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How a
Lightning Protection System Works
Lightning Rods DO NOT
attract lightning, but . . . if lightning is going to hit your house, it
will hit the Rods.
HOW IT WORKS
Phase I
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A lightning strike consists of opposite
charges of electrical energy. A negative charge or build-up occurs
in the bottom part of the cloud closest to earth and a positive
charge of energy occurs directly underneath in the ground.
Separating these two opposite charges is the non-conducting dry air
belt separating cloud and earth. As the two opposite charges
continue to build up and the dry air belt becomes moist, lightning
starts dovn toward earth in 150 foot jagged steps or intervals. The
positive ground charge is attracted upward, utilizing the lightning
protection system on the building as an outlet. |
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Phase II
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As the negative leader
stroke from the cloud continues toward earth, the positive ground
charge travels up through the Lightning Rod System and when the
negative leader stroke is about 150 feet above the top of the
protected building, the positive ground charge starts upward to meet
and neutralize the downward leader
stroke. |
Phase III
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In Figure 3, the two
opposite charges are neutralized emptying the negative charges from
the cloud and dissapating the ground charge. This all occurs in
about one five thousandths of a second. |
Phase IV
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In Figure 4, the discharge
has been completed and the negative cloud charge and the positive
ground charge becomes zero. |
Note: If the residence had not been
equipped with a lightning protection system, the positive ground charge
would have accumulated under or within the house. The negative cloud
charge would not have been neutralized 150 feet above the residence and
would have entered the building, causing possible fire, destruction, side
flashes within the building or even injury or death.
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