We make the simplest lightning rod with a wooden pole. Do-it-yourself lightning rod for a country house: will there be an effect? Lightning protection care

A lightning rod is a protective device in which a system of conductors conducts an electrical discharge to the ground. Lightning protection is the most important element in ensuring the safety of residents and property in the building. If you wish and have certain knowledge, it is quite possible to build a lightning rod with your own hands.

Principle of operation and device

The lightning protection system consists of three components:

• lightning rod;
• down conductor;
• ground electrode.

The device diagram is shown in the figure below.

The function of receiving a lightning discharge is assigned to the lightning rod. Through down conductors, electricity enters the ground circuit, which transmits the discharge to the ground.

Lightning rod

There are three types of lightning rods:

• rod;
• pin;
• reticulate.

Also, the roof itself can act as a receiver.

The rod receiver is a metal pin mounted on a frame (on the roof, next to the building, on a tall tree). With the help of a down conductor (conductor), the pin is connected to the ground loop. Lightning rods are made of copper, aluminum or steel. Moreover, the first one is the best option in terms of protection quality, and the cheapest receivers are made of steel.

The cross section of the rod-type lightning rod must be at least 35 sq. mm, if we are talking about copper, and 70 sq. mm - for steel devices. The length of the pin ranges from 50 to 200 cm.

Rod receivers usually look aesthetically pleasing, but their coverage area is not very large. To calculate the area to be covered, a mental line is drawn from the highest point of the pin to the ground level at an angle of 45 degrees. Protected is the entire space that is in the triangle around the perimeter. Due to the small coverage area, lightning rods are used to protect small houses, bathhouses, garages, etc.

Note! Lightning protection can be either made by hand or purchased ready-made.

Mesh lightning rods are made in the form of metal meshes and represent a reinforcing cage with cells ranging in size from 3 to 12 m. The thickness of the reinforcement is 6 mm on average. The grid is placed at a certain height above the roofing material, leaving a gap of at least 15 cm. The most suitable objects for the use of grid systems are large roofs (apartment buildings, shopping centers, industrial and warehouse buildings, etc.).

The cable receiver is located on two or four masts connected to each other by steel or aluminum wire. The cable is pulled along the roof ridge using wooden blocks that act as supports. The smallest recommended rope diameter is 5 mm.

Compared to rod devices, the described devices cover a much larger area. In terms of efficiency, cable systems are better than rod or mesh receivers in dealing with the task of lightning protection. Such systems are especially common on slate roofs.

Sometimes the roof itself is used as a lightning rod. This is possible when the roof is made of corrugated board, metal tiles and any other materials based on metal. There are requirements that disqualify the structural material of the roof if its thickness is less than 4 mm (otherwise it may be burned through by lightning). Also, any combustible materials that can easily ignite are not allowed.

Down conductor

For the manufacture of conductors, six-millimeter copper, steel or aluminum wire is used. Connections with other elements of the system - lightning rod and ground loop - are made by means of bolts or welds. The down conductor needs high-quality isolation from the environment (cable channels are suitable). Another requirement is the choice for the down conductor of the shortest path from the lightning rod to the grounding device.

grounding conductor

The ground loop is located near the building. At the same time, a place is chosen that is outside the walking area and closer to any fence. The electric charge entering the ground loop through the down conductor is discharged into the ground through metal rods. The rods are dug into the ground to a depth of about 80-100 cm. They are placed in such a way that they form a triangle when connected.

Preparatory activities

Before you make a lightning rod, you need to prepare. Moreover, in terms of importance, this stage is no different from the actual process of installing a lightning protection system. You will need to make calculations according to the formula, select materials and find the right place to install lightning protection.

Calculation formula

Lightning protection is a rather complex and responsible system due to the tasks performed. When planning it, accurate calculations and an assessment of potential risks are necessary. At the same time, there is no need for overly complicated mathematical calculations. It is only necessary to determine the coverage area of ​​the system, based on the formulas. For a lightning rod, there are coefficients used to calculate the required height of the device. The following formula is used:

It is suitable for lightning rods up to one and a half meters high, which is quite enough to protect a private house from lightning strikes.

Lightning rod material

To create a protective system, structural materials will be needed. You will have to make a choice of steel, copper or aluminum. In this case, the area of ​​​​the required cross-section will differ, which is dictated by the different resistance of each type of the listed metals. To explain what has been said more clearly, below is a table that indicates the minimum requirements for lightning protection components, based on the type of metal:

Material	Lightning rod		Down conductor		grounding conductor
	Sectional area, mm	Diameter, mm	Sectional area, mm	Diameter, mm	Sectional area, mm	Diameter, mm
Copper	35	7	16	5	50	8
Steel	50	8	50	8	100	11,5
Aluminum	70	9,5	25	6	Not applicable

Based on the data presented in the table, the optimal choice of material is copper. However, the cheapest option for a do-it-yourself lightning rod is steel.

The down conductor has a smaller cross section compared to other components of the protective system. It is recommended to gradually increase its thickness from the receiver to the ground loop.

Advice! When creating lightning protection, it is desirable to use the same type of metal for all structural elements.

For the manufacture of lightning protection, the following materials and tools are needed:

1. Lightning rod. In the case of a rod system, you will need a metal pointed pin. A TV mast or antenna for receiving radio signals is also suitable. Ready-made receivers are available for sale, for example, GALMAR or SCHIRTEC.
2. Metal wire of the desired section.
3. Grounding devices (metal rods, pipes or tape).
4. Plastic clamps, brackets, bolts.
5. Tools for performing work (welding machine, electric drill, hammer, shovel).

Installation location

The lightning rod should be located at the highest point available on the site. In this case, you need to remember about the protective cone-shaped zone. The lightning rod must be located in such a place that the building is completely covered with protection. It turns out that the more distant the lightning rod from the house, the higher it should be.

For financial reasons, it is preferable to place the lightning rod on the roof of the building. In this case, the construction of a high support will not be required, which, moreover, is unlikely to be aesthetically attractive.

Advice! It is not recommended to install a lightning rod in the central part of the roof. It is better to put the receiver on the edge of the roof and fix it to the wall. With this approach, the risk of lightning hitting any part of the roof is reduced.

A separate issue is the correct placement of the grounding device. When a lightning strikes, a high-power discharge passes into the ground and at this moment there should not be living creatures near the ground electrode. Therefore, requirements have been developed for minimum distances from grounding to the wall of the house - 1 m and to footpaths - 5 m. The grounding device should be installed in a place where there is no likelihood of people being present. In addition, a fence should be installed around the grounding conductor and a warning sign should be placed nearby.

Note! Effective work of grounding is possible only in wet ground. This must be taken into account when choosing a location for the ground loop. If there is no constantly wet area, you should think about artificial irrigation.

Installation of a wire lightning rod

First of all, you need to stretch the wire along the roof ridge. It will act as a lightning receiver. If the roof is made of fire hazardous materials (wood, plastic tiles, etc.), the wire should be placed at a height of at least 15 centimeters from the material. At the same time, plastic clamps will perform the supporting function for it. The ends of the wire are fixed on metal masts (they are called horizontal receivers).

The down conductor is fixed to the receiver using a welding machine with bolted connections or rivets. Insulation is applied to adjacent areas. On the roof, the down conductor is fixed with brackets, and on the walls - with plastic clamps. It is better to place the conductor in a cable duct to avoid the harmful effects of moisture on it.

Grounding is created like this:

1. Dig a trench with a depth of 80 cm.
2. Metal pins are hammered into the bottom of the pit.
3. Connect them with a steel pipe or tape. To do this, use a welding machine.
4. The tape is taken to the area of ​​connection with the down conductor.
5. Connect the down conductor to the ground electrode.

Installation of a lightning rod

To mount the rod system, you will need a high frame. Its functions can be performed, for example, by a TV antenna mast. The receiver is fixed to it by a welded or bolted connection.

The installation of a down conductor and a grounding conductor is carried out in the same way as described above when it came to cable lightning protection. After installation is complete, the system resistance should be tested. The maximum allowable indicator is 10 ohms.

Tree as a lightning rod

To create a lightning rod with your own hands, an ordinary tree is suitable. At the same time, its height should exceed the level of the roof of the building by about 2.5 times. The distance to the house should not be less than 3 m.

One end of a five-millimeter wire is welded to a grounding device and the connection is buried in the ground. The remaining end will be the receiver. He is led to the top of a tree.

Construction care

Metal devices are sensitive to negative environmental influences. To avoid the development of corrosive processes and maintain the working properties of metals, it is necessary to regularly inspect the lightning protection system.

With the onset of spring - before the start of the thunderstorm season - it is necessary to conduct a visual study of all components of the system. During operation, the metal is so damaged that it is impossible to do without replacing parts.

Particular attention should be paid to contacts. Poor contact leads to opening of the system and fire. If necessary, they are cleaned of oxide.

The underground part of lightning protection also needs to be checked. However, due to the complexity of the process, it is allowed to do this not every year, but once every three years.

Lightning protection is such an important element of ensuring the safety of residents and the building that it is worth taking on its creation only with full confidence in one's knowledge and experience. If this feeling is not enough, it is better to entrust the work to professionals.

Most owners of private houses, cottages and dachas try to create the most comfortable and safe living conditions inside and outside their homes. It is quite an understandable desire, but most often the owners of such real estate completely forget about such a natural phenomenon as the discharge of static atmospheric electricity, which in an instant can cause great harm to residential buildings and people's health. In its natural essence, atmospheric lightning is a very powerful discharge of electrical energy, which, if it hits directly into a private house, is capable of destroying not only all household appliances and electrical appliances, but also the building itself as a whole.

If your private property is located next to a tall building, then you should not worry. The lightning rod system of a multi-storey facility will provide reliable protection for your home from the damaging factors of atmospheric electrical discharge. But such an arrangement of cottages, private houses and summer cottages is practically not found in modern reality. Basically, such properties are built away from tall buildings, so they need to be protected from lightning by equipping them with modern lightning protection units.

Lightning most often discharges to the highest point, but even a huge tree growing near the house is not able to protect it from the discharge. Only a lightning protection device can fully protect your home with household appliances, as well as the people present in it, from atmospheric discharge. In this article, we will consider all issues related to the types of lightning protection and how to install them for any type of houses, dachas and cottages. And also in a concise form we will tell you how to install a lightning rod with your own hands, but first we will talk about the damaging factors of lightning.

Affecting factors of discharges of atmospheric discharges

The technology for creating protection against thunderstorms is directly related to the damaging factors of atmospheric electrical discharges. Any natural phenomenon affects the environment with varying degrees of impact. Lightning is no exception and its damaging factors can be divided into the following two types.

You can protect your property from a secondary damaging factor by simply disconnecting electrical appliances from the mains for the entire period of the passage of a thunderstorm front. For effective protection against direct lightning strike, it is necessary to install lightning protection in a cottage, private house or country house.

Installing a lightning rod and additional protective equipment will allow you to avoid the negative consequences of the impact of the discharge on your residential property and on the people living in it, regardless of the type of damaging factor. Next, we will consider the types and categories of lightning protection.

Categories and types of external lightning protection

Atmospheric lightning is a powerful discharge of electricity that obeys the basic laws of physics. We all know that electric current follows the path of least resistance. The main task of a lightning protection unit of any kind is to create just such a path for the passage of electricity, bypassing the structure of the building. When lightning strikes a private house equipped with such a block, all the power of the electric charge will simply go to the surface of the earth without causing damage to buildings, electrical appliances and people.

In folk slang, this type of protection for private buildings is called differently: grounding a country house, a lightning rod system, and lightning rods. The last version of the name is completely incorrect, because thunder is the sound of a lightning strike and there is no need to take it anywhere. But the term has long taken root and is used in colloquial speech. Regardless of the name of lightning protection at home, it is designed to perform one task - to remove the energy of an atmospheric electrical discharge into the ground. Lightning protection units are divided into three categories: by the method and type of protection, as well as by design features.

The next chapter of the article will help you choose the best protection against the discharge of atmospheric electricity for your home, in which we will talk about the design of the most popular passive external lightning protection, in addition to which it is necessary to install internal protection against a secondary damaging factor.

Design of passive external lightning protection

The design of an external lightning rod in a country house, cottage or private house is quite simple. It consists of three components: a lightning receiver, down conductors and a ground loop. Down conductors and earthing switches have a standard design. In contrast, lightning rods of passive protection systems can be divided into three types, which we will discuss in detail below.

What type of lightning rod to use - you choose! It is impossible to give any strict recommendations in this regard. All three types of lightning rods are able to reliably protect a private house from the primary damaging factor of lightning.

Down conductors are the next elements in the lightning protection system. Their main task is to transfer the energy of the atmospheric discharge from the lightning rod to the grounding device. Down conductors can be made of steel wire with a diameter of at least 6 mm, a special copper or aluminum cable or steel tape with a width of 30 mm and a thickness of more than 2 mm. Any down conductor is fixed at the ends of the lightning rods by means of a threaded connection, welding or soldering. In private houses built from non-combustible materials, this lightning protection element is mounted on the walls in an inconspicuous place using metal fasteners. Do not place down conductors near windows and doors.

Special requirements are imposed on the installation of down conductors for lightning protection of a wooden house. When lightning enters the lightning protection system in a private house, the down conductor wires can heat up to high temperatures. To prevent the fire of the wooden walls of the building, it is necessary to correctly install the conductive part of the lightning protection system. Down conductors must be located at a distance of at least 10 cm from the walls of the building. For one rod lightning rod, it is necessary to install one down conductor, and for cable and mesh discharge receivers, two current-carrying elements. The number of down conductors depends on the number of ends of lightning rods and the area and design of the roof.

The last element in the system of external protection of a private house from atmospheric electrical discharges is a grounding device. The simplest grounding conductor is two metal rods with a diameter of at least 30 mm, driven into the soil layer by 2–3 meters and interconnected by a jumper made of a metal tape. The distance between these grounding elements must be at least 3 meters. The current collector is connected to this design exclusively by means of a welded joint.

We have considered the design of external passive lightning protection. It is able to effectively protect a private house from the primary striking factor of lightning. To protect the house, cottage or cottage from overvoltages in the network that occur when exposed to the second damaging factor of a lightning discharge, it is necessary to install additional equipment. These devices provide internal lightning protection.

Internal lightning protection

Household appliances and electrical appliances in a private house should be protected from the powerful induction field that occurs as a result of atmospheric discharge. External lightning protection is not able to cope with this task. To protect against lightning surges, it is necessary to use special electrical devices. They are called surge protection devices (SPDs) and are installed in switchboards at the entrance of electrical lines to a private house. Currently, there is a wide range of such devices on the market, with different capabilities and levels of protection against surges.

Only after installing the SPD in the switchboard and installing the external lightning protection, you can say with confidence that your house is reliably protected from all damaging factors of lightning. We examined the design of lightning protection for a private house, both external and internal. In the next part of the article, the answer to the question will be given: how to make a lightning rod in a country house, in a cottage or a private house with your own hands.

Self-installation of lightning protection

Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that the installation of lightning protection can be done by hand without the involvement of employees. Of course, if you have basic installation skills. Otherwise, you should invite a specialist. If you still decide to install a lightning rod with your own hands, then you should first design and calculate lightning protection. This process will not cause difficulties. We will briefly talk about the design of lightning protection and its independent installation using the example of installing a lightning rod with a lightning rod. This is the most popular option for protecting suburban real estate from thunderstorms.

A lightning rod with a rod lightning receiver provides protection in the form of an imaginary cone, with the top at the end of the lightning rod. In order to ensure reliable protection of the building from lightning, the entire object must fall into the inner zone of this cone.

In the above figure, we see that part of the house did not fall into the protection zone, so it is necessary to move the lightning rod to the middle of the house or increase its height. The best place to mount the lightning rod is the roof ridge or chimney. The calculation of the height of the rod receiver is calculated by the following formula.

• Rx - the lower radius of protection of an imaginary cone, which must be measured with a tape measure on the surface of the earth;
• Ha - the height of the active lightning protection zone, which is measured from the ground to the highest point of an imaginary cone;
• Hx - the highest point of a private house, which can be located on the roof ridge, chimney or other structural elements;
• H - the height of the lightning rod.

After calculating the length of the lightning rod, you should determine its location and lay an imaginary installation route for the down conductor from the rod to the installation site of the ground electrode. This completes the design and calculation of lightning protection and you can proceed directly to the installation of the lightning rod.

Installation of the ground electrode

First of all, you should mount the ground loop. To perform the work, you will need the following tools and materials:

• grinder with cutting wheels, welding machine, sledgehammer, hammer and shovel;
• steel angle 40×40 for vertical pins and strip 40×5 for jumpers.

The grounding conductor should be mounted close to the wall of the house. We choose a place and dig an equilateral triangular trench 70 cm deep with sides 1.2 meters. To the wall of the house, it is also necessary to dig a trench for laying the down conductor. In the corners of the triangle, we hammer in segments of a steel corner to a depth of 2 meters.

A strip is welded to the ends of the pins. A steel strip is welded to one corner of the contour and led out to the wall of the house, where a down conductor from the lightning rod will be attached to it. The trench is dug in and compacted. The earthing switch is ready to connect the down conductor.

Mounting the lightning receiver

The best place for fastening the lightning rod is a chimney located near the roof ridge. It is most convenient to fix the mast with brackets with clamps at the ends.

An alternative option for fastening the lightning rod is to install it on a special support on the ridge of the house.

At the final stage of installation, a down conductor is attached to the lower end of the rod using a clamp with a threaded connection.

Installation of down conductors

A down conductor, a metal wire with a diameter of at least 6 mm, is laid directly along the roof and wall of the house, to the point where the connecting steel strip exits from the ground loop. The entire structure is attached to the roof and walls of the house with plastic or metal clamps with a support.

The lower end of the down conductor is fixed to the metal strip of the ground electrode using a threaded connection.

This completes the installation of external lightning protection, but if you do not install an internal surge protection unit, then your lightning protection system will be incomplete.

SPD installation

The surge protection device completely de-energizes the electrical network of the house in the event of a powerful induction field, that is, a secondary damaging factor of lightning. The module is installed in the switchboard according to the following scheme.

After installing an SPD, your lightning protection of a private house gets a completely finished functional look. With this system, your property and household appliances are reliably protected from atmospheric electrical discharges.

Conclusion

High-quality installation of a lightning rod will provide you with a comfortable stay in your home. In this case, protection against all damaging factors of lightning will be provided. But it should be noted that lightning protection must be periodically checked for damage. The main attention during routine inspection should be given to all connections. Only if the lightning rod is working, your home will be reliably protected from lightning strikes.

Related videos

Country houses are usually built of combustible materials, and the fire station is far away. Yes, and you can not drive up to every building, but from the strong wind that accompanies any thunderstorm, nothing good should be expected either.

Sometimes entire holiday villages burn out from a lightning strike.

Let's talk about how to make an effective lightning rod on your own and negate the risk of a direct hit of a "heavenly discharge" in the house.

Where do lightning come from

In a simplified way, the physics of the process can be described as follows: the source of lightning is cumulonimbus clouds.

During a thunderstorm, they turn into a kind of giant capacitors. A huge positively charged potential of ions accumulates in the upper positive part in the form of ice crystals, and negative electrons collect in the form of water drops in the lower negative region.

During the discharge (breakdown) of this natural battery, lightning appears between the earth and a thundercloud - a huge electric spark discharge:

This discharge will always flow along the circuit of the least local resistance to electric current. The fact is well known and verified. Such resistance is usually found in high-rise buildings and trees. Most often it is in them that lightning strikes.

Do-it-yourself lightning rod

The idea of ​​a lightning rod is to arrange a section of minimum resistance near the house so that the lightning discharge passes through it, and not through the building.

If you do not have a lightning rod in your dacha, it's time to think about its construction. The cheapest and easiest way to make it is to do it yourself. What do you need to know for this?

So, a lightning rod (lightning rod) is a lightning protection (lightning protection) device that ensures the safety of the building and the lives of people in it from the destructive effects that can occur in a thunderstorm with a direct lightning strike.

This is a corrosion-protected, bare conductor - that is, a well-conductive material of the largest possible area and large cross-section (minimum 50 mm²).

A lightning rod (lightning rod) is assembled from thick copper wire or steel rod, pipes of the required section or from steel, aluminum, duralumin rods of various profiles, corners, strips, and so on.

Steel materials are better to use galvanized. Since they are less susceptible to air oxidation.

What lightning protection consists of: device

A lightning rod (lightning rod) of the simplest design consists of 3 parts:

Lightning rod.

Down conductor (descent).

Grounding.

Let's talk about each element in more detail.

Lightning rod

Lightning rod - a metal conductor fixed on the roof of a building or on a separate support (tower). It is structurally divided into three types: pin, cable and mesh.

When choosing the design of a lightning rod, be guided by the material that covers the roof of the house.

1. A pin (or rod) device of a lightning rod is a metal vertical rod rising above the house (see the figure below).

Suitable for a roof made of any material, but it is still preferable for a metal roof. The height of the lightning rod should not exceed 2 meters. And it is attached either to a free-standing supporting support, or directly to the house itself.

Materials for manufacturing:

Steel pipe (20-25 mm in diameter, with a wall of 2.5 mm thick). Its upper end is either flattened or brewed into a cone. You can also make and weld a special plug in the form of a needle to the upper edge of the pipe.

Steel wire (8-14 mm). Moreover, the current collector must be exactly the same diameter.

Any steel profile (for example, angle or strip steel at least 4 mm thick and 25 mm wide).

The main condition for all these steel materials is a minimum cross section of 50 mm².

2. The cable device of the lightning rod is a cable stretched along the ridge at a height of up to 0.5 m from the roof with a minimum section of 35 mm² or wire.

Usually galvanized steel wire is used. This type of lightning rod is suitable for wooden or slate roofs.

It is fixed on two (1-2 meters) supports made of wood or metal, but insulators must be installed on metal supports. The cable is connected to the down conductor with the help of flat clamps.

3. The mesh device of the lightning rod system is a mesh laid over the roof with a thickness of 6-8 mm. This design is the most difficult to implement. It is applied to the roofs covered with a tile.

4. And very rarely, a lightning protection cover is used - this is when metal structural elements of the house itself act as lightning rods (roof, trusses, roof fencing, drainpipe).

All considered designs of lightning rods are securely connected by welding with a down conductor and through a down conductor with a ground electrode with a one- or two-sided weld of at least 100 mm in length.

Down conductor

Down conductor (descent) - the middle part of the lightning rod, which is a metal conductor with a minimum cross section for steel 50, for copper 16 and for aluminum 25 mm squared.

The main purpose of the down conductor is to ensure the passage of the discharge current from the lightning rod to the ground electrode.

The ideal path for the passage of electric current is the shortest straight line directed straight down. Avoid turning at an acute angle when installing the lightning rod. This is fraught with the occurrence of a spark discharge between closely located sections of the current collector, which will lead to inevitable ignition.

The most popular material for the down conductor is uninsulated steel wire rod or strip. It is carried out only on fireproof surfaces. Metal brackets should be installed on combustible walls, which themselves, being in contact with a combustible surface, will protect the down conductor.

The minimum distance from the wall to the down conductor is 15-20 cm.

It is necessary to lay it so that there are no points of contact with such elements of the house as a porch, front door, window, metal garage doors.

We know that it is better to connect the parts of the lightning rod by welding, but if this is not possible, it is allowed to pair the down conductor with the ground electrode and the lightning rod using three rivets or two bolts. The length of the current collector overlay on other parts of the system with a riveted connection is 150, and with a bolted connection - 120 mm.

The end of the non-galvanized wire rod and the place where the wire down conductor is attached to the steel parts must be cleaned to ensure reliable contact, and the galvanized wire must be cleaned from dust and dirt. Then, a loop or hook is made at the end of the wire, put washers on both sides and tighten it all with a bolt as much as possible.

The joints (if it is not welding) also need to be wrapped in several layers with electrical tape, then with a coarse cloth, twisted over with a thick thread and covered with paint.

To improve contact, you can treat the ends of the wire with tin and solder.

grounding conductor

Grounding conductor (grounding electrodes) - located in the ground, the lower part of the lightning rod, providing reliable contact of the down conductor with the ground.

How to properly equip grounding is described in GOSTs and SNIPs, but for the simplest option, it is enough to bury a U-shaped structure of metal conductors no closer than 5 meters from the entrance to the building at least one meter from the edge of the foundation and no closer than 5 meters from the entrance to the building.

A conventional ground loop is able to cope with the task (it is made for household electrical appliances).

These are 3 electrodes hammered and buried in the ground, connected to each other at the same distance by horizontal ground electrodes. Burying the grounding structure should be below the maximum level of soil freezing. From 0.5 to 0.8 meters deep.

For the ground electrode, rolled steel with a cross section of 80 mm is taken, less often copper with a cross section of 50 mm squared. Vertical ground electrodes are 2-3 meters long, but the closer the water table, the shorter they are.

If the soil in your country house is constantly wet, then a meter or half meter pin will suffice.

At what depth to hammer and how many electrodes will be needed, you can find out in the energy service at the place of residence.

It must be remembered that the quality of grounding depends on the size of the contact area of ​​the ground electrode with the soil and the resistivity of the soil itself.

A grounding conductor for a lightning rod is needed separately, it is not necessary to ground a lightning rod to a household circuit. We strongly advise against experimenting. It is fraught with consequences.

We offer you to watch a video with a visual diagram of lightning protection installation:

According to regulatory documents, installation of lightning protection systems is optional for private residential buildings. And only you can decide whether it is advisable to install a lightning rod (lightning rod) in the country. We hope this article will help you make the right decision.

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We protect a private house from lightning - an overview of a good lightning rod

A reliable lightning rod in a summer cottage will not only protect a person from being struck by lightning, but also a house from fire, especially if it is wooden. A good lightning protection system consists of a ground electrode, a down conductor and a lightning rod. Next, we will tell the readers of Sam Electric about what all the elements of the system should be like and how to make a lightning rod in a private house with your own hands!

How the system works

To begin with, let's look at how the lightning protection of a private house works and what is needed to create it. You can clearly see all the constituent elements of the system in this diagram:

As you already understood, the metal rods on the roof are lightning rods that divert a dangerous discharge to the ground through a down conductor and special grounding.

There is an opinion that if a telephone tower is installed near the house, you can not make a lightning rod in a private house. This is wrong, because it is better to spend a little time and provide yourself with complete protection against a lightning strike. In order for you to know what a lightning rod should be and how to make it correctly with your own hands, below we will separately consider the features of choosing each of the elements of the system.

A brief overview of the installation of lightning protection

Constituent elements of protection

Lightning rod

The main task is to choose the right lightning rod, which should provide complete protection for the country house in its area of ​​​​operation. Today, a pin, a mesh, a cable, or the roof itself can act as a lightning receiver. Let us consider in detail the features of the application of each of the options in a private house.

As for the pin, there are already finished products from manufacturers that have a suitable shape and convenient fastening. As a rule, the metal used to manufacture the lightning rod is copper, aluminum or steel. The first option is the most suitable and effective. In order for the receiver to do its job well, its cross section must be at least 35 mm2 (if copper) or 70 mm2 (steel rod). With regard to the length of the rod, in domestic conditions it is recommended to use receivers with a length of 0.5 to 2 meters. It is convenient to use the pins in order to make a lightning rod on a garden house, bathhouse or other small building.

The metal mesh can also be sold ready-made. As a rule, a mesh lightning rod is a cellular frame made of reinforcement, 6 mm thick. The size of the cells can be from 3 to 12 meters. Most often, this type of lightning protection is used in apartment buildings and large buildings, for example, shopping centers.

Rope is more practical at home and does the job better than mesh. To make a lightning rod in a private house with a cable, you need to stretch it along the roof (along the ridge) on wooden blocks, as shown in the photo below. The minimum diameter of the cable for lightning protection of the building must be 5 mm. As a rule, this option is used if they want to make a lightning rod on a house with a slate roof with their own hands.

Well, the last option - the roof as a receiver, can be used if the roof of a residential building is covered with corrugated board, metal tiles or other metal roofing material. With this type of lightning rod, two important requirements are imposed on the roof. First, the thickness of the metal must be at least 0.4 mm. Secondly, there should be no flammable materials under the roof. It is possible to make a lightning rod in a private house with a metal roof much faster and at the same time save on the purchase of special lightning rods.

Please note that if you use a mesh, its installation must be carried out at a height of at least 15 cm above the roof itself!

Down conductor

As a down conductor for a private house, a 6-mm wire made of copper, steel or aluminum is used. The wire must be connected to the lightning rod and the grounding system with bolts or welding.
The only, but very important requirement for the down conductor is that it must be isolated from the environment and pass to the ground along the shortest path. As for insulation, in dachas and country houses, the use of conventional cable channels is popular, which are also used if you need to do open wiring in the house with your own hands.

grounding conductor

Well, the last element of the lightning rod is the ground loop. In order not to make the material too voluminous, we have allocated a separate article for this issue - how to make grounding in a private house. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the information so that you know all the subtleties of this stage.

In short, we can say that the ground loop should be located near the house, but not in the walking part of the site, but, on the contrary, closer to the fence. The discharge of the charge to the ground is carried out by metal rods buried in the soil to a depth of 0.8 meters. It is better to place all the rods according to the triangle scheme, which is just shown in the photo:

So, we got acquainted with the constituent elements of lightning protection on the roof, now we will consider how to properly make a lightning rod with your own hands.

Reliable lightning rod in the country - video tutorial on creating

Manufacturing instructions

To make it clearer for you how to assemble the lightning rod system of a private house into a single whole, we provide step-by-step instructions with photo examples:

Video instructions for assembling lightning protection by professionals

That's the whole technology of creating a lightning protection system. As you can see, it is not at all difficult to make a lightning rod in a private house with your own hands, the main thing is to correctly carry out the settlement work. We recommend that you definitely watch the video instructions, in which all the stages of installing a lightning rod are considered in more detail.

Related content:

samelectrik.ru

Lightning rod in the country. We make lightning protection with our own hands.

There is a widespread belief that a wooden house does not need lightning protection. Like, a tree is not a conductor, on the contrary, a dielectric, and the height of the roof is small, so a lightning rod is not needed in the country. Such misconceptions are deadly in the literal sense of the word, since lightning in dry weather is as rare a phenomenon as ball lightning. But in a thunderstorm, when it pours like a bucket, the conductor of electricity is not a tree at all, but water, which is life-threatening to attribute to dielectrics.

In these photos, the consequences of a rare phenomenon - a name for which we do not know. There was just a strong thunderstorm, and, despite the fact that the house is equipped with lightning protection, it was not it, but the perimeter of the roof spillway (it is metal) that acted as the discharge receiver circuit. All the machines turned off, but while this was happening, the author managed to take a few photos. This is a TV with a satellite dish, which is 2.3 m from the ground on the wall, and seems to be completely immune to lightning.

First the lightning introduced itself and showed itself
then lost with a TV picture.
After that, the picture disappeared, but the receiver was still alive, going into the factory settings mode.
After that, the house was completely de-energized, and how the matter would have ended remained a mystery. Photos were taken on a mobile, so as you understand, the process was not instantaneous. Get it, turn it on, take a picture, etc.

The receiver had to be repaired - it burned down, at the same time the usual antenna (meter range) suffered, and the spillway burned in two places. Three LED bulbs burned out. All incandescent lamps survived. There was no fire, no damage to the electrical wiring, thanks to the correct connection of grounding and lightning rod. So a lightning rod in the country is needed, since we know too little about lightning yet.

This was the preamble, and now about what and how you can do it yourself to avoid such cataclysms.

A bit of theory about the practice of lightning protection

We are proud of our practical knowledge of electricity, but we do not believe that scientists have already understood what lightning is - that is, the spontaneous discharge of atmospheric electricity. We also do not believe in the idea that clouds that “rub against each other” generate electricity. But we know that there are practical methods of protection, and they have long proved their effectiveness. We will focus on this aspect, taking a couple of laws of thermodynamics as a theoretical model, and also reading about a discharge in a saturated gaseous medium.

In this model, the discharge will occur between the point of greatest potential (somewhere in the clouds) and the nearest point of minimum potential. Note that this is exactly what happens in the vast majority of practical cases. Therefore, we take for the correct model of a lightning rod in the country a conditional point above the roof, which, being the top of a speculative hemisphere, will cover the entire house.

The radius of this hemisphere does not set the height of the country lightning rod, but the amount of potential that it is able to receive and give to the Earth (whose potential is relatively infinite). In fact, the radius of such a hemisphere is the depth of grounding, and it remains for us to understand how to choose materials in order to proceed to the task of how to make lightning protection with our own hands in the country.

Preparatory work in the arrangement of a lightning rod

The preamble tells about what can happen in a private house, which is equipped with a lightning rod, if two mistakes are made. The first is that the lightning rod receiver is next to the antenna, perhaps this had its effect. The second, more serious mistake was the constant cross section of the lightning rod channel throughout. Simply put, exactly the same strip goes from the metal strip of the receiver to the ground itself. All over the height.

The lightning receiver can be thin, its task is to cast a bait and wait for a bite. But the lower and closer to the ground the discharge discharge line, the “thicker” it should become. A very thick conductor must be buried in the Earth. That is, we go from the roof to the ground, increasing the cross section of the lightning rod.

So, we make lightning protection with our own hands in the country, without resorting to the help of specialists.

1. We determine the height and configuration of the roof, mentally covering it with a hemisphere from the top point of the lightning rod, which we make at our dacha.
2. The radius of the hemisphere is defined as a section of 5 sq. mm. 1 meter high. That is, a lightning rod in a country house 12 meters high (for a square house) should have a cross section of 12 x 5 = 60 square meters. mm. This is a strip 1 cm thick at 6 mm. Let us clarify that this is the minimum allowable value for the point at which the receiver tube will be welded to the discharge outlet channel. That is, the lower this tape goes down, the thicker it should be.
3. Determine the point of attachment of the lightning receiver pipe. A chimney is not the best option - it is better to fix the pole to the wall, increasing the height a little, than to allow a powerful discharge to hit the center of the roof. We dig a hole for grounding, most often triangular in shape, as well as for grounding.
4. We estimate the height of the pole, the depth of the pit and the cross section of the metal in the pit according to the principle - the more the better, but without fanaticism. If you make a pole too high and a very good grounding pit, then your dacha will collect all the lightning in the area on its lightning rod. Throw 10 percent on top - that will be enough.

Do not drive a few rebars into the ground! We dig a hole, weld several metal rods together, make sure that the welding is strong, cover the welding spots with protective compounds and then bury the hole.

Having finished the preparatory work, we make lightning protection with our own hands:

• We fix a metal bar on the pole. It is advisable to install a fan at the end (an old metal brush will do);
• Using screw connections, after carefully cleaning the contact points, we connect the tape and the lightning rod;
• We will make sure that both the lightning rod and the tape do not have contact with the roof - if necessary, we put insulators (they cost a penny and are screwed with ordinary self-tapping screws);
• We lower the tape along the wall to ground level and weld it to the ground loop. The place of welding is covered with protective compounds;
• We check the absence of an adjoining of the tap tape to the wall, check the insulators, connections and dig in a hole with grounding;
• In no case are we trying to save money and hang the electrical wiring ground on the same ground!

Our lightning rod in the country is ready. It remains to wait for the cataclysm to test it in action.

Some nuances of arranging a lightning rod in the country

Iron rusts for some reason, especially in the ground. It is possible to cover the ground with a protective compound, but it is more correct to take a thicker piece of iron. An angle 120x120 with a thickness of 12 will rust in the ground for 40 years without losing conductivity relative to the entire lightning protection circuit.

Additional impregnation of wooden walls with a flame retardant composition along the entire lightning rod line will be a very useful and not superfluous means of protection against fire.

Before choosing a specific location for a lightning rod in your country house, walk around and look at the tall trees and buildings around. The correct location would be where it is farthest from the nearest highest points. It's the farthest!

The whole complex of works can be done in a day, a maximum of two. This is not the most difficult task, it does not even require special knowledge. But it requires scrupulousness and thoroughness, so do it yourself, without involving mercenaries. You want to protect yourself, not to receive assurances that you are protected.

obelektrike.ru

Do-it-yourself lightning protection of a private house: materials, diagram, instructions

House and cottage Gardener's calendar June House and buildings DIY

Lightning strikes into unprotected private houses and trees, unfortunately, are not uncommon. The presence of lightning protection in the country is necessary - it will divert the discharge into the ground and help save your property, and sometimes life. We will tell you how you can make a lightning rod with your own hands, using improvised means and tools.

How to protect a private house from lightning

Lightning rod can be:

• Rod - a metal pin fixed to the frame (on the roof, near the house, on a tall tree growing near the house). By means of a metal wire, the pin is connected to the grounding system. Such a lightning rod looks aesthetically pleasing, but its coverage area is not large. It is easy for them to calculate the protection area: from the highest point of the pin, you need to mentally draw a line to the ground at an angle of 45º. Everything that will be in the zone of the triangle along the perimeter is protected from lightning strikes.

Installation of rod lightning protection

• Rope - its feature consists in several masts (two or four), interconnected by steel or aluminum wire. Such a lightning rod is more efficient and covers a large area with protection.

Cable lightning rod on the roof of a private house

These two types of lightning rods are the most common and are used in private houses and summer cottages, since their design is simple, and installation is not difficult to do with your own hands.

Lightning protection elements

Any type of lightning rod system consists of three essential elements:

• Lightning rod. In a rod lightning rod, this is a pin fixed at least 1 m above the chimney, in a cable lightning rod, it is a wire connecting the masts on the roof. A metal roof can also act as a lightning rod if the coating thickness is 4-7 mm.
• Down conductor is one of the main elements of lightning protection. It is a copper (d 16 mm²), aluminum (d 25 mm²) or steel (d 50 mm²) wire.
• Grounding - a system of metal rods interconnected by a conductive material. It is located underground at a depth of at least 80 cm.

Materials and tools

To build lightning protection with your own hands, you will need:

• The lightning rod is a pointed pin. A TV mast or radio antenna can be used, you can also buy a lightning rod from one of the leading manufacturers: SCHIRTEC, OBO Bettermann, J Propste, GALMAR;
• Copper, aluminum or steel wire of the recommended section;
• Pins, pipes or metal strips for grounding;
• Mast (bed);
• plastic mounts;
• Tools (hammer, drill, shovel).

Installation of a wire lightning rod

At the first stage of installation of lightning protection, it is necessary to stretch the wire along the roof ridges, which will serve as a lightning rod.

Scheme of installation of a cable lightning rod

If the roof is covered with combustible materials (wood, plastic tiles), the wire should be at a distance of 10-15 cm from the surface on special plastic fasteners. The ends of the wire are attached to metal masts (horizontal lightning rods), or bent vertically.

Installation and fastening of the lightning rod

The down conductor is attached to the lightning rod by welding, bolts or rivets. Connection points are isolated. On the roof, the down conductor is fixed with brackets, on the walls of the house - with plastic fasteners. The wire can be placed in a cable channel to avoid the negative impact of atmospheric phenomena on it.

Down conductor from the roof of a private house

The grounding system is mounted at a distance of at least 5 m from the house, paths, benches. Nearby there should be no playgrounds for children's games and walking animals. Grounding works only in wet ground, which must also be taken into account when choosing a location.

Order of lightning protection grounding device:

• Dig a trench to a depth where the soil is always damp (at least 80 cm)
• Drive metal pins into the bottom of the trench.

Ground loop for lightning protection

• Connect the pins together with a steel tape or pipe by welding.
• Extend the grounding with a steel tape to the place of its connection with the down conductor.
• Connect the down conductor to ground.

Fixing the down conductor to ground

Installation of a lightning rod

For a rod lightning rod, a high frame must be installed. Its role can be played by the mast of a television antenna. The rod lightning rod is attached to the mast by welding or bolts.

Scheme of a rod lightning rod in a private house

The installation of a down conductor and grounding of such lightning protection does not differ from that described above. After completion of work, it is necessary to check the resistance of the entire system. It should not exceed 10 ohms.

Service

Preventive maintenance of the lightning rod includes periodic cleaning of the rod pin from dirt, dust and oxide, as well as checking the integrity of all connections.

It is not difficult to independently mount a lightning rod in the country. If you follow all the recommendations and norms of the instructions for the lightning protection device RD 34.21.122-87, then at the right time it will work flawlessly.

Despite the fact that it is easy to make a lightning rod with your own hands, it is recommended to contact specialists to perform such work. Only professionals will be able to suggest which materials are better to use specifically in your situation, provide qualified assistance in choosing the right place for installation, and take into account the negative factors from which the protection may not work.

How to decorate a stump in the country with your own hands

The arrangement of a lightning rod in a summer cottage is an important condition for the safety of being on it during bad weather. Discharges of electric current of enormous strength in the presence of a lightning rod do not affect the structure of the house and other elements located in the protection zone. However, do not think that a lightning rod prevents lightning strikes. Everything is different. It becomes a conductor to divert the discharge from the house, diverting a current of up to 100 thousand amperes to the ground electrode.

Lightning device options

A classic lightning rod can be made in one of two versions: in the form of a single rod or a system of cables stretched between lightning rods. The first option is usually used to protect an individual house, while the second is to create a safe zone on the whole site. A cable lightning rod is also recommended for buildings that are of considerable length.

Components of a lightning rod

First of all, houses with a roof made of metal or metal tiles need lightning protection, since such options do not have grounding, therefore, during a thunderstorm, they accumulate electric charges on themselves.

In the case of a metal roof without an insulating layer, having a coating thickness for iron - 4 mm, for copper - 5 mm or for aluminum - 7 mm, a simplified lightning rod device is possible when its surface takes on the role of a lightning rod. In this case, every 20 meters of the roof is grounded. Here it is necessary to take into account the quality of the roof, because if there are any gaps, then the desired effect from such a lightning rod will not be.

In other cases, the lightning rod should consist of the following elements:

• lightning rod (1) in the form of a thin electrode or a system of electrodes installed above the house at a certain height;
• down conductor (2) - cable connecting the receiver with grounding;
• grounding conductor (3), leading the current to the ground.

Lightning rod

The element in which lightning strikes in the presence of a lightning rod is a lightning rod. It is usually performed in the form of a rod made of steel, copper or other material with similar conductivity. No need to cover it with paint or varnish to avoid corrosion, otherwise it will lose the desired properties.

Cross-sectional area: for steel - 50 square meters. mm, for copper - 35 sq. mm, for aluminum - 70 sq. mm.

You can install lightning rods on different sides or in the center of the roof. If several lightning rods are installed, they are connected to a common circuit closed to the ground electrode. The rod can be placed not only on the surface of the roof, but also on the chimney or the nearest tall tree. The optimal height will be no more than 15 meters. If it is installed on a tree, then the fastening is done in such a way that the rod rises above the crown by at least 0.5 m and 10-15 cm above the house.

In addition to the rods, options for a protective mesh (reinforcement 6 mm thick) and a cable system are possible. The second method is more rational for a country house, since the cable is pulled at a height above the roof level, and the mesh is placed on the roof itself. A cable with a diameter of at least 5 mm is pulled along the roof ridge on the racks, after which it is lowered down, where it is connected to the ground electrode. Thus, it performs both the function of a lightning rod and a down conductor.

Separate parts of the building (downpipes, metal fences) can also be used as receivers. Their use is permitted if they have a larger section than is necessary for normal protection.

The down conductor is designed to connect the lightning rod and the ground electrode. It is made of aluminum or copper wire of large cross section. For these purposes, a twisted wire is suitable, which is used for laying overhead power lines. The down conductor is fastened using terminal blocks, couplings or crimp tubes.

The distance between the lightning rod and the ground electrode must be minimal, so the wire is directed straight down. The number of down conductors depends on the area of ​​the house. For cottages with an area of ​​​​about 200 square meters. m, it is recommended to install 2 down conductors at a distance of approximately 20 m from each other.

It is fixed on a special pole or directly on the wall of the house using plastic fasteners. To protect the down conductor, you can isolate it from the environment using a cable channel.

grounding conductor

Since the grounding conductor is needed to divert the lightning discharge into the ground, it must have a small electrical resistance. For these purposes, both expensive materials such as copper, aluminum, brass and other stainless metals, as well as cheaper ordinary steel, are suitable. The grounding conductor must not have damage and traces of rust, as they can cause a decrease in the diameter of the rods due to the destruction of the metal.

For high-quality grounding, not one, but several rods can be used, which are immersed in the ground away from the paths and the roof, especially if it is made of flammable material. In country conditions, any large metal object at hand can also be used as a ground electrode: the back of an old bed, a cast-iron bath, a reinforcing mesh, and the like.

The type of grounding depends on the parameters of the house and the characteristics of the soil. Dry soil is characterized by a low level of groundwater. In order for the current to reach wet soil, a vertical ground is required. The ground electrode in this case is made of two rods with a cross section of 100 mm and 2-3 m in height, driven in at a distance of 3-4 m from each other. The rods are interconnected by a wire, a cable (copper, aluminum) or tinned iron plates, to the center of which a down conductor is welded.

Wet ground tends to have a higher groundwater level, so vertical grounding can be omitted by replacing the rods with flat steel angles, water pipes, or other similar metal pieces. A horizontal grounding conductor is laid to a depth of 1 m.

In this case, the role of a ground conductor can also be performed by a down conductor laid in the ground in such a way as to occupy the largest possible area of ​​​​contact with the soil. The connected structure can be in the form of a scallop (letter W) or a triangle. When fastening the wire, the use of manual twisting and pliers is unacceptable; only ordinary or cold welding is allowed.

The placement of the ground electrode must be given special attention. This should be a place remote from the house and paths, inaccessible to children and pets, preferably fenced. The minimum distance to the house must be at least 1 m.

Since water is an excellent conductor of electric current, it is better if the soil around the ground electrode is wet, then the discharges will quickly go into the ground without accumulating on the rod. Additional moisture can be provided by the flow of rainwater from the runoff from the roof or by targeted irrigation of the soil.

For each building, it is necessary to calculate the lightning rod, since each configuration is able to provide a protective zone of various sizes. The parameters of this zone can be calculated independently, taking into account the features and dimensions of the country house.

A single rod forms a protective zone, which is close in geometry to a cone having an angle at the top of approximately 45°. The top of this cone will be at the highest point of the lightning rod. In a cable-type lightning rod, the protection zone has a more complex geometry, in which the cable serves as a rib, and each rod forms its own cone.

Calculation of the protective zone of a single bar can be made using the following formula:

where R is the radius of the zone above the highest point of the house, h is the distance from the highest point of the house to the peak of the lightning rod.

The following calculation can be used to determine if a rod is high enough to protect a certain area at ground level. Let's say the height of the cone will be indicated h o, radius on the ground - R o, building height - h x, radius at the height of the building - R x, rod height - h. Then, taking into account the height of the existing lightning rod and the height of the house, the unknown values ​​will be calculated by the formulas:

R x \u003d 1.5 * (h-h x / 0.92).

In practice, the calculations look like this: if the rod has a length of 10 m, then the radius of the protection zone on the ground will be 1.5 * 10 = 15 m, the rest of the parameters are calculated similarly.

To calculate the required length of the rod, you can use the same formulas, substituting in them the desired radius of the protective zone. In the case of a complex geometry of the lightning rod, you need to draw a graphical model of the house and the lightning rod and calculate the protection zone geometrically.

The height of the lightning rod should not exceed 12 m, therefore, if it is not possible to meet these restrictions using a single rod, it is recommended to use several masts to expand the protective zone.

Installing a lightning rod

In order for the installation of the lightning rod to be carried out correctly, it is worth adhering to the following methodology:

1. Measure the height of the roof and determine its geometry. For clarity, draw a diagram by which you can determine the future protective zone.
2. Decide on the type of lightning rod. For square houses, a single rod is sufficient; for long buildings, the use of a cable system is optimal.
3. Calculate the protective zone and determine the desired height of the rod (rods). The minimum cross section of the lightning rod should be related to its height in the proportion of 5 square meters. mm per meter.
4. Determine the mounting point of the lightning rod and fix it on the roof or wall.
5. Dig a hole for the earth electrode and place it at the desired depth.
6. Connect the ground electrode and the lightning rod together.
7. Check the lightning rod with a multimeter. Its resistance should not exceed 10 ohms.

You can also equip a lightning rod on a tree, which is 2.5 times higher than the house and is located at a distance of at least three meters from it. In this case, the lightning rod is mounted on a long metal pole, fixed on a tree with the help of clamps made of synthetic halyard. The connection to the grounding conductor is carried out with a wire of at least 5 mm in cross section.

Further operation

The installed lightning rod does not need special care. It only needs to be periodically checked for damage and the quality of metal connections. If the lightning rod has decreased in diameter or the joints have lost their integrity, then these elements need to be replaced. The location of the earth electrode must also be checked, and the earth around it must be kept moist.

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

In fact, during a thunderstorm, a large amount of electrical energy accumulates in the atmosphere, which creates a strong electric field near the surface of the earth, the most powerful voltage occurs 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, passes through the conductor and goes into the ground through the ground. Do you need or do not need a lightning rod in the country and how to make it yourself, there will be an article about this.

Why is it dangerous to get lightning into the house?

Lightning has a certain, fairly strong destructive power and can simply damage a building. In addition, lightning, getting into the roof, will touch the electrical wiring, a short circuit will occur. If there is a special protection on the electrical wiring, then the electricity will turn off, if it is not there, a number of turned-on appliances, such as a refrigerator, will burn. But the worst thing that can be is a fire that arose 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 Almanack". It must be said that devices similar to lightning rods can be seen even among the ancient Egyptians: during the Middle Ages, lighthouses were equipped with structures 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

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

• make a lightning rod circuit;
• stock up on materials: wire, rods, tools and a welding machine, as well as paint for staining joints. It is more reliable to make a lightning rod by welding, but bolts and nuts can be used;
• pick a good day, work on the roof of even a country house is necessary in dry and fine, calm weather;
• think over the model 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: parts can not be soldered, but simply twisted very tightly with bolts and nuts. The main thing here is that during the passage of an electric discharge there is no short circuit that can cause a fire.

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

Installing a lightning rod

Installing a lightning rod the most difficult part of the task. Having chosen the highest point of the building, it is necessary to install a metal pin on it, which in turn is attached to a wooden base.

As the highest point may be suitable:

• chimney, they are usually located quite high;
• horse at home, 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 that can itself serve as a lightning rod if it is made of aluminum or other metal and is not painted.

As a lightning rod, sometimes a metal roof is used, 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 drains, provided they are made of metal of the desired diameter, or metal fences on the roof.

grounding

grounding- this is a device that diverts a charge, often of very high values ​​\u200b\u200binto the ground, in fact 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, this is if accidents are not included in your plans.

Tree as a lightning rod

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

It only takes a few things to do this:

• this is possible only if a large, or rather tall tree grows near the house, which can serve as a lightning rod;
• 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 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 do not 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 in a private house, including a two-story one, at the dacha of electricity increases the chances of a lightning strike. Therefore, when a thunderstorm approaches turn off all electricity in the house. Now you can buy special lightning protection, it is inexpensive, but thanks to it you can protect your wiring and switched on devices from damage. In addition, it will help protect the building from fire.

One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from lightning is to unscrew the plugs when a thunderstorm approaches. It is a thunderstorm that is dangerous in the area of ​​\u200b\u200byour house. 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 the rolls of thunder.

Protection zone

The lightning rod 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 is a territory 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 fall on it and the device will not perform its assigned function;
• the higher the discharge receiver is located, the larger the area protected by it.

Lightning protection method in the absence of a lightning rod-lightning rod

If your house or apartment does not have a lightning rod, do not be discouraged. Simply cutting off electricity during a thunderstorm is also a very effective remedy for a lightning strike.

Go to a store or supermarket and buy protection for your electrical wiring. It is effective, quite inexpensive and a little troublesome.