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Testing Lightning Conductors and Earth Electrodes.

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I am just curious. A local church is having its lightning protection system inspected and tested any A.N. Other. It is an old Norman church with a tall tower.


The downleads are copper and have no disconnection points above the earth electrodes. I have seen inspection joints on other buildings so that the earth electrodes can be independently electrically tested.


How is testing carried out when the downleads are continuous please?


Thanks in advance.


Z.

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    I have previously been responsible for organising the inspections of the lightning conductor at our local church of a similar vintage and also with a tall tower though due to work commitments I have never managed to witness the work. From what I understand they put one reference electrode in the earth near, but separated from, the lightning conductor electrode. As the lightning conductor is electrically separate from other conductors the downleads do not affect the measurement so it does not matter if you disconnect them or not as they do not give an alternative electrical path.. The only advantage to having a disconnection point is that it makes it easier to replace the downlead or (as is more likely to be the case) the earth electrode.

    If you have any queries I would suggest talking to the person carrying out the testing. It is quite specialised and uses specific testing equipment so the person testing should be able to explain things - and if they can't then perhaps they are not the right person to do the job.

    Alasdair
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  • 0
    I have previously been responsible for organising the inspections of the lightning conductor at our local church of a similar vintage and also with a tall tower though due to work commitments I have never managed to witness the work. From what I understand they put one reference electrode in the earth near, but separated from, the lightning conductor electrode. As the lightning conductor is electrically separate from other conductors the downleads do not affect the measurement so it does not matter if you disconnect them or not as they do not give an alternative electrical path.. The only advantage to having a disconnection point is that it makes it easier to replace the downlead or (as is more likely to be the case) the earth electrode.

    If you have any queries I would suggest talking to the person carrying out the testing. It is quite specialised and uses specific testing equipment so the person testing should be able to explain things - and if they can't then perhaps they are not the right person to do the job.

    Alasdair
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