redd1981 Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Has anyone ever done this?A friend of recently moved into a new house on the river and he sent me an e-mail saying they needed a new lightning rod for the house. I havent responded because Im not sure of the safety issues, specifications, or even codes or laws regarding things of that nature.I guess I need to ask him if he actually needs a functioning lightning rod or if he is referring to a decorative weather vane for the roof.Any thoughts or suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 My thought would be to start with a copper clad grounding stake and creat decritive eliments to dressi ti up. Might consider sliping a peice of pvc or cmpvc pipe between it and any steel, as even tho the rod is steel cored galvanic action could still be an issue, use a brass lug to conect the existing grounding lug. A fast google for lightning rods and building codes should clear up the exact requirments. This certainly could be one if thise things that need to be certified, so decritive eliments added to the approved rod would be the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redd1981 Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 thanks I was thinking the same thing.the decorative part would be the only part I would feel comfortable doing and even then Im so new at this I wouldnt even know where to start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Google images lightning rod, or imental lightning rod, etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Most of the ones I have seen were solid copper.Drive the coated grounding rod into the ground beneath the gable end then connect it with bare copper wire to the "rod". There should be a rod on every gable end for good measure.The rod itself need only be 6" long or so. A shape like the Washington Monument is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Depending on what size you need, I have access to copper rods at affordable prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 We have had this argument before, I suggest you google building codes, and licensing, this thread is now closed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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