Lightning Protection Systems – Tips You Need to Know

Lightning protection is protection systems alltech essential for those that live or work in areas that are prone to electrical storms. Lightning is the fastest growing source of damage to electrical systems in North America and is responsible for thousands of injuries each year. Because lightning is considered to be unpredictable, it’s important that we take every step we can to protect ourselves and our property from it. Luckily, there are some simple lightning protection methods you can use to lessen the chance of being struck by lightning.

Air Terminals – Using air terminals is one of the simplest means of lightning protection. An air terminal is simply a terminal that is designed to take the electricity from the wall outlet and route it to a ground-based surge protector. Since an air terminal only consists of two parts, it is incredibly easy to install and can be found in just about any home or building. The two parts include the hardware itself, which includes the mounting bracket and the surge protector, as well as the protective housing which house the conductor that connects to the electric current. Since an air terminal only has to have one piece, they are often more affordable options for those who don’t want to spend a fortune on their protection.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters – A ground fault circuit interrupter system or GFCI is an excellent choice for lightning protection systems because it works so well. A GFCI produces a far-field alternating current (AC) through the use of copper conductors. These copper conductors have both positive and negative poles, so they cancel each other out when exposed to an electrical surge. These systems are very commonly installed by certified electricians as they don’t require extensive wiring and installation. However, since GFCI systems are not UL approved, you should still do a good amount of research before purchasing one.