Lightning conductor

[D Barry]

I've been asked to fit a lightning conductor to a mature lime tree, apparently its been hit three times already. Does anyone have any ideas? I've never heard of it being done before....

[nepia]

If it's to protect the lime tree wouldn't it be better attached to something else nearby?

[D Barry]

maybe, I haven't seen it, but am told its the highest thing around by about 10 mtrs, tbh I'm not sure it will do any good. and yes it is to protect the tree.

[Matthew Arnold]

It sounds a bit pointless as the lightning would only follow that path and you would damage the tree further by nailing the copper to the tree. Plus it would make the tree more suseptible to lightning strikes. The only way you would be able to prevent the tree being struck is have a big metal scaffold type thing with guy ropes about 25 metres away.

[Ian Leach]

Here you go it explains abit about lightening strikes and conductors you can use, doesn't stop the tree from getting struck but diverts lightening down a more direct route.

 

Arboricultural Information Excha

[treequip]

The only way you would be able to prevent the tree being struck is have a big metal scaffold type thing with guy ropes about 25 metres away.

 

The idea isn’t to stop the tree/structure getting struck, we are accepting that as a given. What the conductor does is, well it conducts the voltage to earth, without damaging the principal object. (Often sacrificing itself in the process).

[Steve Bullman]

I've been asked to fit a lightning conductor to a mature lime tree, apparently its been hit three times already. Does anyone have any ideas? I've never heard of it being done before....

 

we all know lightning conductors are a good thing, properly installed can prevent specimen trees being damaged by lightning........

 

but surely the more important question here would be, if the tree has already been hit 3 times, is it even structurally sound anymore?

[Mark Bolam]

Good point Steve.

 

I would have a leisurely climb to the top, maybe have a beer and a spliff, descend whilst unspooling a reel of copper wire, and whack in a bill for £1500.

Job done.

 

Seriously, it sounds like an interesting spec. Can you get pics?

[nepia]

Here you go it explains abit about lightening strikes and conductors you can use, doesn't stop the tree from getting struck but diverts lightening down a more direct route.

 

Arboricultural Information Excha

 

That's fantastic info - thanks. A relative has a ?200-year old Western Red that took a big strike some years ago and I'm sure he'd be keen to take any reasonable preventative measures, especially as he's lost two large cedars to lightning and knows of other similar events in the same garden.

 

Cheers,

 

Jon

[PeteB]

A Steve says, if it has been struck before, it surely will have visual damage and therefore structural failures so is it really worth chucking a conductor down it rather than a saw through it?