Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-10-03

| as poSSioAe. 1lle impact OF
lightning discharge is so sudden that
IL does not penetrate much below
the surface Of the conductor. Hence
a strip of tin two inches wide is bet
| ter than solid rod half an inch in
diameter, for it presents a grea ter sur
! race. A conductor made UP of strand
| ed wires is better than a solid rod,
! for the same reason, as well as on
account of its lower self-induction.
! For ordinary two-story dwelling
houses fence wire is heavy enough TO
afford protection, but something heav-
ier is preferable, to prevent rusting
out or getting broken. A conductor
consisting of seven strands Of No. II
steel galvanized wire, which any hard
ware dealer can procure, answers the
purpose very we'll. This costs about
two cents foot.
In order to put up lightning con-
ductor take a bar and work a hole
into the ground at che corner of your
house about -four feet. If the ground
IS dry, get a piece Of galvanized 3-S-
inch pipe, pointed at one end, at least
eight feet long, and drive it down to
within three inches of the surface of
the ground. Now go to the opposite
corner at the other end of the house
and drive another pipe in the same
manner. If your house should have
an L, drive one also at the outer end
of this Next insert one end of your
conductor into one of these pipes and
pack it in with iron filings, coke, char
coal or lead, and staple, or strap it,
to the side of the house. Small gas
pipe straps make the neatest work.
When you reach the roof bring the
conductor straight UP to the ridge, and
carry it along the ridge to the other
end down the opposite corner, plac- :
ing the end down into the pipe already
driven into the ground.
For each end of your house and for
each chimney have the blacksmith !
make a rod at least two and a half !
feet long. See that it fits tightly over !
the conductor and wrap a short piece }
of wire around both it and the con-
ductOr and, if possible, solder it. This !
will make sure of contact at very |
important point. The top Of these !
rods should have at least three points |
sired, or if preferred, can be made
into weather vaneS, mounted with
ROSTERS or anything you please. If
you have an L to the house, splice
another conductor on your main one at
the point nearest the l. and carry it
down t. the peak Of the lower roof
to the end and ground" this con-
ductOr as before.
If you are obliged to make joints
be careful that they are we'll made,
and in going down for your ground
be sure to get below your cellar floor
Otherwise a stroke may break your
cellar wall. Such cases have been
known.
Another conductor, which is almost
as cheap as the steel cable mentioned
above, consists of sheet copper cut
INTO strips one and half inches in
width, with the ends riyetted and
together. 1t possesses the
advantage of large surface, is not con-
spicuous, can be painted the same
color ais the house and is easily adj
justed. Use short timed nails for
quitting it up. 1t is not necessary to
use inSuIa tors to keep the conductor
away from the building. That idea
was long ago exploded.
A church spire or very tall chimney
.euuires special protection, and the
conductor should be much heavier
han that mentioned above. Special
"a ms should also be taken with the
ground connections, which should be
1ut down at least ten feet. Church
overs receive very heavy discharges;
therefore. the tower conductor should
come straight to the ground, but the
conductors on the main peak Of the
,oof should also be connected to it in !
,rder to divide the circuit and lessen i
he danger. Points should be placed
IN every small tower and connected
With the main one.
1t sometimes happens that even a
church tower is well protected by ac-
.ident. A case of this kind came to
notice last year. The spire was an
,cta gon, shingled with slate. At each
# the eight corners was bead Of
galvanized sheet iron. Around the
,ase and about fifteen feet above the
main roof, was gutter with waste
pipes connected with the main roof,
which was of tin. The roof in turn,
vas connected by means of its waste
pipes to the sewer. AT the apex of
he tower was a large wooden ball,
lpon which stood cross covered with
.opper. The only work to be done was
@ bring wires from the base Of the
ross to the beading on the church
over, and the metallic connection TO
he ground was complete.
One source Of danger in dwellings
s the kitchen stove Heated currents :
If air rising from a chimney affords
much easier path for the lightning
han the cold air surrounding it. This
s why so many chimneys are struck,
md so many persons are killed while (
sitting near the stove. Very few per-
;ons appear to have thought of run
ling a wire from under the feet Of /
he stove into the ground or connect !
ng it TO the ightning-rod outside.
This would at least keep the light
hing from sea altering when it gets to
he stove and killing the family. If
here is no cellar under your house I
I'm VOur wire StJ,a ipht into the 4