Need help with lightning rods

[rwand1]

The older lightening rod systems, at least in my area used braided copper cable. Don't see many anymore. Does anyone know why it would be braided? Something to do with disappating heat?

Lightening rods and glass bulbs, some where hand painted are collectors items. Most farm houses had white glass balls. I believe decorative not functional.

[bkelly1]

You still use the braided on many properly installed commercial applications. I beleive you are right , it is for disippating heat.

[Greg Fretwell]

This is because if the skin effect. High frequency current tends to flow down the skin of the wire. Fine stranded, braided wire has more skin.

[rwand1]

That copper would be quite expensive. I hate to think how much of it is burried on the farm so to speak.. Good explanations thanks!

[bkelly1]

We wired an airport about five years ago. 10ft, 3/4 ground rods everywhere. Lighting wire in the ground for MILES! The most expensive thing on the job was the lightning protection. MAny areas had "10ft triangles " with the ground rods also.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_...nsfer_opp.html

Read this and be like me more confused then ever.

Roy cooke
Royshomeinspection.com