Why does a lightning rod work

Contact your local insurer directly to learn more about incentives for these common lightning protection components…. Prevent shocking experiences with the help of Mr. Electric today. Skip to main content. Your health and safety are our highest priority during this time. Click here for our precautionary measures. Should I Install a Lightning Rod? Sign up for our Newsletter!

Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Prev NEXT. Forces of Nature. Natural Disasters. Lightning Myth 3. Cite This! When people ask us How does a lightning rod work? On that way, the lightning rod needs to be installed always over the highest point of the building or structure we need to protect, it will be in charge of capturing and conduct safely the lightning discharge to ground.

In storm conditions, high voltage occurs between the cloud - earth system due to the large number of electrical charges that are present both at the base of the cloud and on the ground. This high voltage is the trigger to start the leader descended from the beam, which will drill the dielectric air between the cloud and the ground. Due to its advantages with respect to other external protection systems, the ESE lightning rod Early Streamer Emission is currently the most used, it provides a greater protection radius than other systems up to 80m radius in level I protection.

As a consequence of all these factors, the installation of an ESE lightning rod system is simple, easy, fast and has a very low cost when compared to other systems. For a correct design of a lightning protection system in a structure, we must first carry out an analysis of the risk of the same, to determine if its protection is necessary. In the affirmative case that lightning protection is necessary, we must calculate what is the level of protection or security factor to apply at this structure I, II, III or IV.

Once the protection level of the structure is calculated, we will choose the external lightning protection system that best fit your needs at each project between those 4 protection systems. If the selected external lightning protection system is the ESE lightning rod we will follow up all the guidelines set by the international standards UNE , NFC How a Lightning Protection System Works. 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 feet above the residence and would have entered the building, causing possible fire, destruction, side flashes within the building or even injury or death.