lightning discharge. Rods can be found in different shapes, sizes and designs. Most are topped with a tall, pointed needle or a smooth, polished sphere. The functionality of different types of lightning rods, and even the necessity of rods altogether, are subjects of many scientific debates.
`text(2. Conductor Cables -)` Heavy cables (right) that carry lightning current from the rods to the ground. Cables are run along the tops and around the edges of roofs, then down one or more corners of a building to the ground rod(s).
`text(3. Ground Rods -)` Long, thick, heavy rods buried deep into the earth around a protected structure. The conductor cables are connected to these rods to complete a safe path for a lightning discharge around a structure.
The conductor cables and ground rods are the most important components of a lightning protection system, accomplishing the main objective of diverting lightning current safely past a structure.
`text(Lightning Protection Systems :)`
A lightning protection system's only purpose is to ensure safety to a building and its occupants if lightning happens to hit it directly, a task accomplished by providing a good, safe path to ground for the lightning to follow. Contrary to the myths, lightning protection systems:
`=>` Don't attract lightning
`=>` Don't and cannot dissipate or prevent lightning by 'draining' a storm of its charge
`=>` Most don't offer surge protection for sensitive electronics
`=>` Do offer fire protection and structural damage protection by preventing a hot, explosive lightning channel from passing through building materials
If lightning hits the structure, it will preferentially strike the rod and be conducted to ground through the wire, instead of passing through the structure, where it could start a fire or cause electrocution. Lightning rods are also called finials, air terminals or strike termination devices.
In a lightning protection system, a lightning rod is a single component of the system.
The lightning rod requires a connection to earth to perform its protective function.
Lightning rods come in many different forms, including hollow, solid, pointed, rounded, flat strips or even bristle brush-like.
The main attribute common to all lightning rods is that they are all made of conductive materials, such as copper and aluminum.
Copper and its alloys are the most common materials used in lightning protection.
`text(Lightning Conductor Working :)`
During a thunderstorm charges collect on clouds until a field which is more than the air's dielectric strength is created. Because now there is a potential difference between the ground (0 Volts) and the clouds, electric current flows through the now conducting air.
It is better stated to say that lightning rods provide a low-resistance path to ground that can be used to conduct the enormous electrical currents when lightning strikes occur.
If lightning strikes, the system attempts to carry the harmful electrical current away from the structure and safely to ground.
The lightning-rod system is an excellent conductor and thus allows the current to flow to ground without causing any heat damage.
`text(Components of a lightning protection system)`
`text(1. Rods or 'Air Terminals' -)` The small, vertical protrusions designed to act as the 'terminal' for a lightning discharge. Rods can be found in different shapes, sizes and designs. Most are topped with a tall, pointed needle or a smooth, polished sphere. The functionality of different types of lightning rods, and even the necessity of rods altogether, are subjects of many scientific debates.
`text(2. Conductor Cables -)` Heavy cables (right) that carry lightning current from the rods to the ground. Cables are run along the tops and around the edges of roofs, then down one or more corners of a building to the ground rod(s).
`text(3. Ground Rods -)` Long, thick, heavy rods buried deep into the earth around a protected structure. The conductor cables are connected to these rods to complete a safe path for a lightning discharge around a structure.
The conductor cables and ground rods are the most important components of a lightning protection system, accomplishing the main objective of diverting lightning current safely past a structure.
`text(Lightning Protection Systems :)`
A lightning protection system's only purpose is to ensure safety to a building and its occupants if lightning happens to hit it directly, a task accomplished by providing a good, safe path to ground for the lightning to follow. Contrary to the myths, lightning protection systems:
`=>` Don't attract lightning
`=>` Don't and cannot dissipate or prevent lightning by 'draining' a storm of its charge
`=>` Most don't offer surge protection for sensitive electronics
`=>` Do offer fire protection and structural damage protection by preventing a hot, explosive lightning channel from passing through building materials