[epowell]

Hi Everyone

I am seeking advice regarding the DIY LIGHTNING ROD system system design and installation.

I am certain I have the skills, experience, and tools to tackle the job, but would like to confirm with people who really know the subject - that my own understanding and plans are correct - before I actually buy materials and begin the work.

It is a very very very large house (200 years old brick building in Czech Rep.). We had a roofing company install a new aluminum roof, and they removed the original RODS and CABLES and told us we'd have to get another company to install new equipment.

My current plan is to attach tall copper rods to two of the chimneys, then run well insulated thick copper cable thru the roof into the attic. Run the cable along the attic beams to the roof eave - thru the wall to the outside - then down to the ground to re-connect with the original rod going into the ground.

Can anyone offer some feedback and advice. Thanks so much in advance.


Thanks
Edward

 

[bob22]

I saw it done on tv once and my recollection is bare copper (may have been braided for flexibility) that ran to ground in shortest distance possible. I would not run it inside my house.
Good luck and be careful up high.

 

[epowell]

I saw it done on tv once and my recollection is bare copper (may have been braided for flexibility) that ran to ground in shortest distance possible. I would not run it inside my house.
Good luck and be careful up high.

Thanks!
It also seems strange to me to run the cable inside the attic, but I saw a good YT vid with some professionals, and they were doing just that.... so?

The main reason I think that would be good would be because the house is very very very tall, and dangerous to be on the roof. Also the roof is aluminum so I wouldn't want a copper wire running on that.

 

[hlopez77]

I pretty sure you need to bond your copper roof .

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

 

[ratherbefishing]

Why not run the cable straight down the outside of the chimney? It seems like driving in new ground rods would be less work than running the cable through the attic. You'd use less copper cable. No roof penetration. And the cable would be secured to a fire-resistant material.

 

[epowell]

Why not run the cable straight down the outside of the chimney? It seems like driving in new ground rods would be less work than running the cable through the attic. You'd use less copper cable. No roof penetration. And the cable would be secured to a fire-resistant material.

Actually, you are completely right. putting a ROD at each end of the roof and running straight into the ground would be the way to go --- the only problem with this way is that the roof is extremely high - way too high for a ladder.

So we would have to rent one of those elevator trucks.

My idea to run the wire INSIDE the attic would mean that we would not have to rent any special expensive equipment.

 

[daveb1]

You seem determined to run the cable inside your house.

There is no way I would want to introduce that kind of voltage inside my home. Lightning has a way of going wherever it feels like it, whenever it feels like it. It may burst out of the cable just because it doesn't want to follow the curve you placed in the cable, or the staple you placed on the cable, or the slightest nick in the insulation.

Rent the bucket truck and keep the lightning outside your home.

 

[epowell]

You seem determined to run the cable inside your house.

There is no way I would want to introduce that kind of voltage inside my home. Lightning has a way of going wherever it feels like it, whenever it feels like it. It may burst out of the cable just because it doesn't want to follow the curve you placed in the cable, or the staple you placed on the cable, or the slightest nick in the insulation.

Rent the bucket truck and keep the lightning outside your home.

I agree, I think you are right - but as I stated, the code requires 1 ROD every 15meters, and the house is 27meters long so I'm not sure if that would qualify.

Another possibility would be to run scaffolding up the side of the house. We actually have some scaffolding... that would be a hell of a job, but possible.

 

[joed]

If you can't get on the roof to install the cable how do you intend to install the rods?

 

[epowell]

If you can't get on the roof to install the cable how do you intend to install the rods?

I actually CAN get onto the roof. There are 2 little 'roof-access' skylights on the roof which I can access from the attic. I feel comfortable enough to move myself along the top (ridge) of the roof, but since the roof is SO HIGH, I'm not sure I'd want to have to go all over the roof -- it is very steep.

However, having said that the guys who put the new roof on were constantly walking all around the roof without even safety lines!! ....bit too risky for me.

But yes I do have a certain amount of roof access. In my initial plan of running the cables thru the attic, I could install the RODS on the chimneys without having to stray from those 2 small skylights.

See fotos here that I took 10 years ago before we had the old side of the roof replaced with aluminum.