People should install lightning arresters on houses to avoid being struck

HOMES|LIGHTNING

Andrew Kiwewa, a retired meteorological expert says your home is supposed to be the safest place during rough weather.

"To have a safe home, people should install lightning arresters on their houses to avoid being struck. A lightning arrester provides protection by routing the excess electricity away from the system into the ground, where it dissolves without doing any harm", he says.

According to Kiwewa, meteorologists warn people to seek shelter indoors during thunderstorms and stay away from windows.

According to the World Meteorological Organisation , Uganda has one of the highest rates of lightning strike deaths in the world. The organisation says Uganda experiences 75% lightning cases.

Kiwewa says a thunderbolt can be deadly. According to experts at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a single lightning strike can pack millions of volts of electricity.

The temperature of a lightning bolt is 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit or four times the temperature on the sun's surface and this has the potential to destroy even the strongest building. Most forest fires in the US are caused by lightning.

Kiwewa also says regardless of the location, every house can be struck, although houses on flat plains are more susceptible.

Rita Nabatanzi, an electrical engineer in Wakiso, says it is risky living in a house with no lightning proof.

Touching anything connected to electricity, especially computers and landline telephones (cordless phones and cellular phones are considered safe) during stormy rains increases one's chances of being struck.

According to Nabatanzi if your house is not lightning-proofed, it is advisable to keep these gadgets off until the weather calms down.

How you may deal with lightning

Nabatanzi says a lightning arrester includes components attached to the electrical system with leads that reach the ground. One of its terminals is designed to handle very high voltage, while the other is connected to the ground.

According to Nabatanzi, whoever wants to install one he or she needs an experienced electrician to ensure it is fitted correctly. "Poor installation and maintenance may create a safety risk".

She says to install it, one needs a copper mart, lightning rod and copper tape, charcoal dust and salt. "People must know that the lightning rod plays the most important role on protecting the house", she advises.

The rod provides a pathway for the current to be safely directed to the ground. Lightning rods come in varying sizes and shapes, but Nabatanzi advises that one should choose pure copper because of its effectiveness.

Although some lightning roads are pointed like a spear, she advises that you go with the one with a pronged shape.

These, she says are more effective in dissipating lightning bolt and should be placed at the highest point on the house for better result.

How much it may cost to install a lightning arrester

David Kato, another electrical engineer in Kampala says the cost of installing lightning arrestors varies, depending on the size of the house, but the installation on average house may cost between sh750,000 and sh1.2m, depending on the number of copper strips used.

Aisha Nakitende, a dealer in electrical appliances in Kasubi, says a lightning rod made from copper goes for sh120,000, while the brass rod goes for sh95,000.

Nakitende says buyers must look out for copper because it is a better conductor, hence more effective. She says a metre of copper tape goes for sh32,000. For an average house, one will need 15 metres. With all that in place, you will then need a copper mat and clipping chips to hold the tape firmly on the wall.

A copper mat costs sh70,000, while clips cost sh20,000. One will also need charcoal dust and salt for earthing. A bag of charcoal dust mixed with 15kg of rock salt costs sh50,000.