Cleaning up lightning rods
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: USA
Posts: 42
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
Cleaning up lightning rods
I was wondering if you should polish up the old lightning rods or if the corrosion really matters as far as protection goes? I'm finishing up collecting the lightning rods and globes for my house to have installed along with my new roof and wanted to make sure they are still functional despite the corrosion on them.
#2
You did not say what the rods are made of so it's hard to offer specific advice as far as cleaning them up. But, a bit of corrosion isn't going to slow down lightening. They will still function as long as they have a good connection to their bonding/grounding wire and even if they don't have a good connection lightening will still blast through.
#4
Did you check with the installers ?
They are very specific and demanding with their requirements.
They are very specific and demanding with their requirements.
#6
So that's what the power company guys are doing when they all park under some shade trees - getting their polishing equipment ready 
Seriously, copper is going to oxidize. I would clean up the connection points prior to installation. As PD stated as long as all the connections are tight and it has a good ground, lightning doesn't care if it's shiny.

Seriously, copper is going to oxidize. I would clean up the connection points prior to installation. As PD stated as long as all the connections are tight and it has a good ground, lightning doesn't care if it's shiny.