Lightning can damage structures made of most materials, such as masonry, wood, concrete, and steel, because the huge currents and voltages involved can heat materials to high temperature. Copper lightning rod at the Tesla Science Center, based on a Hemingray insulatorĪs buildings become taller, lightning becomes more of a threat. The principle of the lightning rod was first detailed by Benjamin Franklin in Pennsylvania in 1749, who in subsequent years developed his invention for household application (published in 1753) and made further improvements towards a reliable system around 1760. Copper and its alloys are the most common materials used in lightning protection. The main attribute common to all lightning rods is that they are all made of conductive materials, such as copper and aluminum. Lightning rods come in many different forms, including hollow, solid, pointed, rounded, flat strips, or even bristle brush-like. The lightning rod requires a connection to the earth to perform its protective function.

In a lightning protection system, a lightning rod is a single component of the system. Lightning rods are also called finials, air terminals, or strike termination devices. If lightning hits the structure, it will preferentially strike the rod and be conducted to ground through a wire, instead of passing through the structure, where it could start a fire or cause electrocution.

Lightning striking the lightning rod of the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada.Ī lightning rod or lightning conductor ( British English) is a metal rod mounted on a structure and intended to protect the structure from a lightning strike.

C spire data pass