30-03-2010, 11:00 AM
Lightning Protection
Facts about Lightning
A strike can average 100 million volts of electricity
Current of up to 100,000 amperes
Can generate 54,000 oF
Lightning strikes somewhere on the Earth every second
Kills 100 US residents per year
Lightning Doesnâ„¢t Go Straight Down
What Does This Mean?
Lightning can strike ground up to ten miles from a storm (Lightning out of the blue)
There is an average of 2-3 miles between strikes
So how can we tell how far away lightning has struck?
Use The Five Second Rule
Light travels at about 186,291 miles/second
Sound travels at only 1,088 feet/second
You will see the flash of lightning almost immediately
5280/1088= 4.9
About 5 seconds for sound to travel 1 mile
Stepped Leader
Streamers
Four Main Features of Lightning Protection
1) Air terminal
2) Conductors
3) Ground termination
4) Surge protection
Air Terminal and Conductors
Grounding Rod
Surge Protection Is A Must
Effects Of Lightning
Facts about Lightning
A strike can average 100 million volts of electricity
Current of up to 100,000 amperes
Can generate 54,000 oF
Lightning strikes somewhere on the Earth every second
Kills 100 US residents per year
Lightning Doesnâ„¢t Go Straight Down
What Does This Mean?
Lightning can strike ground up to ten miles from a storm (Lightning out of the blue)
There is an average of 2-3 miles between strikes
So how can we tell how far away lightning has struck?
Use The Five Second Rule
Light travels at about 186,291 miles/second
Sound travels at only 1,088 feet/second
You will see the flash of lightning almost immediately
5280/1088= 4.9
About 5 seconds for sound to travel 1 mile
Stepped Leader
Streamers
Four Main Features of Lightning Protection
1) Air terminal
2) Conductors
3) Ground termination
4) Surge protection
Air Terminal and Conductors
Grounding Rod
Surge Protection Is A Must
Effects Of Lightning