2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Our ancestors were afraid of incinerating arrows of lightning, as they destroyed, burned, shocked. Today, the threats of the riot of nature are no less dangerous. Thanks to the study of the nature of the electric discharge, people have learned to make protection - a lightning rod that protects a person, buildings, household appliances. It is important to correctly calculate the design parameters and correctly perform the installation. All this can be done independently, now we will tell you how
About lightning rods
The impulse force of lightning contains 100-200 thousand Amperes, such a powerful discharge, passing through various materials, releases huge thermal energy, is the cause of destruction and fires. A lightning rod deflects this destructive force and protects against disaster.
The device is quite simple, consisting of three blocks: a lightning rod, a down conductor, and an earthing switch. The system is installed next to the house, or on one of the parts of the building. Has a certain radius of action, which is set so as to cover all buildings on the site.
Lightning rod
The design of the lightning rod implies the installation of a discharge catcher covering all the heights of your site, it is, as it were, the top of the dome that covers all your buildings. It is always made of metal of sufficient thickness (section 5 sq. Cm.). It is permissible to use copper (3.5 sq. Cm.), Aluminum (7 sq. Cm.). In any case, the rod should be 20-30 cm higher than all trees and roofs. If you place the installation on a tree, then the receiver's peak should not only dominate over all the peaks, but also extend beyond the crown by at least 1.5 meters.
Variants of use are envisaged instead of an independent rod of building roofs, drainpipes, iron fences, if the cross-section exceeds the recommended parameters. When choosing a roof, there are also certain requirements: the integrity of the structure without breaks, the coating material is 4 mm metal, without an insulating layer (copper - 5, aluminum - 7).
Down conductor
To remove the electric charge, the shortest path is maintained from receiving lightning to grounding. For these purposes, you need to use the correct cross-sectional options for the selected materials: copper - 16 mm2, steel - 50 mm2, aluminum - 25 mm2. During installation, do not create sharp corners on the line, as this can lead to the formation of a spark charge and cause a fire.
In a house made of bricks or other non-combustible materials, the down conductor can pass inside the walls or outside, as a rule, it is a metal strip or wire rod. In a wooden structure, the passage of the outlet line is maintained within 10 cm from the walls. Fasteners are made to improve contact, with metal staples.
Earthing switch
The down conductor is connected to the grounding structure. If this is not the case, then 5 m from the porch or 1 m from any wall, iron rods are driven into a depth of 1, 2-3 m, connected by welding or bolts into a single system, and a contact is made for connection.
Installation of lightning rods
The erection of lightning rods is used to protect your entire territory, the higher the installation point, the greater the coverage of the horizon. For example, the height of the top point of the receiver is located at 15 meters - proportionally covered by 15 meters of the radius. From these values, it is easy to calculate the need for the location of your installation in relation to the area of the site.
The installation of a lightning rod implies a bare conductor, with corrosion protection and a maximum cross-section. It cannot be insulated and painted. The cable from the receiver of charges to ground must be complete, without breaks. It can be mounted on the TV antenna mast by placing bare wire or wire along the wooden fixture.
If the equipment is installed on a high tree, then the lightning rod is equipped on a strong pole and is attached to the trunk with synthetic material clamps. In this case, the height of the house or other highest point of your site must be taken into account so that all structures fall under the protective cone of action.
A zone of good protection is provided by the location of several peaks on the ridge of the roof at a distance of 1, 5-1, 9 m or on each prominent part of the building with a height margin of 30 cm. The masts are connected with a thick wire on insulators, providing contact with the ground. It is recommended to use brass and copper pads for fastening, use solder in the joints. A single rod must necessarily rise half a meter above the pipe.
It is important to remember that the optimum functionality of the lightning protection system occurs only in wet soil. This can be achieved with the correct burial of the grounding parts - in the place where there is always moisture. Therefore, a sufficient depth or area under the drainpipes is often chosen. Structural maintenance consists of an annual inspection of the metal connections.
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