How to make a lightning rod with your own hands step by step instructions. Making and installing a lightning rod with your own hands. Structure of external lightning protection

People living in private houses are afraid of lightning striking their home. Some of them, in order to protect themselves from this, are thinking about protecting the building. Their concern is understandable, since there are regions where lightning intensity can reach up to 80 hours a year. In such areas it is necessary to install lightning rods. The construction of such a structure naturally requires certain costs. However, in some cases they can be minimized if you do all the work on creating a lightning rod yourself.

Protection zone

It should be understood that any structures designed to protect against lightning have a limited radius of action. They only protect the space around themselves. Therefore, when creating a lightning rod structure, work must be carried out so that all objects located on the site fall into the protection zone. Only in this case will they be provided with protection from lightning strikes.

Currently, structures that protect against lightning are distinguished based on the degree of reliability. There are two types:

type A;
type B.

Lightning rods of the first type provide 99% protection, which allows them to be called the most reliable designs against lightning. Structures of the second type provide 95% protection.

Device

If you are seriously afraid of lightning getting into your home and, in order to protect yourself from this, you have decided to install a lightning rod, then in this case, during work you will need to create the following elements of this building:

lightning rod;
down conductor;
ground electrode.

Lightning rod

This is a device that looks like a metal rod. After installation, it will rise above the roof of the building. This is where lightning strikes will fall. Thus, it is ensured reliable protection buildings. In addition, such a device is able to withstand severe voltage loads that occur when struck by lightning. When creating this element, you can use various materials.

The best choice - strip or round steel, whose cross-sectional area is at least 60 square meters. m. This element has certain requirements in terms of length. This parameter must be at least 20 cm. The device must be placed strictly in a vertical position. The tallest building on the site is perfect place to secure it.

Down conductor

The current conductor has the form of a thick wire with a diameter of 6 millimeters. To create it the best choice- Cink Steel. Regarding its location, it is better to choose areas where lightning is most likely to strike. For example, good place the edge of the pediment can be used to accommodate it. It can also be placed on the ridge. This lightning rod element is secured close to a private house, but with a slight offset of 20 cm.

If the house has a roof made of materials that are easily flammable, then in this case a gap is all the more necessary. To secure the down conductor special fasteners must be used: nails and staples. For greater reliability of fastening this element, you can use clamps.

Ground electrode

It is necessary to divert a current strike from lightning to the ground. When choosing a material to create this lightning rod element, it is necessary to use one that conducts electrical charge well. It is also necessary that the material has minimal resistance. If we talk about its location, then this lightning rod element is placed not far from the porch of a private house, at least 5 m. It is not recommended to install the ground electrode in the immediate vicinity of paths, as well as in places where people may be. After placing it, you can create a fence around it to make sure it doesn't cause harm.

When installing a fence from the ground electrode, it is necessary to make an indent of 4 meters, and the fence itself should be arranged along a radius. If the weather is good outside, it will not do any harm. But if it’s cloudy, and especially if a thunderstorm has begun, then standing in close proximity to it can be dangerous to your health. The ground electrode is installed in the ground. The decision regarding the depth of the depth of this element is made by the owner of the house himself. The following points should be taken into account:

soil type;
availability of groundwater.

For example, if the site is dominated by dry soil and the groundwater level is low, a ground electrode consisting of two rods is installed. The length of each of them should not exceed 3 meters. Components of this element must be secured to the jumper, whose cross-sectional area should be 100 square meters. m.

When this is done, the grounding conductor is secured to the down conductor by welding. After this, it is immersed in the ground to a depth of 0.5 meters. In the event that the soil on the site is peaty and has high humidity, and there are groundwater, then there is no possibility of grounding for half a meter. Therefore in this case nessesary to use metal corners , which will act as a grounding conductor. They are immersed to a depth of 80 cm.

If under construction multi-storey building, then in this case, work on installing a lightning rod is carried out by specialists. These structures have their own protection zone radius, which makes it possible to place them on every building. Before installing this structure, check whether it is already capable of installed lightning rods provide lightning protection to the constructed building or whether it is necessary to construct a new one.

In case of individual houses The issue with the lightning rod is decided by the owner himself. There are a number of factors in the placement of buildings that can minimize the risk of lightning striking a house:

if a house is located in the lowest place on the site, the probability of lightning striking it during a thunderstorm is small;
If there is a high-rise building next to your home, then when lightning strikes, it is more likely to be struck by lightning. This way your home will be safe;
If a lightning rod is installed on a neighboring house, then its protective zone may extend to your house. And in this case there is no great need for a lightning rod.

Thus, it cannot be said that a house that does not have a lightning rod is at high risk of being struck by lightning.

Options for creating a lightning rod

If you have inspected your and neighboring houses and as a result discovered that nearby buildings do not have such protection as a lightning rod, then in this case the most reasonable thing is to do the work to create it yourself. Particularly dangerous are buildings whose roofs are covered with metal tiles or steel sheets. Although such a roof looks attractive, the lack of grounding increases the risk of lightning striking such a house.

In most cases, the installation of this roofing is carried out on a sheathing made of wood. This ensures charge accumulation. Discharge of such a device can only occur after a thunderstorm. A person touching it can receive a current discharge of several thousand volts. In addition, do not forget that a spark may occur after a lightning strike, from which a wooden house can easily ignite.

If you want to avoid such unpleasant situations, then you need to think about grounding, which should be located every 20 cm. If your home has a metal roof, then in this case you can refuse to create a lightning rod. The roofing material itself will be an excellent lightning rod.

To save your home from lightning strikes, you can install a lightning rod on its roof. However, other options are also possible. If there is a tall tree next to your home, then you can install a lightning rod on it with your own hands, but provided that it is located at a distance of three meters from the building, and its height is 2.5 times greater than that of your house.

If you find this lightning rod option attractive and decide to arrange it, then you will need 5 mm wire. First you need to prepare it, then one end needs to be buried in the ground, having previously welded it to the ground electrode. The other end will act as a lightning rod. It must be placed at the very top of the tree.

If there is no tall tree on your site, you can use an air-termination mast with two metal rods instead. Their installation is carried out at opposite ends of the roof. The drain in this case will act as a down conductor. Great importance has the material of its manufacture. It must be metal. In this case, you should also not forget about the device of the grounding electrode.

Conclusion

Regardless of which method you choose to install the lightning rod, you must remember that by properly installing this structure, you will ensure comfortable living in your wooden house. But it is necessary to periodically check the condition of the lightning rod created with your own hands. Special attention must be paid to its connections. There should be no violations in them. Only in this case you can not be afraid of lightning striking your house.

Many private homeowners pay insufficient attention to protecting their properties from lightning strikes until the “rooster bites.” One of the reasons that encourages you to install a lightning rod in a private house with your own hands is when lightning strikes your yard. And it’s good if it’s not a house, but some less important object.

Lightning rod: to do or not?

Physical deterioration of electrical networks of the old residential sector, electrical installations in need of repair, operated in rural houses, country houses growing exponentially make the problem of lightning protection quite urgent. At the same time, the owner of any form of property must clearly understand that the lives of loved ones and people around him depend on a timely decision and its practical implementation.

Lightning protection is considered to be the prevention of damage to people, communications, buildings by a direct lightning strike, as well as the manifestation of its secondary symptoms. About durable and safe operation a home should be taken care of even at the design stage. Using established standards (GOST R IEC 62305-1-2010 “Lightning Protection” Part 1 and Part 2), you can decide on the choice of protection and its economic benefits. One thing is indisputable: a lightning rod for country house, cottage, country building will be more reliable the more expensive it is.

Attention! A non-serious attitude towards the issue of manufacturing and installing a lightning rod, lack of knowledge and experience can only aggravate the situation. Therefore, it is better not to make any lightning rod than to make it incorrectly.

Types of lightning protection

Preventing direct lightning strikes from entering a structure (building) is considered external lightning protection. Preservation of communications and equipment from inductive interference and lightning strikes electrical networks, penetration through the grounding system into buildings requires internal lightning protection. Depending on how a lightning rod works, its effectiveness can be assessed in four categories:

1 – 98% (highest degree of security);
2 – 95%;
3 – 90%,
4 – 80%.

Lightning rod: fundamental factors

The lightning rod device is nothing more than a structure rising above the house’s protection zone, through which the lightning discharge, bypassing the house (dacha, cottage, etc.), is diverted into the ground.

It consists:

from the lightning rod receiving the force of the discharge,
the down conductor transporting it (descent),
ground electrode – “quenching” the discharge in the soil.

In this case, the house must be lower in height than the lightning rod (the difference is about 200 cm), located in close proximity to it or even under the outlet. Too high protection is also not advisable, otherwise it will attract lightning from all over the area.

Before making a lightning rod, you need not only to think through its design features, but also to achieve maximum efficiency during operation. This can only be ensured by following certain rules. Carrying out preliminary calculation lightning rod with determination of the level of protection will allow you to collect the necessary set of tools and consumables.

How does he work?

The principle of operation of a lightning rod is based on searching for a charge in the air, attracting it, receiving it and redirecting it to grounding. After all, lightning primarily strikes metal objects, structures that are significant in height and in direct contact with the ground.

Another important stage, which involves a lightning rod in a private house with your own hands: a diagram of its implementation. This can be a hand-drawn drawing or a serious drawing with a visual representation of the conductors, pin, grounding conductor, fastenings, etc. It should contain a description of each element, indicate the method of fastening and the route along which the wire for the lightning rod is laid to the grounding point, the grounding itself.

Execution options

The lightning rod takes the blow and therefore must meet increased reliability requirements during operation.

If it is a rod, then the best material Multi-profile rolled steel is used: water pipes, gas pipes, metal rods. With a diameter of at least 100 sq. mm length should be about 200 cm from the place of fixation on the house. Hollow pipes are welded at the upper end or hermetically sealed with a stopper. The most complete coverage area for the protection of cottages, country houses and private houses is observed when the height of the core structure does not exceed 30 m.
You can use a cable (galvanized steel rope). Several of its threads are suspended horizontally above the house on free-standing supports. The ends of the ropes must be grounded. You just need to choose the right place to hang the tensioned structure.
The use of mesh protection made of wire rod with a cross-section of 8 mm, laid on the roof, or flat steel strips (with a cross-section of up to 20 mm) is also relevant. Moreover, an air terminal in the form of a mesh, connected to the ground loop by several separately located conductors, is considered the most effective, allowing for the maximum protection factor.
The wire for the lightning rod as a current dissipation element must have a diameter of at least 6 mm ( aboveground part). The same wire rod is used for these purposes. The piece of wire going to ground should not be thinner than 10 mm. In this underground section, a connection (welding, bolting) with the ground electrode is made.
As a reliable grounding, use a sheet of metal sprinkled with soil (1 m x 1 m) or metal pipe, a rod driven into the ground at least 1.5-2.0 m. In the place where the grounding is arranged there must always be moist soil - an effective conductor. Grounding made of copper and stainless steel will be durable.

How to protect your cottage from being damaged by a lightning strike?

Summer residents with their “light” buildings located in sparsely developed areas are especially at risk of fire from lightning strikes. There is nothing else left to do but make a lightning rod at the dacha. The most vulnerable places for lightning to strike are: the edges of gables, skylights, and the ridge, especially if the roof is wooden or covered with slate.

You can make a simple lightning rod like this:

two opposite distant points on parallel roof gables are selected;
the bars are vertically fixed in them so that their ends rise above the top point of the roof ridge by at least 25 cm;
A steel wire (5-6 mm cross-section) is stretched between the beams along the roof.
screw connection to upper parts The beam is attached to the main metal part with a height of 1.0-1.5 m of the lightning rod. It may consist of a steel angle, a pipe (ᴓ 50 sq. mm.);
the pipe for discharging combustion products into the atmosphere is closed with a stainless steel lampshade or a twisted wire connected to a conductor.
according to the scheme, the most in the best possible way the down conductor is laid along external wall at home, where it is connected to grounding, which is buried 100-200 cm into the ground.

Attention! The lightning rod device involves the installation of a separate structure with its own grounding. It is prohibited to adapt existing household grounding to it.

Organization of lightning protection: how to do everything right

An economical option for protection against lightning strikes is an ordinary vertically installed rod. It must be placed separately from the building on a pole or tall tree. The height of the installation directly affects the probability of a discharge entering the house: the higher the rod, the lower the probability.

Before making a lightning rod in a wooden house, you need to familiarize yourself with the implementation of comprehensive protection. It is this that will be able to protect the building and equipment not only from the direct threat of a discharge, but from the destructive effects of lightning, which sometimes occurs even at a distance of several kilometers from your home.

Table Materials and minimum cross-sectional values of elements of the external inter-branch structure

Protection	Material	Section, mm	Note
Natural lightning rod	iron 4 mm thick	*	galvanized/stainless steel
(tank casing, pipe)	copper 5 mm thick	*
	aluminum 7 mm thick	*
Special lightning rod	steel	50	galvanized/stainless steel
	copper	35
	aluminum	70
Current lead	steel	50	galvanized/stainless steel
	copper	16
	aluminum	25
Ground electrode	steel	100	galvanized/stainless steel
	copper	50	cable
	aluminum	*	not applicable
Equalizing conductor	iron	50	galvanized/stainless steel
	copper	16
	aluminum	25

The operating principle of a complex type lightning rod is based on the close interaction of external and internal leads converging in grounding. The choice of material for the external structure depends on the angle of inclination of the roof slopes, their size, decorative roofing covering and its properties, the absence or presence of additional elements on the roof, antenna, etc.

For the internal branch, the fundamental element is the potential equalization bus. Its purpose is to counteract a strong powerful pulse charge that causes overvoltage entering the building from power lines or through various communications. Down conductors are installed as close as possible to the outer corners of the house.

At traditional way When organizing a lightning rod, you need to ensure that all conductive (metal) parts of the roof of the house are connected to the lightning protection. Roof covering made of metal flooring, if it is not thinner than 0.5 mm, can serve as a kind of conductor.

In the case of an active set of measures to protect against electric shock, the mating of all protruding metal parts of the roof frame is not required: the discharge passes along the path of the shortest extent.

As statistics show, in last years Natural disasters are becoming more and more frequent. And if a tsunami or earthquake cannot be avoided, then reducing the mortality and destruction from lightning is within the reach of any of us. Anyone can carry out simple activities that do not require significant capital investments with appropriate preparation. You just need to follow a strict algorithm for performing the work, use reliable materials, and not neglect the requirements of the standards.

Country houses are usually built from flammable materials, and the fire station is located far away. Yes, and you can’t drive up to every building, and you shouldn’t expect anything good from the strong wind that accompanies any thunderstorm.

Sometimes from a lightning strike Entire holiday villages are burning down.

We’ll tell you how to make an effective lightning rod on your own and eliminate the risk of a direct hit from a “heavenly discharge” into your house.

In simplified terms, the physics of the process can be described as follows: source lightning are cumulonimbus clouds.

During a thunderstorm, they turn into peculiar giant capacitors. On the upper plus part, a huge positively charged ion potential accumulates in the form of ice crystals, and in the lower minus area, negative electrons accumulate in the form of water drops.

During the discharge (breakdown) of this natural battery, lightning appears between the ground and the thundercloud - huge electrical spark discharge:

This discharge will always flow through the circuit least local resistance electric current. The fact is well known and verified. Such resistance usually occurs in high-rise buildings and trees. Most often, lightning strikes them.

The idea of a lightning rod is to install it near the house area of minimum resistance so that the lightning discharge passes through it and not through the structure.

If you don’t have a lightning rod at your dacha, it’s time to think about building one. The cheapest and easiest way to make it is to do it yourself. What do you need to know for this?

So, a lightning rod (lightning rod) is a lightning protection (lightning protection) device, ensuring the safety of the building and people's lives, located in it, from the destructive effects that can occur during a thunderstorm with a direct lightning strike.

This corrosion protected, bare conductor - that is, a material that conducts electricity well as possible larger area and larger cross-section (minimum 50 mm²).

A lightning rod (lightning rod) is assembled from thick copper wire or steel rod, pipes the required section or from steel, aluminum, duralumin rods of various profiles, corners, strips, and so on.

It is better to use galvanized steel materials. Since they are less susceptible to air oxidation.

What does lightning protection consist of: device

Lightning rod (lightning rod) simplest design comprises 3 parts:

(descent).

Let's talk about each element in more detail.

A metal conductor mounted on the roof of a building or on a separate support (tower). Structurally divided into three type: pin, cable And mesh.

When choosing a lightning rod design focus on the material, which covers the roof of the house.

1. Shtyrevoe(or rod) lightning rod device is a metal vertical rod rising above the house (see figure below).

Suitable for roofs made of any material, but it is still preferable for metal roofing. The height of the lightning rod should not exceed 2 meters. And it is attached either to a separate load-bearing support, or directly to the house itself.

Materials for production:

Steel pipe (20 -25 mm diameter, with wall 2,5 mm thick). Its upper end is either flattened or welded into a cone. You can also make and weld a special needle-shaped plug to the upper edge of the pipe.

Steel wire (8 -14 mm). Moreover, the down conductor must be exactly the same diameter.

Any steel profile (for example, angle or strip steel of at least 4 mm in thickness and 25 mm in width).

The main condition for all these steel materials is the cross-section minimum 50 mm².

2. Trosovoye the lightning rod device is stretched along the ridge at a height of up to 0,5 m from the roof cable with a minimum cross-section 35 mm² or wire.

Galvanized steel rope is usually used. This type of lightning rod is suitable for wooden or slate roofs.

It is fixed on two ( 1-2 meters) supports made of wood or metal, but on metal supports isolators must be installed. The cable is connected to the down conductor using die clamps.

3. Mesh the device of the lightning rod system is a mesh laid over the roof with a thickness 6 -8 mm. This design is the most difficult to implement. Used for roofs covered with tiles.

4. Well, it’s very rarely used covering device lightning protection is when metallic lightning rods act as lightning rods structural elements the house itself (roof, trusses, roof railing, drainpipe).

All considered designs of lightning rods securely connected by welding with a down conductor and through a down conductor with a single- or double-sided grounding conductor welded seam minimum 100 mm in length.

(descent) - the middle part of the lightning rod, which is a metal conductor with a minimum cross-section for steel 50 , for copper 16 and for aluminum 25 mm squared.

Main purpose down conductor is to ensure the passage of discharge current from the lightning rod to the ground electrode.

Ideal path for electric current to pass- the shortest straight line directed straight down. Avoid turning at sharp angles when installing the lightning rod. This is fraught with the occurrence of a spark discharge between nearby sections of the down conductor, which will lead to inevitable ignition.

The most popular material for current conductor- bare steel wire rod or strip. It is carried out only on fireproof surfaces. Metal brackets should be installed on flammable walls, which themselves, being in contact with the flammable surface, will protect the down conductor.

Minimum distance from the wall to the down conductor 15-20 cm.

It must be laid out so that there were no points of contact with elements of the house such as a porch, Entrance door, window, metal garage doors.

We know that connect lightning rod parts better than welding , but if this is not possible, it is allowed to interface the down conductor with the grounding conductor and lightning rod using three rivets or two bolts. The length of application of the current conductor to other parts of the system with a rivet connection is equal to 150 , and with a bolted one - 120 mm.

The end of the non-galvanized wire rod and the point where the down conductor wire is attached to the steel parts to ensure reliable contact needs to be cleaned, and it is enough to wash the galvanized one from dust and dirt. Then a loop or hook is made at the end of the wire, washers are placed on both sides and the whole thing is tightened as tightly as possible with a bolt.

The joints (if it is not welding) also need to be wrapped in several layers of electrical tape, then with a coarse cloth, twisted on top with a thick thread and covered with paint.

To improve contact you can treat the ends of the wire with tin and solder.

(grounding electrodes) - the lower part of the lightning rod located in the ground, ensuring reliable contact of the down conductor with the ground.

How to properly arrange grounding is described in GOST oh and SNIP ah, but for the simplest option, at least one meter from the edge of the foundation is enough and no closer 5 meters from the entrance to the building to bury P-shaped structure made of metal conductors.

Able to cope with the task conventional ground loop(it is made for household electrical appliances).

This 3 electrodes driven and buried in the ground, connected to each other at the same distance by horizontal ground electrodes. The grounding structure should be buried below the maximum soil freezing level. From 0,5 before 0,8 meters deep.

For a grounding conductor take rolled steel cross section 80 mm, less often copper cross-section 5o mm squared. Vertical grounding electrodes are 2-3 meters in length, but the closer the groundwater level, the shorter they are.

If the soil at your dacha is constantly wet, then a meter or half meter pin will be enough.

On what depth to drive and how many electrodes will be necessary can be found in energy service at your place of residence.

It must be remembered that the quality of grounding depends on the size of the contact area of the ground electrode with the soil and the resistivity of the soil itself.

Grounding conductor for lightning rod need a separate one, you should not ground the lightning rod to the household circuit. Categorically We do not recommend experimenting. It is fraught with consequences.

We invite you to watch the video from visual diagram installation of lightning protection:

According to regulatory documents, for private residential buildings installation of lightning protection systems optional. And only you can decide the feasibility of installing a lightning rod (lightning rod) at your dacha. We hope that the article will help you make the right decision.

Private houses and country cottages are often located in open space, where the only elevation is the buildings themselves. Because of this, during a thunderstorm there is a significant threat of lightning striking buildings. This situation threatens not only electric shock to all people in it, but also the possibility of fire, which will lead to a fire and significant damage to property. Since no one can foresee where the discharge will hit, most effective way preventing it negative consequences is a lightning rod.

That is why for most owners of private houses and summer cottages it is important to install a lightning rod with your own hands. An exception may be buildings located in a lowland, the roof of which is below the top point of the ground or falling within the protection zone of a neighboring building and its lightning rod.

Design and principle of operation of a typical lightning rod

Figure 1: lightning rod device

The entire design of a lightning rod is represented by three elements: a lightning rod, a down conductor and a grounding conductor. Depending on local conditions and your preferences, each of them may have various designs. Now let’s look at why each of them is needed, and which option to choose in a given situation.