How to make a grounding lightning rod in a private house. How to make a lightning rod in the house and in the country. How does a lightning protection system work?

It is important for the owner of a private house to take care of safety during a thunderstorm. The current strength during a lightning strike can exceed 100,000 A, and its entry into the building is dangerous for people's lives and the safety of property. Installing a lightning rod in a private house makes it possible to divert a powerful electrical discharge into the ground, protecting buildings from destruction and fire. Work can be done independently - for this it is enough to choose necessary materials, carry out calculations, arm yourself with a shovel and a welding machine.

The simplest lightning rod circuit

Principle of operation

Lightning rod in the house is not difficult to do with your own hands, its design is extremely simple. The principle of its operation is as follows: a lightning rod, located at a height, attracts lightning electrical discharges within its radius of action and redirects them to the ground through a down conductor. The radius of action depends on the height of the mast, it is recommended to calculate the design in such a way that one installation protects all outbuildings on the site from lightning.

Exist different variants lightning rod devices, but the simplest and most common type is the rod structure. Such a lightning rod is mounted on the roof of a building or on a free-standing mast.

Rod structure of a lightning rod

Protective system device

Structurally, the lightning rod-lightning rod consists of the following elements:

1. lightning rod (serves to intercept a lightning discharge);
2. grounding conductor (provides close contact of the system with the ground);
3. down conductor (serves to connect the lightning rod to the ground electrode system, transports the lightning discharge).

Lightning rod

Planning to create protective device for private or country house, select a lightning rod with optimal parameters. Usually this function is performed by a metal rod, towering over the tallest building on the site.

Depending on the design features of the protection system, some parts of the house can serve as parts of a lightning rod. We are talking about metal roofing, fences and drainage system from metal.

Steel lightning protection on soft roof

At the same time, it is important that the metal roof is a solid coating without gaps. Minimum allowable thickness sheet material is determined depending on the type of metal and for iron it is 4 mm, for copper 5 mm, for aluminum 7 mm. The roof covering should not have an external insulating layer - the exception is anti-corrosion paint for metal.

Parts of the drainage system and fencing are allowed to be used as a lightning rod only if the thickness of the metal exceeds that of the roof.

The lightning rod is fixed in such a way that it is at least half a meter higher than the highest point in the area around the house, including the tops of trees.

Down conductor

This part country lightning rod made of wire rod or strip of bare metal. The recommended cross section of a down conductor made of steel is 50 square meters. mm, made of copper - 16 sq. mm, aluminum - 25 sq. mm.

Down conductor on a metal roof

The down conductor is laid in such a way that it connects the lightning rod and the grounding conductor over the shortest distance, ideally in a straight line.

It is allowed to mount the down conductor both outside and inside the wall of the building, but in the second case they must be made of non-combustible material. The minimum gap between the outer down conductor and the wall of combustible building material is 10 cm. When laying, avoid turning the down conductor at an acute angle, otherwise the risk of fire increases in these areas due to the occurrence of a spark discharge.

grounding conductor

The earthing switch is mounted from steel or copper elements, and for steel, the cross-sectional area is 80 square meters. mm, and for copper - 50 sq. mm. Grounding a lightning rod requires the preparation of a trench with a length of at least 3 meters and a depth of 0.5 meters. At the ends of the trench, a metal rod is driven into the ground, and they are connected to each other by welding a conductor of the same material.

Trench for closed grounding

A branch leading to the house is welded to this structure. A conductor is connected to the outlet. Welding areas must be painted over. A trench for the grounding element of the protective installation is equipped no closer than 1 meter from the wall of the house and no closer than 5 meters from the tracks and entrance group Houses.

Manufacturing instructions

Before installing a lightning protection system, you need to prepare a project, make calculations and select the necessary materials.

At the design stage, calculate optimal size lightning rod so that the installation completely protects the building area of ​​your site. If we are talking about lightning rods able to protect private house or cottage, they provide a protective zone in the form of a cone with an angle of inclination of 45-50 degrees.

The calculation of the height of the lightning rod is carried out according to the formula h = (rх+1.63hx)/1.5, while:

• h is the desired height of a rod-type lightning rod;
• rx is the radius of the protective zone at the height of the top point of the house to be protected;
• hx is the height of the protected house.

This scheme is suitable for calculating lightning rods whose height does not exceed 150 m, and this value is more than enough for a private house.

When choosing the material of manufacture, attention should be paid to the recommended area cross section elements of the system. The values ​​depend on the level of electrical resistance of steel, copper and aluminium. If you focus on specifications metals, it is better to choose copper. But the steel profile is much cheaper.

The cross section of the current collector is noticeably smaller than that of the other elements, it is recommended to gradually increase its thickness in the direction from the lightning rod to the ground. The most effective in the operation of the system, all elements of which are made of one metal.

It is necessary to choose the right place for installing a lightning rod. The end of the lightning rod should be located above the highest point on the site, and the cone of the protection zone should cover the house and, if possible, other buildings in the yard. The house must completely fall into the protective cone, therefore, the farther from the house the lightning rod is mounted, the higher it should be located.

Lightning and thunderstorm protection cone

The cheapest and easiest way is to mount the lightning rod on the roof, in this case it is not required to install a special support of the required height. It is not necessary to fix the vertical lightning rod in the center of the roof. If you place it along one of the walls, the likelihood that lightning will hit the roof is reduced.

Consider the location of the ground electrode. During a thunderstorm, people should not be near this device, as powerful electrical discharges will go into the ground. When creating a project, observe the regulated distances from the walls of the house, its porch and paths. Free access to the area with a ground electrode is blocked by a fence, decorative plantings, garden sculptures. It is recommended to install a warning sign.

Construction installation

After the calculation is made and the materials are prepared, the installation site is selected, you can proceed to the installation. First of all, perform excavation, establish grounding.

Lightning rods for a summer residence or a private house provide for the installation of a linear or closed ground electrode. In the first case, a trench is dug, in which the ground electrodes are lined up and welded together. The second type of grounding involves immersion in the ground of a triangular structure of three grounding electrodes interconnected by a metal strip.

The depth of the pit, straight or triangular, should be 0.5-1 meter - the rods are driven into the ground. To the place where the down conductor is attached, a deep trench is dug for a connecting outlet for the ground loop.

In order for the electric discharge to easily go into the ground, you need a soil with good electrically conductive properties. If the soil is sandy, then to improve the electrical conductivity, it is watered with an electrolyte - saline.

Only moist soil can pass electric current. It is possible to provide for the diversion of a roof drain to an appropriate area, or to bury the ground loop at a depth where the soil always remains wet.

Linear ground loop

In order for the earth electrode that you have made to meet the requirements for a protective system for many years, metal with a large sectional area margin is used for the manufacture of its elements. This is due to the fact that the thickness of the steel elements decreases over time due to accelerated corrosion in the conductive soil. For the manufacture of the structure, a steel profile is usually used - a pipe, a strip, a corner.

At the next stage of work, a support for a lightning rod is installed in a pre-selected location. The support is firmly fixed so that it can withstand sharp gusts of wind, lightning strikes. A rod lightning rod with a suitable cross-sectional area is attached to the support. In the absence of rolled metal of the required length, this element is welded from several segments.

It is convenient to use a tall tree growing near the house as a support. The lightning rod is attached to the tree using a synthetic halyard in such a way that the whole house gets into the protective cone. If a suitable tree is not available, the lightning rod is connected to a television antenna on the roof, since its mast is made of unpainted metal. If the antenna is mounted on a wooden pole, a wire of suitable section is attached along it.

Protection Options small house

If a hollow metal pipe is chosen for the manufacture of the lightning rod, its upper end must be closed with a plug of the same metal and welded.

The conductor in the form of a rolled wire or a metal strip is firmly connected to a lightning rod fixed on a support. Check how the current collector is laid, lower part which is welded to the outlet of the ground loop. A correctly mounted pantograph does not touch the metal elements of the house anywhere. Otherwise, the electric lightning discharge will go not to the ground circuit, but to metal structure, which is in contact with the current collector.

Installation of a down conductor involves welding a metal wire or strip to the horizontal part of the ground loop along its entire length. The earth electrode is driven into the ground at the bottom of the trenches, then the trenches and pits are covered with excavated soil.

Construction care

Lightning protection mounted from metal should be regularly inspected to identify corrosion pockets. Every spring, before the start of the thunderstorm season, the contacts of the protective system are checked. If necessary, they are cleaned, because due to poor contact, the system may open, ignite when a lightning discharge hits.

Contour metal corrosion

At least once every three years, the degree of corrosion of the ground loop is checked, for which it is dug up and inspected. Elements severely damaged by corrosion must be replaced with new ones. Otherwise, the lightning rod at some point will not be able to cope with its functions.

smart calculation and correct installation lightning rod will protect your home. All work can be done on your own.

It would be more correct to call this building lightning rod, but from the point of view of euphony, a lightning rod is more acceptable. In a sense, this name is associated with a long-standing human fear of the forces of nature, the ancients considered thunder to be a sign of the wrath of the gods.

In fact, during a thunderstorm, the atmosphere accumulates a large number of electrical energy that creates a strong electric field near the surface of the earth, the most powerful voltage occurs near all kinds of sharp conductors.

In such cases, we can see luminous discharges on the tips, which are not at all harmful to the building. The shock hits the receiver, passes through the conductor and goes into the ground through the ground. Do you need or do not need a lightning rod in the country and how to make it yourself, there will be an article about this.

Why is it dangerous to get lightning into the house?

Lightning has a certain, fairly strong destructive power and can simply damage a building. In addition, lightning, getting into the roof, will touch the electrical wiring, a short circuit will occur. If there is a special protection on the electrical wiring, then the electricity will turn off, if it is not there, a number of turned-on appliances, such as a refrigerator, will burn. But the worst thing that can be is a fire that arose from a short circuit.

Device

It is believed that the first lightning rod-lightning rod was invented by Benjamin Franklin, he described his device in the weekly "Poor Richard's Almanack". It must be said that devices similar to lightning rods can be seen even among the ancient Egyptians: during the Middle Ages, lighthouses were equipped with structures designed to play the role of a lightning rod, and today we can see their needles.

Medieval temples and Muslim mosques could not do without lightning rods. We can safely say that lightning rods are ancient and useful devices.

Strictly speaking, this device consists of 3 parts:

DIY lightning rod

Making a lightning rod-lightning rod with your own hands is not difficult. This does not require any special skills. It is enough just to be able to use household welding, or to be able to firmly fasten the bolts and not be afraid of heights. Necessary:

• make a lightning rod circuit;
• stock up on materials: wire, rods, tools and welding machine, as well as paint for staining joints. It is more reliable to make a lightning rod by welding, but bolts and nuts can be used;
• pick a good day, work on the roof of even a country house is necessary in dry and fine, calm weather;
• think over the model lightning rod, but it is better to draw it;
• decide what part of the work can be done on the ground, and what will need to be done on the roof;
• and get to work.

Note: parts can not be soldered, but simply twisted very tightly with bolts and nuts. The main thing here is that during the passage of an electric discharge there is no short circuit that can cause a fire.

Our goal is to save the house from a fire, not cause it. All soldered or twisted places should preferably be painted to protect against corrosion.
And most importantly, if you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to let professionals do this work.

Installing a lightning rod

Installing a lightning rod the most difficult part of the task. Having chosen the highest point of the building, it is necessary to install a metal pin on it, which in turn is attached to a wooden base.

As the highest point may be suitable:

• chimney, they are usually located quite high;
• horse at home, often it looks like a weather vane - it will be useful and beautiful;
• a ledge on the roof is almost always decorative elements;
• an antenna that can itself serve as a lightning rod if it is made of aluminum or other metal and is not painted.

As a lightning rod, sometimes a metal roof is used, arranged as a whole with a sufficient thickness of iron and equipped with appropriate protection, or a part of the roof with the same characteristics, as well as drains, provided they are made of metal desired diameter, or metal fences on the roof.

grounding

grounding- this is a device that diverts a charge, often of very high values ​​\u200b\u200binto the ground, in fact eliminates its destructive power.

Given the specifics of the component being arranged, it is necessary that it be located at a distance of at least 1 meter from the wall of the building and at least 5 meters from the porch and paths, this is if accidents are not included in your plans.

Tree as a lightning rod

One of the options for a lightning rod device with minimal cost we can consider a lightning rod arranged on a tree near the house.

It only takes a few things to do this:

• this is possible only if a large, or rather tall tree grows near the house, which can serve as a lightning rod;
• lightning rod, after the device must be higher than the highest point of the house so that it can fulfill its purpose;
• the location of the tree is such that the house falls into the “cone zone” (it was written about earlier), which means that the tree grows close enough to the walls of the house;
• the pin and wire must be attached to the trunk with plastic clamps so as not to damage the bark and wood of the plant. We do not want the tree to wither;
• remember that grounding is located away from the paths and walls of the house. This rule must be strictly observed.

Internal lightning protection

The presence in a private house, including a two-story one, at the dacha of electricity increases the chances of a lightning strike. Therefore, when a thunderstorm approaches turn off all electricity in the house. Now you can buy special lightning protection, it is inexpensive, but thanks to it you can protect your wiring and switched on devices from damage. In addition, it will help protect the building from fire.

One of the most simple ways protection against lightning is to unscrew the plugs when a thunderstorm approaches. It is a thunderstorm that is dangerous in the area of ​​\u200b\u200byour house. This is evidenced by peals of thunder, heard at intervals of 10 seconds. You don't need any special equipment to find out, just count between the rolls of thunder.

Protection zone

The lightning rod is able to protect not only the house, but also the area around it. The higher the lightning rod, the larger the area that is under its protection. It acts like a cone, where the top point will be the edge of the pin, and the base is a territory protected from lightning.

The radius is calculated using the formula: R=1.732 x h, here h is the height of the lightning rod. Based on the above, there are two reasons to install the device so that it is the highest point of the building.

• if there is a higher point on the building, a lightning strike will fall on it and the device will not perform its assigned function;
• the higher the discharge receiver is located, the larger the area protected by it.

Lightning protection method in the absence of a lightning rod-lightning rod

If your house or apartment does not have a lightning rod, do not be discouraged. Simply cutting off electricity during a thunderstorm is also a very effective remedy for a lightning strike.

Go to a store or supermarket and buy protection for your electrical wiring. It is effective, quite inexpensive and a little troublesome.

Arrangement of a lightning rod on suburban area- an important condition for the safety of being on it during bad weather. Discharges electric current huge force in the presence of a lightning rod do not affect the structure of the house and other elements located in the protection zone. However, do not think that a lightning rod prevents lightning strikes. Everything is different. It becomes a conductor to divert the discharge from the house, diverting a current of up to 100 thousand amperes to the ground electrode.

Lightning device options

A classic lightning rod can be made in one of two versions: in the form of a single rod or a system of cables stretched between lightning rods. The first option is usually used to protect an individual house, while the second is to create a safe zone on the whole site. A cable lightning rod is also recommended for buildings that are of considerable length.

Components of a lightning rod

First of all, houses with a roof made of metal or metal tiles need lightning protection, since such options do not have grounding, therefore, during a thunderstorm, they accumulate electric charges on themselves.

In case of metal roof without an insulating layer, having a coating thickness for iron - 4 mm, for copper - 5 mm or for aluminum - 7 mm, a simplified lightning rod device is possible, when its surface takes on the role of a lightning rod. In this case, every 20 meters of the roof is grounded. Here it is necessary to take into account the quality of the roof, because if there are any gaps, then the desired effect from such a lightning rod will not be.

In other cases, the lightning rod should consist of the following elements:

• lightning rod (1) in the form of a thin electrode or a system of electrodes installed above the house at a certain height;
• down conductor (2) - cable connecting the receiver with grounding;
• grounding conductor (3), leading the current to the ground.

Lightning rod

The element in which lightning strikes in the presence of a lightning rod is a lightning rod. It is usually performed in the form of a rod made of steel, copper or other material with similar conductivity. No need to cover it with paint or varnish to avoid corrosion, otherwise it will lose the desired properties.

Cross-sectional area: for steel - 50 square meters. mm, for copper - 35 sq. mm, for aluminum - 70 sq. mm.

You can install lightning rods with different sides or in the center of the roof. If several lightning rods are installed, they are connected to a common circuit closed to the ground electrode. The rod can be placed not only on the roof surface, but also on chimney or the nearest tall tree. The optimal height will be no more than 15 meters. If it is installed on a tree, then the fastening is done in such a way that the rod rises above the crown by at least 0.5 m and 10-15 cm above the house.

In addition to the rods, options for a protective mesh (reinforcement 6 mm thick) and a cable system are possible. The second method is more rational for a country house, since the cable is pulled at a height above the roof level, and the mesh is placed on the roof itself. A cable with a diameter of at least 5 mm is pulled along the roof ridge on the racks, after which it is lowered down, where it is connected to the ground electrode. Thus, it performs both the function of a lightning rod and a down conductor.

Separate parts of the structure can also be used as receivers ( drainpipes, metal railings). Their use is permitted if they have a larger section than is necessary for normal protection.

The down conductor is designed to connect the lightning rod and the ground electrode. It is made of aluminum or copper wire large section. For these purposes, a twisted wire is suitable, which is used for laying overhead lines power lines. The down conductor is fastened using terminal blocks, couplings or crimp tubes.

The distance between the lightning rod and the ground electrode must be minimal, so the wire is directed straight down. The number of down conductors depends on the area of ​​the house. For cottages with an area of ​​​​about 200 square meters. m, it is recommended to install 2 down conductors at a distance of approximately 20 m from each other.

It is fixed on a special pole or directly on the wall of the house using plastic fasteners. To protect the down conductor, you can isolate it from the effects environment using a cable channel.

grounding conductor

Since the grounding conductor is needed to divert the lightning discharge into the ground, it must have a small electrical resistance. For these purposes, both expensive materials such as copper, aluminum, brass and other stainless metals, as well as cheaper ordinary steel, are suitable. The grounding conductor must not have damage and traces of rust, as they can cause a decrease in the diameter of the rods due to the destruction of the metal.

For high-quality grounding, not one, but several rods can be used, which are immersed in the ground away from the paths and the roof, especially if it is made of flammable material. IN country conditions as a grounding conductor, you can also use any large metal object that is at hand: the back of old bed, cast iron bath, reinforcing mesh and the like.

The type of grounding depends on the parameters of the house and the characteristics of the soil. Dry soil is different low level ground water. In order for the current to reach wet soil, a vertical ground is necessary. The ground electrode in this case is made of two rods with a cross section of 100 mm and 2-3 m in height, driven in at a distance of 3-4 m from each other. The rods are interconnected by a wire, a cable (copper, aluminum) or tinned iron plates, to the center of which a down conductor is welded.

For wet soil, more high level groundwater, so you can not perform vertical grounding by replacing the rods with strip steel corners, water pipes or other similar metallic elements. A horizontal grounding conductor is laid to a depth of 1 m.

In this case, the role of a ground conductor can also be performed by a down conductor laid in the ground in such a way as to occupy the largest possible area of ​​​​contact with the soil. The connected structure can be in the form of a scallop (letter W) or a triangle. When fastening the wire, the use of manual twisting and pliers is unacceptable; only ordinary or cold welding is allowed.

The placement of the ground electrode must be given special attention. This should be a place remote from the house and paths, inaccessible to children and pets, preferably fenced. The minimum distance to the house must be at least 1 m.

Since water is an excellent conductor of electric current, it is better if the soil around the ground electrode is wet, then the discharges will quickly go into the ground without accumulating on the rod. Provide extra moisture can be done with the help of rainwater flow from the runoff from the roof or targeted irrigation of the soil.

For each building, it is necessary to calculate the lightning rod, since each configuration is able to provide a protective zone various sizes. The parameters of this zone can be calculated independently, taking into account the features and dimensions of the country house.

A single rod forms a protective zone, which is close in geometry to a cone having an angle at the top of approximately 45°. The top of this cone will be at the highest point of the lightning rod. In a cable-type lightning rod, the protection zone has a more complex geometry, in which the cable serves as a rib, and each rod forms its own cone.

Calculation of the protective zone of a single bar can be made using the following formula:

where R is the radius of the zone above the highest point of the house, h is the distance from the highest point of the house to the peak of the lightning rod.

The following calculation can be used to determine if a rod is high enough to protect a certain area at ground level. Let's say the height of the cone will be indicated h o, radius on the ground - R o, building height - h x, radius at the height of the building - Rx, rod height - h. Then, taking into account the height of the existing lightning rod and the height of the house, the unknown values ​​will be calculated by the formulas:

R x \u003d 1.5 * (h-h x / 0.92).

In practice, the calculations look like this: if the rod has a length of 10 m, then the radius of the protection zone on the ground will be 1.5 * 10 = 15 m, the rest of the parameters are calculated similarly.

To calculate the required length of the rod, you can use the same formulas, substituting in them the desired radius of the protective zone. In the case of a complex geometry of a lightning rod, it is necessary to draw a graphical model of the house and the lightning rod and calculate the protection zone geometrically.

The height of the lightning rod should not exceed 12 m, therefore, if it is not possible to meet these restrictions using a single rod, it is recommended to use several masts to expand the protective zone.

Installing a lightning rod

In order for the installation of the lightning rod to be carried out correctly, it is worth adhering to the following methodology:

1. Measure the height of the roof and determine its geometry. For clarity, draw a diagram by which you can determine the future protective zone.
2. Decide on the type of lightning rod. For square houses a single rod is sufficient; for long buildings, the use of a cable system is optimal.
3. Calculate the protection zone and determine desired height rod(s). The minimum cross section of the lightning rod should be related to its height in the proportion of 5 square meters. mm per meter.
4. Determine the mounting point of the lightning rod and fix it on the roof or wall.
5. Dig a hole for the earth electrode and place it at the desired depth.
6. Connect the ground electrode and the lightning rod together.
7. Check the lightning rod with a multimeter. Its resistance should not exceed 10 ohms.

You can also equip a lightning rod on a tree, which is 2.5 times higher than the house and is located at a distance of at least three meters from it. In this case, the lightning rod is mounted on a long metal pole, fixed on a tree with the help of clamps made of synthetic halyard. The connection to the grounding conductor is carried out with a wire of at least 5 mm in cross section.

Further operation

The installed lightning rod does not need special care. It only needs to be periodically checked for damage and the quality of metal connections. If the lightning rod has decreased in diameter or the joints have lost their integrity, then these elements need to be replaced. The location of the earth electrode must also be checked, and the earth around it must be kept moist.

Many private homeowners don't pay enough attention to protecting their property from lightning strikes until the rooster pecks. One of the reasons that prompts you to equip a lightning rod in a private house with your own hands is a lightning strike in the courtyard. And it’s good if it’s not a house, but some less important object.

Lightning rod: to do or not?

Physical deterioration of the power networks of the old residential sector, electrical installations in need of repair, operated in rural houses growing exponentially country buildings make the problem of lightning protection quite relevant. At the same time, the owner of any form of ownership must clearly understand that from a timely decision and its practical implementation depends on the lives of those close to him and those around him.

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

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

Types of lightning protection

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

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

Lightning rod: fundamental factors

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

It consists:

• from a lightning rod that takes over the force of the discharge,
• down conductor (descent) transporting it,
• ground electrode - "extinguishing" the discharge in the soil.

At the same time, the house should be lower in height than the lightning rod (the difference is about 200 cm), located in the immediate vicinity of it or even under the outlet. Too much high protection is also not desirable, otherwise it will attract lightning from all around.

Before you make a lightning rod, you need not only to think over its design features, but also to achieve maximum efficiency during operation. This can only be ensured by observing certain rules. Holding preliminary calculation lightning rod with the definition of the level of protection will allow you to collect the necessary set of tools, 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 ground. After all, lightning strikes first metal objects, structures of significant height and in direct contact with the ground.

One more milestone, which involves a lightning rod in a private house with your own hands: a diagram of its execution. It can be a hand-drawn drawing or a serious drawing with a visual image of conductors, a pin, a ground electrode, fasteners, etc. It should contain a description of each element, the method of fastening and the route along which the wire for the lightning rod is laid to the ground, the ground itself.

Versions

The lightning rod takes the blow on itself, therefore it must meet the increased requirements of reliability during operation.

• If it is a pivot, then the best material multi-profile rolled steel is used: water, gas pipes, metal rod. 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 from the upper end are welded or hermetically sealed with a cork. The most complete protection coverage area for cottages, summer cottages and private houses is observed at a height of the rod structure not exceeding 30 m.
• A rope (galvanized steel rope) can be used. Several of its threads are suspended horizontally above the house on free-standing supports. The ends of the ropes must be grounded. It is only necessary to choose the right place for hanging the stretched structure.
• The use of mesh protection from 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, a grid-like lightning rod, connected to the ground loop by several separate conductors, is considered the most effective, allowing for the maximum protection factor.
• The wire for a lightning rod as a current-removing element must be at least 6 mm in diameter (above-ground part). The same wire rod is used for these purposes. The piece of wire leaving the ground should not be thinner than 10 mm. In this underground section, a connection (welding, bolting) with a ground electrode is made.
• As a reliable ground, use a sheet of metal sprinkled with soil (1 m x 1 m) or metal pipe, a rod driven into the ground by at least 1.5-2.0 m. At the place where the grounding is arranged, there must always be moist soil - an effective conductor. Durable will be grounding from copper, stainless steel.

How can you protect your home from lightning strikes?

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

You can make a simple lightning rod like this:

• two opposite far points are selected on parallel gables of the roof;
• bars are vertically fixed in them so that their ends rise above the top point of the roof ridge by 25 cm, at least;
• a steel wire (5-6 mm in cross section) is stretched between the bars along the roof.
• a screw connection to the upper parts of the beam is attached to the main part of the metal with a height of 1.0-1.5 m of the lightning rod. It can consist of a steel corner, a pipe (ᴓ 50 sq. M.);
• the pipe for removing combustion products to the atmosphere is closed with a stainless steel lampshade, or with a twist of wire connected to a conductor.
• according to the scheme, optimal way down conductor is laid along outer 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 forbidden to adapt an existing household grounding under it.

Organization of lightning protection: how to do it right

An economical option for lightning protection is a simple vertically mounted rod. It must be located separately from the building on a pillar, a tall tree. The height of the installation directly affects the probability of a discharge entering the house: the higher the rod, the less likely it is.

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

Table Materials and minimum values ​​of the cross sections of the elements of the outer ISM

Protection	Material	Section, mm	Note
Natural lightning rod	iron 4 mm thick	*	galvanized/stainless steel
(tank shell, pipe)	copper 5 mm thick	*
	aluminum 7 mm thick	*
Special lightning rod	steel	50	galvanized/stainless steel
	copper	35
	aluminum	70
Tokovod	steel	50	galvanized/stainless steel
	copper	16
	aluminum	25
grounding conductor	steel	100	galvanized/stainless steel
	copper	50	cable
	aluminum	*	not applicable
equalizing conductor	iron	50	galvanized/stainless steel
	copper	16
	aluminum	25

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

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

At traditional way organization of a lightning rod, it is necessary to ensure that all conductive (metal) parts of the roof of the house are connected to the lightning protection. Roofing from metal flooring, if it is not thinner than 0.5 mm, it can serve as a kind of conductor.

In the case of an active set of measures to protect against electric shock, the pairing of all speakers metal parts no roof frame is required: the discharge follows the path of least length.

According to statistics, in last years natural disasters are on the rise. And if a tsunami or an earthquake cannot be avoided, then reducing the death and destruction from lightning strikes is within the reach of any of us. To carry out simple activities that do not require significant capital investments with appropriate training is within the power of everyone. It is only necessary to follow a strict algorithm for performing work, use reliable materials, and not neglect the requirements of standards.

Lightning is one of the most terrible enemies for a private house. Its destructive power is so great that you can lose your shelter in a matter of seconds. Of course, the case of a lightning strike into a house is not the most common cause property loss. Many are just lucky to have a home near lightning rods, power lines or high towers. However, as long as there is a danger of sudden and complete destruction of all property, it is hardly possible to live in peace.

The probability of lightning hitting a house increases many times if it is located on a hill or near water bodies. In such cases, the implementation of a lightning protection circuit at construction work necessarily. SNiP classifies all private buildings as third-class buildings. fire safety, which means that they are subject to lightning protection in without fail. As a rule, lightning protection is designed together with the house and installed during its construction.

How much lightning protection is needed for a private house

To properly build lightning protection, you need to know the nature of the occurrence of lightning. Due to the accumulation of a large electric charge in rain clouds, an impulse of enormous force occurs, in other words, a discharge of electric current through the highest point on the ground.

The current strength of an electric discharge during a lightning strike reaches 100 thousand amperes, and in some cases up to 200 thousand amperes. About 200 lightning strikes occur every second on the planet. Even if we consider that the probability of it getting into a particular house is not so great, it is still better to secure your home in advance and install a structure that protects the house from a lightning strike.

During the passage of an electrical discharge colossal thermal energy is released through the materials of the house, which causes fires and destruction. As you know, most of the suburban buildings are built from wooden materials, namely they are most at risk of rapid ignition.

Based on this, lightning protection of a house becomes an important and mandatory task during its construction. Moreover, regardless of the location of the residential building in the city or outside it and the types building materials used for its construction, lightning protection must be.

Principles of operation and types of lightning protection

Lightning protection for a private house can be of two types:

1. Active.
2. Passive.

Traditionally, the first type of protection is used - passive, which consists of a lightning rod, a current outlet and grounding. The principle of operation of such protection is very simple.. Lightning, striking the receiver, passes through the lightning rod, which directs the discharge to the ground. When designing any lightning protection system, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the material from which the roof is made, the roof structure and its features.

Active lightning protection works on a slightly different principle. The discharge of electric current is intercepted by a lightning rod, which creates an ionized field around itself, attracting lightning. Further, the principle of operation is identical to passive protection. At the same time, its active type acts within a radius of up to one hundred meters, while the passive one protects only the house itself.

Active lightning protection is the most preferable and it is installed in many countries to protect the house and the entire surrounding area. However, it has a high cost, which may not always be appropriate to install it.

Do-it-yourself lightning protection of a private house

You can ensure the safety of a residential building with the help of lightning protection made by yourself. The lightning rod circuit is quite simple, it's easy to do it yourself. Any such security system of a private house is based on the manufacture of a lightning rod from available building materials.

Any lightning rod has three main components, as shown in the diagram:

1. Lightning rod.
2. Down conductor.
3. Ground loop.

Lightning rods

A conductor made of metal, the task of which is to take over the electric discharge of lightning, is called a lightning rod. It is installed at the highest point of the roof, while on the roof, which has complex structure, install several such lightning rods.

By their own design features lightning rods can be of several types:

• metal pin;
• metal cable;
• metal grid.

metal pin

With this method of lightning protection at home, a metal pin is made, from 20 centimeters to one and a half meters long. It should be mounted on the highest point of the roof of a private house.

The material used is copper or galvanized steel due to its high resistance to oxidation. Such a pin can be of any shape. The cross-sectional area should not be less than 100 m2. If the pin has round shape, then its diameter must be at least 12 millimeters. The use of a hollow pipe is allowed, but in this case its diameter should be slightly larger, and the end facing upwards must be welded. How to protect your home from lightning suitable for any type metal roofing, including for metal tiles.

metal cable

A device with a metal cable is also quite simple to do with your own hands. The whole structure consists of a cable and a pair of supports that can be made of metal. However, in this case, they will have to be isolated.

A steel cable with a diameter of at least 12 mm is pulled along the roof ridge and fixed at the edges. The cable should be at a height of 1-2 meters from the roof ridge.

Metal grid

Lightning rod with receiver wire mesh is the most the best option tile roof protection.

When installing the grid, it is fixed along the roof ridge with branches from down conductors that have reliable grounding over the entire roof area.

All lightning rods on the roof must be connected to ladders, gutters and any other metal objects.

When next to a private house in the immediate vicinity grow large and tall trees, then you can use one of them as a lightning rod. To do this, the metal pin should be installed so that it is one and a half meters higher than the crown of the tree, and then connected to the down conductor. An important condition is the height of the tree- it should be 10–20 cm higher than the house.

Creation of a down conductor

Down conductor - one of the components of the lightning rod, responsible for the electric discharge wire from the lightning rod to the ground loop. It is made of steel wire with a diameter of at least 6 mm. One of its ends is welded to the base of the lightning rod, and the other to the ground loop. The quality of welding should be given special attention, in order to avoid breakage at the attachment point. The current that passes through the down conductor can reach 200,000 amperes.

It is necessary to fix the down conductor along the contour of the roof and the house with the help of insulators at a distance of 2–3 cm from the roof and walls . If there are several down conductors, then the distance between them should be at least 25 meters.

Do not fasten the wire near the doors and doorways. When installing, avoid sharp bends and places where it can be damaged by snow or debris. The down conductor should be as short as possible, and it should be located in places where there is the greatest risk of lightning strikes: on sharp ledges, edges of gables, etc.

Grounding the lightning rod

The ground loop completes any design of a lightning protection device. Its task is to ensure reliable contact of the entire device with the ground. Externally, the design looks like three large electrodes that are interconnected and recessed into the ground.

To assemble the device responsible for grounding, you will need steel with a cross section of 80 m2 or copper with a cross section of 50 m2. In a trench dug in advance, about one meter deep and 3 meters wide, two metal rods made of copper or steel should be driven in along the edges. Then they are interconnected by welding and a down conductor from the house is welded to them. The entire structure is driven to the ground into the ground.

When assembling the grounding device, remember that it must be located no closer than five meters from doors or windows, walkways, porches and paths. Distance from the walls of the house must be at least one meter.

Lightning protection care

Every year before the start of the thunderstorm season, special attention should be paid to the preventive inspection of lightning protection at home. All components of the lightning rod and attachment points must be inspected, if necessary, painted or repaired.

Every three years, a major inspection of the entire system should be carried out. Check the connection points of the down conductor and the ground loop, clean and tighten the contacts there. Faulty clamps - replace.

Every five years, the ground loop electrodes are inspected. To do this, they must be removed from the ground and carefully checked for corrosion. If, for its reason, the cross section of the electrodes has decreased by more than a third, then they should be replaced.