Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 268, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1918 — LIGHTNING RODS [ARTICLE]

LIGHTNING RODS

Weather Bureau Qfvea Specification For installing Protective Osvicee on Farm Buildings, | lightning rode, according to O* Weather Bureau of the United State* Department of Agriculture, are worth while tor much more than just to make fearful folk* feel couuortabie j Jut ing a thunderstorm. It goes on to say that with good lightning-rod installation they not only feel but ate more secure, and that protect hat against lightning is general thoroughiy Justified for farm buildings. In a bulletin just published the gopartment gives specifications tor tostalling lightning rods. These specifications are meant not so much to eu* able the householder to construct hip own protective system as to make ft ’ possible tor him to understand and Inspect adequately the work of tnstalhv tlon aa done by an expert Copper-cable Installation Is reoom mended aa the best, but it costs the most Competitive bids should be secured if the installation is to he am tensive. , ▲ few of the main point to be considered are; Conductors should be installed in straight tuna, and when bends are necessary they should, if practicable, not be abrupt Changes of direction should preferably be made in large radius curves—that is on curves with a radius of a toot or more. Insulators should not be employed, because a good electrical connect ion with the wet roof and walls of a building helps to conduct the discharge to the ground harmlessly. Along ridges and flat roofs the aerials, or upward .pointing conductors, should be net more than 25 feet feet apart; steeples and towers, because of their prominence, should be given extra protection. / The meet important rad* of the work is the grounding dftthe conductors, or their electrical connection to permanently moist earth. Ample metal plates, or pipes, etc., are buried in the earth and permanently and thoroughly to the conductors on the building, and this metal in the ground should be of a noncorroaive type, such as copper, bronze or aluminum. Steel towers, such aa those which support windmills, do not require special protection, aa a rule, because they are constructed of metal and ate wellgrounded through the pump. Deeprooted trees are some protection to buildings near which they grow; on the other hand, it is recommended that especially valuable large trees might will be rodded.