By 
Have you ever wondered how humanity learned that lightning is a form of electricity?
It was the 18th century, fires all around caused by the lightnings and one man was looking for the answer Benjamin Franklin. So in a thunderstorm, ungodly Benjamin Franklin flew a kite, obviously with a metal key attached to the rope. Once the storm passed he saw sparks jumping from the key to his hand showing that, yes, lightning is a form of electricity. It was a giant step towards science but a dangerous one, and it made a fundamental finding: Fires and structural damage caused by lightning strikes could endanger lives and property during thunderstorms.
It wasn’t just the discovery that Franklin built upon. His solution was the lightning rod a simple yet brilliant device. By inserting a pointed metallic stick on top of a building, connecting it to a conductor and leading it to the ground, the lightning rod safely led lightning strikes into earth. Needless to say, this invention has prevented endless lives as well as buildings from being destroyed.
This was the enhanced lightning rod that Franklin invented in many ways and what
helped to build the modern lightning protection systems. His work is still now, even then,
a legacy to safety and science.
The Limitations of Benjamin Franklin’s Lightning Rod: What It Couldn’t Do
- Less effective: The design used by Franklin was less efficient because it was only ever a single point, so a lightning rod limited to that design must point up to attract lightning from different angles, losing effectiveness in areas with frequent lightning strikes.
- Corrosion Problems: Rods made from iron or steel in the early days would also decay over time and lose their ability to safely ground electricity into the earth.
- Grounding Issues: Although lightning rods were supposed to provide a path for electricity into the ground, the grounding system wasn’t always as sophisticated as today’s systems, sometimes causing inadequate protection.
- Safety Issues: There were no safety measures in the early rods. Electrical surges could lead to fires or other damages, should installation be done incorrectly, or should there be any defects.
- Not Good Enough For Modern Buildings: Franklin’s rod was only fit for basic structures and was not appropriate for any tall building or complex modern electrical system without major modifications
From Weakness to Strength: Ashlok’s Innovations Solve What Franklin Left Behind
Ashlok Franklyn Lightning Rod
Ashlok Franklyn Lightning Rod is the one who developed the initial single-point lightning rod, while Ashlok’s Franklyn Penta has a multi-spiked air terminal that increases the capacity to capture lightning from different directions. It is implemented in such a way to provide better protection in at locations with moderate or severe thunderstorm activity.Also, though copper is very conductive, making Ashlok’s design even more efficient to transfer lightning current to the ground. Unlike Franklin’s iron or steel rods that are prone to corrosion,Franklyn Lightning Rod, made of corrosion-resistant materials, will last many lifetimes.
Ashlok Zeus® Safe Lightning Protection Rod
Ashlok Zeus lightning protection Rod offering one primary air terminal with four secondary terminals, thus allowing the capture of lightning from all directions as well as side flashes. More reliable protection
and safety than Franklin’s basic design due to the broader protection range and increased energy conductive of the Zeus system, meaning the protection mechanism provides protection for a larger area than typical systems.
Ashlok’s Air Terminal
Ashlok’s Air Terminal takes it a step further by using compact and highly conductive
materials and advanced coatings for long-lasting durability. Whereas Franklin designed
for simple basic interception, Ashlok Air Terminal is constructed optimally to capture the
lightning and integrate to very sophisticated and robust grounding systems for
synchronized trouble free operation over decades. This more contemporary design is
suitable to different types of structures, and can respond more effectively to
environmental challenges compared to Franklin’s original design.
From Tradition to Innovation with Ashlok
Ashlok is the leader in lightning protection solutions with traditional lightning rods and newer technology with advanced ESE systems for contemporary buildings. Be it with decades-tested legacy or fresh-out-of-the-box solution, Ashlok continues to shield structures far and wide.
At Ashlok, you can count on us to provide you industry-leading solutions that meet correct, precise as per your requirements. Protect your infrastructure today by using our proprietary lightning protection systems.