Lightning protection –
what’s it all about I hear you ask? If you are unfamiliar with the concept of lightning protection then don’t worry just check out this list of the ten things about lightning protection you need to know about.
- Lightning protection systems properly installed according to the latest standards are over 99% effective in preventing lightning damage.
- A properly installed lightning protection system with secondary surge suppression will completely eliminate nuisance damage to sensitive electronics, such as TV, Stereos, Surveillance and alarm equipment inside the home.
- Not only is your structural home protected by lightning protection from lightning damage, but your valuable possessions such as; heirlooms, antiques, photographs and furniture, so basically everything that would be vital to your home would also be protected if you used lightning protection.
- Benjamin Franklin is certainly the inventor of one of the key elements in lightning protection, the lightning rod. These findings were then used to experiment on Franklin’s house by installing these rods in his home. The lightning rods were then installed in other places such as The Academy of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State House.
- Height, shape and isolation are dominant factors in controlling where lightning bolts will strike. The presence of metal makes virtually no difference where lightning strikes. While metal doesn’t attract lightning, touching or being near long metal objects (fences, railings and vehicles etc.) is still unsafe when thunderstorms are nearby.
If lighting does happen to hit it, the metal can conduct the electricity a long distance and still electrocute you.
- Lower roof levels and structures are often lightning targets, as lightning is just seeking the lowest resistance path to the ground. Scientists say that lightning doesn’t pick where it is going to strike until it is within 150ft of the striking point.
So if you live in an area with frequent thunderstorms and lightning strikes it is recommended that you have a house with a high roof level so that you avoid your house being hit by lightning and being damaged.
- The purpose of lightning is not to stop lightning from striking. You can’t do that, it’s impossible. Lightning protection controls the path of lightning after it hits. Unfortunately this is the best that you can do about it.
Considering some of the facts about lightning such as, each flash of lightning holds the potential of up to a billion volts and the flashes can reach 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit the achievement of being able to protect from it is astounding.
- One thing about lightning protection is that if you don’t have it installed it could cause so much damage to your possessions and possibly you! A lightning strike can induce thousands of volts onto the wiring of a house.
Lightening can also travel through the ground to pipes which can also damage them, so that it why it is vital to purchase lightning protection if you live in an area which has frequent thunderstorms.
- Many people who are affected by thunderstorms often have many electrical problems. Installing a lightning protection system will indefinitely prevent this problem from taking place in thunderstorms.
- My home is protected by incoming power service, lightning will always strike the highest point, my home is safe since it has never been previously struck, lightning protection is old and outdated and no longer being used, my home is insured and will be replaced without any cost to me, my neighbour has lightning protection and it will hit his home before it hits mine and it will never happen to me.
These things that I have listed are all misbeliefs about lightning protection, please don’t trust these myths they are not true and your home will be damaged by lightning if you do.
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Image courtesy of Cheap photo stock
License: Creative Commons image source
The author of this article, Leisha, works as a copywriter for a leading lightning surge protection provider, and she likes writing about technology in her spare time.