Rating of the best lightning protection and grounding kits for a country house

Lightning protection and grounding for a country house are designed to perform two important functions - to ensure electrical safety and to ensure the normal operation of electrical equipment in a home. Grounding is triggered when a leakage current appears - at this time a residual current device (RCD) is working, and due to this, the risk of fire hazardous manifestations of electric current (short circuit) is reduced, and the threat of human shock is minimized.

At dachas and in country houses, grounding must be done without fail. This is especially true if the structures on the site are made of combustible materials - wood or prefabricated frames. The cause of a fire can be a banal thunderstorm, the lightning of which can be attracted by many elements located in the summer cottages. These include wells, pipelines (external or buried to a minimum depth), various wells. If lightning protection and grounding are absent, then any discharge hitting the site will immediately equal the indispensable occurrence of a fire.

Typical lightning protection consists of:

• Lightning receiver (lightning rod) - located at the highest point of the summer cottage area;
• Down conductor - it plays the role of a connector between the grounding device and the lightning rod;
• Earthing switch - a device that provides a discharge drain to the ground.

Operating principles of individual lightning protection elements

Lightning rod

Due to the fact that in the old days people often associated the occurrence of lightning with thunder, this device was popularly called a lightning rod. In fact, such a security element is a conventional antenna. Its main task is to carry out the induction of current when a voltage of static electricity occurs in the atmosphere at the very closest distance from itself. The greater the distance the antenna can cover, the more effectively the entire protection complex will work. In this case, it is worthwhile to clearly understand that the lightning rod is the element that attracts lightning to itself, and does not drive it away. And there is nothing wrong with that: first, you need to catch the lightning, and then take it to a safe place.

Lightning rod

This protection element has a rather simple task: it just connects the captured energy of the lightning discharge with the ground potential, thereby discharging the lightning rod. On the path established by him, the current will pass by the structure, albeit in sufficient proximity. However, the proximity to the house will not play any role, because the current will follow a route clearly specified by the lightning rod directly into the ground.

Ground loop

This is the third element of protection and it fully interacts with the previous one without touching the antenna. Simply put, it will ensure contact of the discharge current received from the lightning rod with the ground and extinguish it. When arranging the circuit, it is necessary to observe all the principles of electrical resistance established by the elementary physical laws of Ohm. The circuit must not only be correctly mounted, but also subjected to periodic checks, making measurements with special laboratory instruments. In this case, you should not neglect qualified assistance during its installation - a home-made structure in the form of a scrap metal scrapped carelessly somewhere or a sheet of metal buried in the ground will not help in a dangerous situation.

Modular pin grounding

This is the correct name for the most common and most reliable option for lightning protection for a country house. The set of such protection includes the following elements:

• Copper-plated ground rods - these are set into the ground in a sequential burial and connection, thereby creating a single module structure;
• Couplings made of brass, provided with an internal thread - they are installed on the upper part of the rods (by screwing onto the upper end) and also connect them to each other;
• Sharp earthing steel lug - mounts on the bottom of the first bearing rod and provides more convenient and easy penetration;
• Impact-receiving head made of steel - is located on the top of the first rod and must protect it from physical damage;
• Grounding clamp - is a brass strip or rod that diagonally connects the end of the rod to the conductor;
• Conductive paste - the joints between the rod and the sleeve are coated with it to prevent corrosion (after all, the module will often work in the rain);
• Insulation tape - Wrapped over the conductor-to-rod connection, providing some sealing.

Correct installation of the modular pin system

If you install the lightning protection system in the traditional way, then it will require some labor-intensive earthwork. Among other things, a fairly large area is required for the contact of the pins with the ground, which is necessary for the most uniform dispersion of the trapped current. Moreover, the production of welding works will be required, since otherwise, the grounding elements cannot be connected.

For the modular pin system, special conditions are not required: no large area is needed, no welding is needed, no emergency ground work is needed - the system is mounted on the principles of compactness and versatility. Indeed, this grounding is the most advanced and modern.

Installation procedure:

• Determine a place for grounding, stepping back at least one meter from the foundation of the structure to be protected;
• Dig a small trench around the protected structure - it will be necessary to install one or more grounding centers (recommended depth 50 - 70 cm);
• Connect the parts of the pins to each other using couplings, grease the connection points with conductive paste, wrap with insulating tape to protect the terminal of the grounding element;
• Drive in grounding rods to a depth of 40 cm (possibly using a hammer drill);
• Connect the entire system to the module by connecting the protected structure using a horizontal conductor (an ordinary galvanized strip with dimensions 40x4 mm will do).

The entire installed system will provide reliable protection, thanks to the location of the electrodes at the set depth, showing a consistently low resistance throughout the calendar year. After 12 months of module operation, it is recommended to make laboratory measurements of resistance stability.

Important! In this system, the lightning rod can be fixed both in the ground and on the roof of the protected structure - this is what distinguishes the modular-pin system from the classical one. It is also possible to install the antenna on small concrete elevations located directly on the site.

Electrolytic grounding

Such grounding is used in certain areas of the world where the soil has a high resistivity. This includes regions with permafrost, sandy or rocky soil. To ensure reliable protection of human life and health, the resistance for this grounding should not exceed 30 ohms. It is these indicators in these soil options that electrolytic grounding can achieve.

Its main advantages:

• The system has a compact size, its installation is convenient and simple;
• It is possible to mount it yourself, without any special electrical training and without resorting to the services of specialists;
• Due to the special mineral mixture inside the electrode, the required concentration of electrolytes in the soil is maintained for a rather long time;
• The mixture is poured into the electrode once every fifteen years;
• The saline solution resulting from the interaction of the mixture with the soil is absolutely safe in relation to the electrode body;
• The creation of electrolytic grounding does not entail any special excavation work and does not require special permits.

The only drawback of such a system is its high cost and limited scope.

Lightning protection, portable

During outdoor events or long-term residence of people in an area subject to frequent thunderstorms, their temporary homes must be protected from lightning by means of mobile protection systems. They are set taking into account the perceived risks.

Most of these systems are quickly deployable, compact and designed not only to protect temporary homes, but also to ensure the safety of specific equipment (for example, various gas and oil production plants). The entire system is always transported in the factory case.

Portable lightning protection is a conventional air-termination antenna, which is supported by anchor cables. Often, in mobile lightning protection, special thunderstorm dispersion devices are used, which look like a hollow mushroom cap and are attached to the top of the lightning rod. Due to the use of this technology, the protected object, as it were, becomes invisible to a thunderstorm.

For the stability of the antenna base, special plastic blocks can be used (water is poured into them to securely fix the air terminal. Thus, it can withstand wind gusts up to 36 km / h).

The total weight of the entire kit reaches about 100 kg, the deployment time by two people is about 30 minutes. The maximum antenna height can vary from 3 to 11 meters. Most of the kits of portable protection are universal in nature and can be used in completely different environmental conditions - from hot desert to cold seas.

Rating of the best lightning protection and grounding kits for a country house

Modular pin kits

3rd place: EZETEK EZ-4.8

The set is intended for the organization of modular type lightning protection of various residential buildings, power facilities, communication points. Depending on the type of soil where the module will be mounted, it is possible to effectively protect private houses, gas boilers in suburban areas and provide the most effective grounding.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Execution material	Copper plated steel
Rod diameter, mm	16
Number of rods, pcs	4
Rod length, m	1.2
Grounding centers, pcs	4
Weight, kg	9.7
Rotary hammer attachment	not
Price, rubles	7900

• Light weight;
• Low price;
• Increased bar diameter

• Limited area of ​​application (suitable for ultra small objects)

2nd place: EZETEK EZ-25.2

This kit is distinguished by the high resistance of the copper coating. Installation does not require large areas for excavation work (it may well be located in the basement). The case is resistant to external damage.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Execution material	Copper plated steel
Rod diameter, mm	16
Number of rods, pcs	21
Rod length, m	1.2
Grounding centers, pcs	3
Weight, kg	46
Rotary hammer attachment	there is
Price, rubles	38800

• Service life - up to 100 years;
• Installation is possible by one person;
• Consistently low current spread regardless of the season.

• Great weight.

1st place: ZANDZ ZZ-200-001

A full-size kit for complete protection of a country house from a major Russian manufacturer. Designed to protect structures made of combustible materials. The kit includes all possible devices provided for by the guidelines for lightning protection 34.21.122-87.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Execution material	Copper plated steel
Rod diameter, mm	22
Number of rods, pcs	40
Rod length, m	1.5
Grounding centers, pcs	8
Weight, kg	76
Rotary hammer attachment	there is
Price, rubles	98800

• Wide coverage area;
• The lightning rod can be installed directly on the site;
• Larger bar diameter.

• High price.

Electrolytic grounding

3rd place: Center for lightning protection CMZ-2.5

The kit is designed for grounding electrical installations in soils containing high resistivity: dry sands, rocks, permafrost. Also extremely effective on sites with limited ground loop area. It is possible to connect to other electrodes and connect to the GSP.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Electrode type	Horizontal
Quantity and length, pcs and m	1 and 2.5
Well material, quantity, pcs	Plastic, 3
Soil activator	Mineral mixture
Insulating tape, length, m	3
Earthing clamp	Cruciform strip
Price, rubles	37700

• Relatively low price;
• Possibility to be included in another system;
• The use of reinforced plastic in the construction.

• Horizontal mounting method.

2nd place: EZETEK EZ-2,5 B

This grounding is intended to ensure the safety of energy facilities on stony soils and rocks. Provides effective drainage of currents to the ground regardless of the season. Guaranteed 50 years of trouble-free operation. Operation in conjunction with an air terminal antenna is possible.

Name	Index
Dimensions LxWxH, mm	2620x70x70
Electrode diameter, mm	60.3
Electrode length, m	2.5
Weight, kg	118.7
Execution material	Stainless steel
Functional	Electrolytic grounding
Number of sections, pcs	1
Electrode section length, m	2.5
Grounding centers, pcs	1
Price, rubles	45000

• Larger electrode diameter;
• The well is made of steel;
• Increased section length.

• Short service life - 50 years (standard should be 100 years).

1st place: BOLTA Z2-5 G

A versatile kit that has earned its popularity due to its large coverage and ease of installation and maintenance. It can be used both for domestic needs and for industrial facilities. A high-tech filler is used in the composition of the electrode, which always maintains the leaching level evenly, despite the weather conditions. Over time, the concentration of electrolyte in the soil will not only be maintained, but will also increase, which means an increase in electrical conductivity, and hence a decrease in risks for the protected object in terms of electrical safety.

Item name	Number of pieces
Horizontal earthing switch made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel, in the form of the letter "L" h = 500mm, L = 3000mm	3
Testing and measuring electrolytic grounding well, plastic h = 400mm, d = 310mm	1
Soil activator (bag), 30 kg	15
Electrolytic mixture (bag), 15 kg	2
Grounding clamp rod - cross-shaped strip / rod, stainless steel	1
Insulating tape, 100 mm х 2000 mm	1
Price, rubles	105000

• Ease of installation;
• Large coverage of the territory;
• Long service life (over 100 years);
• The mineral mixture does not contain substances harmful to humans.

• Extremely high price.

Portable lightning protection

1st Place: StrikeMaster PLP-38-MOB

This folding mobile complex is designed for quick deployment of a lightning protection installation in the field. Suitable for both the protection of temporary residential buildings and industrial power plants. The installation is equipped with lightning isolation technology.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	USA
Thunderstorm dissipation technology	There is
Height, m	11.3
Base width, m	3.3
Total weight, kg	123
Weight of empty plastic blocks, kg	11.4
Price, rubles	1 500 000

• Mobility;
• Assembly speed (no more than 0.5 hours);
• Availability of green anti-threat technology.

• Purchase is possible only from the manufacturer (there are no dealers in the Russian Federation);
• Very high price.

Instead of an epilogue

The analysis of the lightning protection equipment market shows that the domestic manufacturer is extremely successful in this field. Russian enterprises offer multiple variations of various kits for every taste and budget. However, there are only four Russian large manufacturers: Ezetek, Bolta, Zands, Center for Lightning Protection, and they do not produce mobile kits at all. Thus, you can buy portable lightning protection only directly from a foreign manufacturer. For the rest of the models, we can safely say that an extensive dealer network will make the purchase quite simple and affordable.