Lightning Rods

A lightning rod is a metal strip that is made of conductive metal such as copper. They are generally used to protect structures and may be put on the roof of a building or the mast of a boat to prevent them being hit by lightening. So a lightning rod deflects lightning and helps to prevent as surge in the voltage.

Lightning rod installation is quite simple the rods are connected by a cable to the earth or water beneath and this means that the electricity from the lightning can be safely dealt with. Ball lightning is said to be lightning that appears to float in the air and take on a ball like appearance but eyewitness accounts of this phenomena differ quite considerably. Lightning rod balls on the other hand are ornamental balls that are placed on lightning rods and weather vanes.

The lightning rod as we know it today is American in origin and was invented by Benjamin Franklin. Later in the 19th Century the lightning rods were decorated with glass balls, when lightning struck the ball shattered which meant the owner knew which rod had been struck and it could be checked for damage.

An increasing number of people now install lightning rods at their homes because lightning rods work. You might ask how do lightning rods work? They work by deflecting the lightning away from what might have been its intended target so that the lightning is dissipated in earth or water. A lightning rod shifter has nothing to do with storms – it is used in cars.

Lightning rods are sometimes called lightning arresters so there the history of the lightning arrester and history of the lightning rod are one and the same thing. The Berkley lightning rod is a specially designed safety rod for fishermen. Sensitive electronics designed to withstand lightning strike are built by an Indian firm, Bharat electronic systems +lightning rod are also used for various lightning tests.

Even though the vast majority of tall buildings appear to be safe from lightning strike nowadays it is still not unusual for people to ask, do lightning rods really work? Yes they do. Government is quite keen on them and recommends the use of lightning rods, and water tanks may need one if they are right next to a building. Lightning rods are a way of protecting your home, any livestock you may have, and your land.