Lower coast gazette., 1914-08-29
SATURDAY, AUGUST %, 1914

SECOND CfdSSs WAL WdtlSl.
SATURDAY. AUGUST %, 1914,
Ten Questions and Answers About
Lightning Rods.
A correspondent writes: Would you please
publish in the News Letter. in concise and SIM
pie language, an article on lightning rods for
farm buildings by some one in authority and
fully capable to write upon the subject"
This request can not be fully answered in a
short note in the News Letter, but the informa-
ton given below seeks to answer in a definite
and specific way the most important questions
involved.
~ Do lightning rods really protect build
ings? Answer: Yes; but the rods must be of
proper character, properly installed, and prop
erly grounded in relatively moist earth. Per-
iodical inspection and maintenance in good con-
dition are indispensable to efficient protection.
tl2) Do lightning rods on a building increase
the danger Of its being struck? Answer: Yes;
but a properly rodded house may be struck sew
eral times without Injury, whereas a single
stroke without the protection afforded by the
rods may cause disaster. 80
81 Should lightning rods be put up with or
without nsllators? Answers. Without. Build
ings with metal roofs or wherein any metal con-
structfbbn employed is properly connected to
eaRth, are already partly provided with light
Mtg protection. # rods are added to such
buildings the rods should be put in direct metal
lie connection with the roof and other metal
work about the building wherever practicable.
All down spouts should be led into metal pipes
going into the earth to give the proper earth
connection, or the spouts should otherwise be
well grounded by use Of wires or cables. lnsu-
lators aresentirely unnecessary and it is proper
toshaye. extended metal work in buildings, like
heating and water pipes, all electrically con-
nected together and all well grounded. This
latter result is gained incidentally through con-
l~nections made to water pipes, since the latter
usually pass through the earth outside the
buitdinig.. 's7~s1M ; Is Ia
], Arf1vgaaed,, q otherwise expensive
pplntsaof platinum q speciSl metal or Of fanci-
ful construction necessary? Answer. No; not
in the least. Sharp needlelike points are effect
i've in dissipating small sustained electrical
charges, but such electrical manifestations are
perfectly harmless. The imagined superiority
Of such fanciful points is utterly ~valueless when
tie rod IS struck BY real lightning flash. The
useful qualities lightning rod points must pos
sess are infusibility, mechanical strength and
security Of installation. and permanence and
durability under prolonged exposure to the
weather. Stout buntly1pointed iron rods three
eights or one-half inch in diameter RICHLY and
securely fastened so assn project ! l2 or 2 feet
hive the structure to which they are attached
satisfy al The requirements.
What material is bestfor conductors or
rods?
i This question can netb 2 answered fairly in
a single statement
because Of is availability and cheapness, as
weA.as It's electrical properties. iron is one Of
the best materials for rods. Iron, however.
rusts and deteriorates under prolonged expos
ure to the Weather. This is only partly over
come by;a galvanizing; hence galvanized iron
lightni1g rods should be Of ample size (not less
than ene quarter inch in diameter) carefully in
~ Ned and subjected TO systematic inspection
i'd repair.
Two-strand cable galvsnizcd-iron fence wire
ofaIhtantia size Of the same style as barbed
wsfeGsbuts without the barbs furnishes a very
good material for cheap iron lightning rods.
The presence 81 the barbs constitutes a rather
serious Inconvenience IN handling and installing
such . conductor, and no material benefit is de-