Historical reference or Who Invented the Lightning Rod? A lightning rod (or lightning rod) is a mechanism that is installed on structures and performs the function of protection against lightning strikes. Also known as "lightning rod" in the common people.

It is generally accepted that the lightning rod is an invention of Benjamin Franklin, which he made in 1752, but there is also evidence that similar structures existed before this date (for example, the tall masts of ancient temples in Ancient egypt, there were also structures at the Temple of King Solomon in Jerusalem, the Tower of Nevyansk, Jacques Roma's kites). In Russia, the first lightning rods were created by M.V. Lomonosov and G.V. Rikhman in 1753.

In this article we will talk about what a lightning rod is and how it works, who invented a lightning rod and how to make a lightning rod for country house do it yourself.

Lightning strikes are an extremely dangerous natural phenomenon, especially in a situation where structures are located in open areas, precisely because, in order to ensure the peace and safety of your family, it is necessary to install a lightning rod. Installing a lightning rod does not require a huge amount of time, but in the end, you will be sure that the buildings are reliably protected from various weather troubles.

Necessary funds and building materials

To install a lightning rod in a private house, you will need:

• lightning rod;
• metal wire made of copper or aluminum with a cross section of 6 mm and a corrugation for the down conductor;
• stainless steel for grounding preparation;
• welding machine;
• saw with a disc for metal;
• electric drill;
• multimeter;
• sledgehammer or hammer;
• bayonet shovel;
• spanners;
• bolts M8 or M10;
• dowels;
• clamps for fasteners;
• powerful wooden pole;
• holders.

Preparation phase

Planning should begin with determining the height of the structure. The top of the lightning rod must be located up to 12 meters above the ground.

It should be noted that structures designed to protect buildings from lightning strikes protect buildings only in a limited area. The area around the structure itself can be considered protected. Therefore, when building a lightning rod, it is necessary to take this into account and build them so that all objects located on the site fall under protection.

There are two types of designs:

• Type A
• Type B

Type A lightning rods provide 99% protection, which makes them the most effective lightning protection structures.

Type B structures are less efficient than type A structures and, as a result, protect the structure by only 95%.

Important! The safety zone created by the lightning rod will be within a radius of 1.5 times the height of the mast.

That is, at a height of 10 meters, the lightning rod will cover an area with a diameter of 30 meters. If you need to protect a larger site with buildings, then the construction of two or three masts, evenly spaced across the site, will help solve the problem of lightning. The lightning rod must be at a height of more than 2 meters from the surface in order to effectively perform the function of protecting the house from lightning.

Selection of the grounding installation site

The grounding circuit must be located at a distance of up to 1 meter from the foundation of the building, which will be protected by the lightning rod, and a few meters from the sidewalks and the porch. The grounding place during a thunderstorm is dangerous, therefore it is necessary to position it so as not to endanger households and guests. It would be best to find a place for it against the wall or fence that encloses the house. One of the options is to place some kind of flower bed or other composition of boulders, stones, etc. around the grounding zone.

Most suitable materials for components:

It is also necessary to determine and mark in advance the locations of all structural elements.

Installation of the structure

• Installation of an earthing switch.

After marking, with the help of a shovel, a hole in the shape of a triangle is created - each side of which should be at least 1200 mm, depth - 600 - 700 mm. A trench is laid from the apex of the triangle towards the wall of the house. At the end point, the end of the down conductor will come up.

At the ends of the vertical parts of the grounding elements, corners are cut off with a grinder, then with pointed ends they are driven into the ground to a depth of 2 meters with a heavy metal sledgehammer. When driving the pointed ends of the grounding into the ground, it is necessary to strike with a sledgehammer strictly vertically so as not to bend the structure.

Using a welding machine, pieces of the same material are welded, from which a metal triangle is formed in the trenches.

• Installation of a lightning rod (lightning rod).

There are two ways to install a lightning rod:

The pantograph is placed on the roof and then vertically downward on the wall and fixed to the roof and wall with semicircular plastic or metal clips. The lower part of the current sink must be fixed to an earthing connection from the wall of the house.

To do this, a hole is made in the grounding plate, into which a bolt with a washer, a nut and a locknut is installed. The cleaned (sharp) end of the down conductor is clamped with a washer, nut and bolt, together with a twisted pair wrapped around the bolt. Then the holes are dug in.

Examination

The installed system must be checked with a multimeter. Carry out a resistance measurement - the device should have a value no higher than 10 ohms. If the readings of the device differ from the normative ones - check all the joints of the structure - there should be good electrical conductivity along the entire contour of the structure.

Conclusion

A properly installed rooftop lightning rod can protect your home and nearby buildings from lightning.

It is important to note that in the case of private houses, the owner decides on the lightning rod. There are a number of factors in the placement of buildings that, in principle, minimize the likelihood of a lightning strike in a house:

• if the house is located in a lowland, then the probability of a lightning strike into the house during a thunderstorm is extremely small;
• if there is more than high building then it is likely to be struck by lightning. Thus, the danger of a lightning strike is leveled by the presence of a taller structure next to it;
• if the lightning rod is installed on a neighboring house, then your house may also fall within the coverage area of ​​the neighbor's lightning rod.

Thus, in some cases, there may not be an urgent need to install a lightning rod. The feasibility of the installation should be assessed depending on the above factors.

We all know that lightning is beautiful only at a distance, and for a person, its strike can be fatal. Also, a lightning strike can disable equipment or provoke a fire. V private house Lightning does not strike very often, but if it does, it will be extremely difficult to cope with the consequences.

Today we will tell you about lightning protection of a private house and how a lightning rod works.

Features of lightning protection of a private house

With the development of technology and the emergence of various wireless equipment, the risk of being struck by lightning has increased. At the same time, modern scientific developments are successfully fighting it.

When storm clouds are approaching in the sky and lightning strikes him, a warning and intelligent person will not be afraid of them, because he protected his home from their direct hit.

So, good host will definitely show interest in how to carry out lightning protection of a private house. Do not worry if your private house is located next to a tower equipped with a lightning rod or power lines. But in the zone of risk of lightning strike there are buildings that:

• have a single arrangement;
• built on a hill;
• are located next to the reservoir.

A lightning rod should be planned even at the stage of construction of a private house. So it follows make a lightning protection circuit during construction. Private houses belong to the third class fire safety, accordingly, they are subject to installation of a lightning rod on them in an indispensable order.

The choice of the required type of lightning protection for a private house depends on a number of factors:

1. Initial state of the house.
2. Location conditions.
3. Climatic conditions of the area.
4. Soil type.

Necessarily consider the location conditions your house. So, if lightning strikes a tree, an antenna, a pole next to a house, then they can create a screen effect and the building will also fall into the affected area.

remember, that different types soils differ in their conductivity and resistance, which should be taken into account when choosing the section of the strip and the size of the deepening of the contour.

If the local climate is such that the number of thunderstorm periods per year exceeds the mark 40 times, and the house is near the water, then the risk of lightning strikes increases several times.

How is a lightning rod for a private house arranged

The principle of operation of a lightning rod is quite simple: the house is protected from lightning strikes due to the fact that discharge is discharged to the ground.

However, the effectiveness of a lightning rod is possible only with the complex construction of a system that consists of two protective systems: external and internal.

Internal protection should protect equipment from power surges during a thunderstorm. And even if the discharge strikes within a radius of several kilometers, a surge suppressor is still needed.

If you do not have such protection, then when a thunderstorm front approaches within three kilometers in advance disconnect all electrical appliances.

And an external protection system is needed to ensure the safety of the house and its inhabitants during a thunderstorm. A simple lightning rod consists of the following elements:

• Lightning rod.
• Supports.
• Down conductor.

The lightning rod is metal conductor up to one and a half meters in length, which takes on a lightning discharge. Install such lightning protection in country house follows at its highest point:

• roof;
• chimney;
• TV antenna.

Such lightning protection is suitable for installation on a metal roof, and if the roof is slate, then you need pull the metal cable on wood supports up to 2 meters long and cover it with insulators.

On roofs made of tiles, you need to pull a special lightning protection mesh with down conductors along the ridge. Down conductors are needed to connect the lightning rod to the ground loop. They represent steel wire, which should be laid along the wall of the house and welded to the lightning rod and the ground loop.

Lightning protection grounding consists of two connected electrodes, which hammered into the ground... According to the rules, the grounding of household appliances and lightning protection should be common. The radius of action of a lightning rod depends on its height.

If the lightning rod is made correctly and efficiently, then it will represent the least resistance through which the lightning discharge will be redirected from the house to the ground.

How to make lightning protection for a private house with your own hands

So, we figured out how the lightning protection for the house is arranged, and how to choose it depending on the type of roof. Now we will tell you how to make high-quality lightning protection for your home with your own hands.

Lightning protection mesh will serve metal wire structure with a diameter of six meters, which is made by welding. It should be laid on the roof and connected to the ground loop with several down conductors.

This mesh is suitable for non-metallic roofs to protect one building, since other buildings are located at a lower level. Also, the mesh can be laid on the roof even at the stage of building a house.

The protective wire can be made as follows:

1. Pull the cable over the insulators between the two metal or wood supports.
2. Installation is carried out at a height of 0.25 m on a ridge.
3. The wire diameter must be at least 6 mm.

Around wire pipe you need to make a loop and connect it to the lightning rod using soldering or welding... The down conductor is also made of the same wire. As a result, we get a hut-like protective zone, which is suitable for roofs made of any material, except metal.

Pin lightning rod is a pin with the following parameters:

• sectional shape can be round, rectangular or square;
• pin length at least 0.25 m;
• cross-sectional area 100 square mm.

It is the pin that takes over the key lightning strike, so it must be able to withstand maximum loads dynamic and thermal nature.

The material for the pin is selected so that oxidation is not terrible for it, it can be galvanized steel or copper, therefore, such a lightning rod cannot be painted. The cross-sectional diameter of the rod or pipe must be at least 12 mm. The end must be welded into the hollow tube. The structure should be installed on the ridge of the roof on a mast of the required length.

The down conductor directs the electrical discharge to the ground. It needs to be attached to overall design by soldering, welding or bolting. The contact area should be at least twice the cross-sectional area of ​​the parts that are connected to each other.

Such protection is suitable for metal roofs, while remember that the roof itself must also be grounded.

Grounding for lightning rod

The earthing switch is needed to divert the lightning current into the ground, it has a small share of electrical resistance... Grounding should be laid away from the porch of the house and the paths next to it, preferably at a distance of about five meters.

If the soil is wet and groundwater lie less than one and a half meters, then you need to use horizontal earthing... You can make it yourself as follows:

1. Dig a ditch along the house to a shovel width of about six meters in length and about a meter deep.
2. Drive three galvanized water pipes with a diameter of 20 m and a length of 2 m into the bottom of the ditch every three meters. Leave about 5 cm on the surface.
3. Take a wire with a diameter of at least 8 mm and weld to the pipes. The down conductor still needs to be welded to the middle pipe. You can also weld bolts to the pipes to connect them with a copper cable.
4. Lubricate the bolts with grease, and bury the pipes.

If the soil is dry and the groundwater is deep enough, then do vertical earthing:

• take two rods 2-3 m long;
• drive them into the ground to a depth of about half a meter and at a distance of three meters from each other;
• connect them with a jumper with a cross section of 100 sq. m.

Such grounding can be used for the purpose protection electrical appliances and shields. Remember that during a thunderstorm it is extremely dangerous to be within a radius of four meters from grounding, otherwise there is a risk of falling under step voltage.

Also, lightning protection can be installed on a tree if it is more than twice the height of the house together with the antenna and is located at a distance of 3–10 meters from the dwelling. In this case, lightning protection is made of wire with a diameter of about 5 mm, with one-way descent and one grounding in the form of a loop.

If you have installed lightning protection from a linear type of lightning, it will be ineffective when struck by ball lightning. In this case, to ball lightning didn't get into the house, close all windows tightly, doors, chimneys, and check that ventilation blocks were equipped with copper or steel mesh wire with cells of the order of 3 cm and reliable grounding.

When installing and caring for lightning protection, remember these tips and recommendations:

Remember, in order to lightning protection of your private country house could serve you properly long years and guard in cloudy stormy weather, it need to be installed correctly and take care of her regularly.

Owners of private residential buildings are constantly wondering about providing their property with various types of protection, including from lightning. The need to erect an absorbing device is usually dictated by the climate in a certain region, and if in a particular area there is high level precipitation with thunderstorms, then the installation of a lightning rod is considered appropriate. Since the purchase and installation of this device can be very expensive, it is best to do it yourself.

The choice of the type of planned lightning protection should take place not when the construction of a private residential building has already been completed, but at the stage of project development. This will make it possible to make the absorbing device in accordance with all the rules, as well as subsequently save time and financial resources. The principle of operation of a lightning rod is that a powerful electric charge hitting the receiver is directed into the ground to be extinguished, protecting the structure from destruction.

If a private house is located on open place far from neighboring structures, if it is located on a hill or there is even a small reservoir nearby, then a lightning rod must be done without fail. In this case, the device itself must be reliable, taking into account all the factors that can affect the absorption of a high electrical discharge. In this case, you can make a choice in favor of a lightning rod tower. This type of lightning protection will have its highest point at a sufficient height and prevent lightning striking the house itself. This type of device is more expensive, but there is no doubt about its reliability.

If the house will be located near high towers, buildings or near power lines, this place is less susceptible to such natural influences. In this case, lightning protection can be done on a house with a special circuit and grounding under the house. Both types of structures can be made by hand. To do this, you need to get special knowledge about performing such types of work, purchase expendable materials for the construction of a lightning protection device, make a diagram of its location and a place for grounding.

When choosing the type of device for protecting a building from lightning, one should take into account the type of soil on which the house stands. Different kinds soils have different electrical conductivity, as well as the level of resistance. The cross section is selected depending on the resistance of the soil sheet metal for grounding and the size of the buried contour. Also, the type of lightning protection will depend on the initial condition of the building. Usually the lightning strikes the highest point of the house or the nearest tall tree. Antennas, poles, trees serve as a screen in case of a lightning strike. In this case, people, cars or other objects can get into this affected area.

Video "Pros and cons of a lightning rod"

How to do it yourself

A complete high-grade home protection system consists of external and internal protection. The internal one is needed to prevent a sudden power surge in the power grid. The surge suppressor can trip even if lightning strikes a few kilometers from the house. External protection will ensure the safety of the residential building itself and the people in it. In order to make lightning protection with your own hands, you need to know that effective adaptation should consist of the required elements - a lightning rod, a down conductor, as well as a ground loop. A support can be used if necessary.

Lightning rod. This part is a regular metal bar. Its length can be from 25 cm to 1.5 meters. It is usually installed on the roof, forming the highest point on the house and the surrounding area. Also, the installation of the lightning rod can be done on chimney or on a TV antenna. Any point at the highest point in the building will work to anchor the metal bar. This method is suitable for houses with metal roof... As material will fit strip steel or 60 mm 2 with a circular cross-section of the rod. When installing an air terminal with your own hands, you should know that it should be placed only in a vertical position.
If the roof is made of slate or burnt tiles, then such a receiver can be made with your own hands from a metal flexible cable 6-7 mm thick. It is pulled over wooden supports 1.5-2 meters high, and then protected with insulators.

Down conductor. This part of the lightning protection structure can be a thick wire from 5 mm in diameter. For wire, galvanized steel is well suited, as it has good characteristics... The down conductor is placed where lightning is most likely to strike. For example, it can be the pediment of a private house. It should not be attached close to the wall, but be at a distance of 15 to 20 centimeters. Be especially careful if the roof or other parts of the building are made of flammable materials. For fastening, you can use nails, clamps or staples.

Grounding. The last element of lightning protection is necessary in order to lead a powerful electric charge into the ground. The choice of material should be made in favor of a metal that has good electrical conductivity with a low resistance value. Grounding is placed at a distance of about 5 meters from the walls of the house or porch, no less. It is not recommended to install it near paths or other places where people may be. This place can be fenced off for greater safety (at least 3 meters from the ground electrode).

Then you need to determine the depth to which the ground will be placed. This value is usually more individual than other metrics. This can be influenced by the type of soil, as well as the presence of groundwater in this place. Groundwater makes grounding more efficient. In dry soil, grounding should be done to a depth of 2 to 4 meters. You can make 2 rods with your own hands, connect them with a wide jumper, and fix the workpiece by welding on a down conductor. Then bury the ground electrode into the ground.
In wet or peaty soil, grounding can be done at a depth of 80 cm.

The decision to build a separately located tower to protect a building from a lightning strike is usually taken if there is space for this on the territory, and there are no such devices in the environment. This method can be more costly, but no less effective. It is also quite simple to understand the design.

Choosing a place for a lightning rod

Experts recommend erecting a lightning rod at a distance of several meters from the house. For example, the outskirts of a land plot. In this place, it will not interfere, but it will not lose its purpose. You should not place this type of lightning protection at a distance of more than 100 meters. A similar problem can be solved by cooperating with the owners of neighboring plots, since a lightning rod can provide lightning protection to several houses at the same time, or even a dozen at once.
The lightning rod must be placed so that its highest point rises above houses by at least 2 meters. In this situation, there is a directly proportional relationship - the higher the better. But in order not to attract extra charges, you should not make it too high.

Installing the tower

The material for mounting the tower can be metal corners that can be welded together. If you make a structure with your own hands, then it appearance- an individual solution. The most important thing is that there is a void in the core, where the conductor for grounding will be placed.

Clamps for fixing copper and aluminum rods are welded to the air terminal. Then they are connected with a separate conductor, which will subsequently need to be connected to the ground loop. Then a hole is dug 2-2.5 meters deep and the tower itself is dug in. If the height of the house is about 5 meters, then the tower with the receiving rod must be at least 7 meters.

Earthing

When installing the tower, grounding is done in a slightly different way. On the ground, you can draw a conditional equilateral triangle (side 1.2-1.5 m). At the place of the corners of the triangle, vertical grounding conductors should enter the ground, the lower end should enter the ground 2.5 meters or deeper, and the upper end half a meter from the earth's surface. Earthing switches can be made of reinforcement or copper rods with a flat surface (which is very expensive). Vertical grounding elements are interconnected horizontally underground. The tower itself is installed in the center of this triangle.

The last stage of installing a lightning rod in a private house is connecting the circuit to ground. This point is very important. In order for the conductor itself not to oxidize, it must be covered with a corrugation. This will reduce the permeability of the charge. The receiver rod can be regularly cleaned with your own hands when signs of oxidation of its surface are noticeable.

People living in private houses are afraid of lightning striking their home. Some of them, in order to protect themselves from this, think about protecting the structure. Their concern is understandable, since there are regions where the intensity of lightning can reach up to 80 hours per year. In such an area, it is necessary to install lightning rods. The device of such a structure, of course, requires certain costs. However, in some cases, they can be minimized if all the work on creating a lightning rod is done by hand.

Protection zone

It should be understood that any structures designed to protect against lightning have a limited range. They protect the space only around them. Therefore, when creating a lightning rod structure, work must be performed so that all objects located on the site fall into the protection zone. Only in this case they will be provided with protection against lightning strikes.

V currently by the degree of reliability, structures that protect against lightning are distinguished. There are two types of them:

• type A;
• type B.

Lightning rods of the first type provide 99% protection, which makes them the most reliable structures against lightning. Structures of the second type provide 95% protection.

Device

If you are seriously afraid of lightning striking your home and, in order to protect yourself from this, decided to arrange a lightning rod, then in this case, during work you will need to create the following elements this structure:

• lightning rod;
• down conductor;
• earthing switch.

Lightning rod

This is a device that resembles a metal rod in its appearance. After installation, it will rise above the roof of the building. It is on him that lightning strikes will fall. Thus, it is ensured reliable protection buildings. In addition, such a device is able to withstand serious stress loads arising from a lightning strike. Various materials can be used to create this element.

The best choice - strip or round steel, which has a cross-sectional area of ​​at least 60 sq. m. This element has certain requirements in terms of length. This parameter should be at least 20 cm. The device should be placed strictly in an upright position. The tallest building on the site - perfect place to secure it.

Down conductor

The down conductor has the form of a thick wire with a diameter of 6 millimeters. To create it the best choice- Cink Steel. With regard to its location, it is better to choose the areas that are most likely to be hit by lightning. For example, good place the edge of the pediment can be used to accommodate it. It can also be positioned on a skate. The fastening of this lightning rod element is carried out close to a private house, but with a small indent of 20 cm.

If the house has a roof made of materials that are easily flammable, then in this case a gap is all the more necessary. To fix the down conductor you must use special fasteners: nails and staples. For greater reliability of fastening this element, you can use clamps.

Earthing switch

It is necessary to divert lightning current into the ground. When choosing a material for creating this element of a lightning rod, it is necessary to use one that conducts an electric charge well. It is also necessary that the material has minimal resistance. If we talk about its location, then this element of the lightning rod is placed near the porch of a private house, at least 5 m. It is not recommended to install an earthing switch in the immediate vicinity of the paths, as well as in places where people may be. After placing it, you can create a fence around it to make sure it won't do any harm.

When installing a fence from the ground electrode, it is necessary to indent 4 meters, and arrange the fence along the radius. If the weather is good outside, then it will not do any harm. But if it is cloudy, and even more so a thunderstorm has begun, then standing in the immediate vicinity of it can be hazardous to health. The earthing switch is installed in the ground. The decision regarding the depth of the deepening of this element is made by the owner of the house. In doing so, the following points should be taken into account:

• soil type;
• the presence of groundwater.

For example, if dry soil prevails on the site, and the groundwater level is low, arrange a ground electrode consisting of two rods. The length of each of them should not exceed 3 meters. Components of this element must be fixed to the lintel, in which the cross-sectional area should be 100 sq. m.

When this is done, the earthing switch is attached to the down conductor by welding. After that, he plunges into the ground to a depth of 0.5 meters. In the event that the soil on the site is peaty and has high humidity, and groundwater is located close to the surface, there is no possibility of grounding for half a meter. So in that case it is necessary to use metal corners that will act as a ground electrode. They are immersed to a depth of 80 cm.

If under construction multi-storey building, then in this case, the work on the lightning rod device is carried out by specialists. These structures have their own radius of protection zone, which makes it possible to place them on each building. Before installing this structure, a check is made whether the already installed lightning rods are capable of providing lightning protection to the erected building, or whether it is necessary to erect a new one.

In the case of individual houses, the issue of the lightning rod is decided by the owner himself. There is whole line factors in the placement of buildings that minimize the risk of lightning striking the house:

• if a house is located in the lowest place on the site, the probability of lightning hitting it during a thunderstorm is small;
• if a building of great height is located next to the dwelling, then in the event of a lightning strike, it is more likely to be struck by lightning. This way, your home will be safe;
• if a lightning conductor is installed on a neighboring house, then its protective coverage area can extend to your house. And in this case, there is no great need for a lightning rod device.

Thus, it cannot be said that a house on which there is no lightning rod is subject to a high risk of being struck by lightning.

Options for creating a lightning rod

If you inspected your own and neighboring houses and as a result found that there is no such protection as a lightning rod on nearby buildings, then the most reasonable thing is to do the work on its creation with your own hands. Of particular danger are buildings with roofs covered with metal tiles or steel sheets. Although such a roof looks attractive, the lack of grounding increases the risk of lightning striking such a house.

In most cases, mounting this roofing made on a crate, which is made of wood. This ensures the accumulation of charge. Discharge of such a device can only occur after a thunderstorm. A person, touching it, can receive a discharge of current of several thousand volts. In addition, do not forget that a spark may occur after a lightning strike, from which a wooden house can easily ignite.

If you want to avoid such unpleasant situations, then need to think about grounding, which should be located every 20 cm. If your home has a metal roof, then in this case you can refuse to create a lightning rod. The roof material itself will be an excellent lightning rod.

To save your home from lightning strikes, you can install a lightning rod on its roof. However, other options are also possible. If there is a tall tree next to your home, then you can install a lightning rod on it with your own hands, but provided that it is located at a distance of three meters from the building, and its height is 2.5 times greater than that of your house.

If this option of a lightning rod seemed attractive to you and you decided to arrange it, then you will need a 5 mm wire. First you should prepare it, then bury one end in the ground, having previously welded it to the ground electrode. The other end will act as a lightning rod. It must be placed at the very top of the tree.

In the event that there is no tall tree on your site, you can use an air terminal mast with two metal rods instead. They are installed at opposite ends of the roof. The drain in this case will act as a down conductor. Great importance has the material of its manufacture. It must be metallic. In this case, you should also not forget about the grounding device.

Conclusion

Regardless of which method you have chosen to install a lightning rod, you must remember that, having completed the installation of this structure with high quality, you will ensure yourself comfortable accommodation in his wooden house... But it is necessary to periodically check the condition of the lightning rod created with your own hands. Special attention it is necessary to pay attention to its connections. There should be no violations in them. Only in this case you can not be afraid of lightning striking the house.

It would be more correct to call this structure lightning rod, but from the point of view of euphony, the lightning rod is more acceptable. In a sense, this name is associated with man's long-standing fear of the forces of nature, the ancients considered thunder to be a sign of the anger of the gods.

In fact, during a thunderstorm, the atmosphere accumulates a large number of electrical energy which creates a strong electric field near the surface of the earth, the most powerful voltage arises near all kinds of sharp conductors.

In such cases, we can see luminous discharges on the tips, which are not at all harmful to the building. The shock hits the receiver, travels along the conductor and goes into the ground through the ground. Whether a lightning rod is necessary or unnecessary in the country and how to make it yourself, there will be an article about this.

What is the danger of lightning striking a house?

The lightning has a definite, strong enough destructive force and just might damage the building. In addition, lightning, hitting the roof, will touch the electrical wiring, a short circuit will occur. If there is special protection on the wiring, then the electricity will turn off, if it is not there, a number of switched on devices, for example, a refrigerator, will burn out. But the worst thing that can be is a fire that has arisen from a short circuit.

Device

It is believed that the first lightning rod-lightning rod was invented by Benjamin Franklin, he described his device in the weekly "Poor Richard's Almanac". I must say that devices similar to a lightning rod can be seen even among the ancient Egyptians: during the Middle Ages, structures were built on lighthouses designed to play the role of a lightning rod, and today we can see their needles.

Medieval temples and Muslim mosques could not do without lightning rods. We can safely say that lightning rods are ancient and useful devices.

Strictly speaking, this device consists of 3 parts:

DIY lightning rod

It will not be difficult to make a lightning rod-lightning rod with your own hands. This does not require any special skills. It is enough just to be able to use household welding, or to be able to fasten the bolts firmly and not be afraid of heights. Necessary:

• make a lightning rod diagram;
• stock up on materials: wire, rods, tools and welding machine, as well as paint for painting over connections. It is more reliable to make a lightning rod by welding, but bolts and nuts can be used;
• choose a fine day, it is necessary to work on the roof of even a country house in dry and fine, calm weather;
• think over the model a lightning rod, but it is better to draw it;
• decide what part of the work can be done on the ground, and what will need to be done on the roof;
• and get to work.

Note: the parts do not need to be soldered, but simply twisted very tightly using bolts and nuts. The main thing here is that during the passage of an electric discharge, a short circuit that can cause a fire does not work.

Our goal is to protect the house from fire, not cause it. It is advisable to paint all welded or twisted places to protect them from corrosion.
And most importantly, if you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to let professionals do this work.

Installation of a lightning rod

Installation of a lightning rod the hardest part of the assignment. Having chosen the highest point of the building, it is necessary to install a metal pin on it, which in turn is attached to the wooden base.

As the highest point, the following may be suitable:

• chimney, they are usually located high enough;
• the horse of the house, often it looks like a weather vane - it will be useful and beautiful;
• a ledge on the roof is almost always decorative elements;
• An antenna, which itself can serve as a lightning rod if it is made of aluminum or other metal and is not painted.

As a lightning rod, they sometimes use metal roof, arranged as a whole with a sufficient thickness of iron and equipped with appropriate protection or a part of the roof with the same characteristics, as well as gutters, provided they are made of metal of the required diameter, or metal fences on the roof.

Earthing

Earthing- this is a device that diverts a charge, often very high values ​​into the ground, actually eliminates its destructive power.

Given the specifics of the component being arranged, it is necessary that it be located at a distance of at least 1 meter from the wall of the building and at least 5 meters from the porch and paths, if your plans to arrange accidents are not included in any way.

Wood as a lightning rod

One of the options for a lightning rod with minimal cost can be considered a lightning rod arranged on a tree near the house.

This requires just a few things:

• this is possible only if a large, or rather a tall tree grows next to the house, which can serve as a lightning rod;
• the lightning rod, after the device, must be higher than the highest point of the house so that it can fulfill its purpose;
• the location of the tree is such that the house falls into the "cone zone" (it was written about it earlier), which means that the tree grows close enough to the walls of the house;
• the pin and wire must be attached to the trunk with plastic clamps so as not to damage the bark and wood of the plant. We don't want the tree to wither;
• remember that grounding is located away from the paths and walls of the house. This rule must be strictly observed.

Internal lightning protection

The presence of electricity in a private house, including a two-story one, at the dacha increases the chances of a lightning strike. Therefore, when a thunderstorm approaches it is necessary to turn off all electricity in the house... Now you can buy special lightning protection, it is inexpensive, but thanks to it you will be able to protect your wiring and switched on devices from damage. In addition, this will help protect the structure from fire.

One of the most simple ways lightning protection is to unscrew the plugs when a thunderstorm is approaching. It is the thunderstorm in the area of ​​your house that is dangerous. This is evidenced by peals of thunder, heard at intervals of 10 seconds. You don't need any special equipment to find out, just count between thunderclaps.

Protection zone

A lightning conductor is able to protect not only the house, but also the area around it. The higher the lightning rod, the larger the area that is under its protection. It acts like a cone, where the top point will be the edge of the pin, and the base will be the area protected from lightning.

The radius is calculated using the formula: R = 1.732 x h, here h is the height of the lightning rod. Based on the above, there are two reasons to install the device so that it is the highest point of the building.

• if there is a higher point on the building, a lightning strike will hit it and the device will not perform the function assigned to it;
• the higher the discharge receiver is located, the larger the area protected by it.

Method of protection against lightning in the absence of a lightning rod-lightning rod

If there is no lightning rod-lightning rod in your house or apartment, do not be discouraged. Just a power outage during a thunderstorm is also very effective remedy from a lightning strike.

Go to a store or supermarket and buy some protection for your wiring. It is effective, very inexpensive, and little hassle.