Quote:
Originally Posted by westom
A FL home was struck repeatedly on one exterior wall. So lightning rods were installed. Lightning again struck that same wall.
Someone whose knowledge is from observation will use the same logic that proved spontaneous reproduction. Then assume lightning rods are useless. Instead, this problem was solved by first learning the science and what was installed.
Protection is always about where energy dissipates. That cloud must connect to earthborne charges maybe miles away. A best electrical path was miles down to that bathroom wall, through pipes that connected to deeper and more conductive soils, then miles to distant charges.
Lightning rods were only connected to eight foot ground rods in sand - a poorer conductor. Lightning was connecting via something lower (that bathroom wall) that was a better electrical connection.
Too many only see a lightning rod. Will even argue 'blunt' verse 'pointed'. And completely forget what defines all protection. Again, those who make conclusions only from observation are the same junk scientists who 'knew' about spontaneous reproduction. Protection is defined by where energy dissipates. And the connection path.
Protection of structures is about connecting lightning on an electrically shortest path to earth. Protection of appliances inside a structure is about connecting lightning (ie a strike to utility wires far down the street) on an electrically shortest connection to earth.
Appliances are typically at greater risk since they connect to a wider area - the entire neighborhood. You determine your risk by surveying neighborhood history - at least a decade of history.
Risk is not determined by a highest point. Risk is more determined by geology. What is a best connection from a cloud to those earthborne charges? Not five miles across the sky. A shortest path is 3 miles down to earth and four miles through earth. Why were wooden church steeples damaged? Wood made a better electrical connection.
BTW, which is better - a pointed or blunt rod? Myths say pointed. Science says blunt. Another example of how hearsay is so popular rather than conclusions by first learning the science. Too many people foolishly use advertising or observation as knowledge rather than first learn over 100 years of well proven science.
Your answer starts with decades of neighborhood history. And, if possible, a better understanding of the underlying geology. Even interstate pipelines or electrical distribution terminating at the end of a street can change local geology. History is a best indicator of your local environment. How often does lightning prefer your geology?
How many others ‘used observation’ to know lightning strikes highest objects rather than first learn the science? Why did lightning not strike higher lightning rods? Instead it struck a lower bathroom wall? Observation (without first learning the science) could not honestly answer that question. Therefore many use wild speculation to make recommendations. Do not even understand the significance of geology. Do not even realize that wood is an electrical conductor.
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Interesting thoughts on this subject.
Now....
Was that a hey or a nay on the lightening rod?
