OCR Text |
Show GUARD HOME AGAINST LIGHTNING, EXPERT WARNS I By PAUL F. c.ODIIV. interleaf Foremost Radio Authority. Doc s a radio set add to the chances j for fire which may result from lightning light-ning discharges? Thousands ask the iue?tion. wonder ;ibout it and then let it go at that In many years' experience with radio ra-dio installation I have never heard of lightning having actually caused the destruction of a building in which an amateur outfit was housed But I have heard ol many cases where fires . ro " narrowly averted. Therefore the one rulo that all ra-tfl ra-tfl dio fans should follow Is: Safety first , The precautions necessary are tow and easily carried out. The sense of safety more than compensates fo. nny 1 rouble, for a properly Installed l-inten-, . na forms a first class protection against lightning Lightning need not necessarily trlke the antenna to do real damage, the clouds even I at a distance of a quarter of a mile may Induco currents in the antenna 'of sufficient strength to overheat small conductors HOT WTRES Where the wires connecting the nn-tenna nn-tenna or ground t the receiving ;w -paratus are of small g;ui0. or where thej hav b.en laid carelcssh- om-i-the cloth cover of a table or along tho dry woodwork, the currents may heat the wires to a red heat. I have se.-n this happen Innumerable times. When lightning actually strikes the antenna' it may completely destroy some of tho smaller connecting vires and. H n r ady path to earth ih able, may take a short cut through the woodwork, produce n great heat and Bet fire to the building. Flre underwriters rules. which sho-.ild bo followed by everyone, call for the provision of a "liahtning groundwre" outnldo tho building and some form of approved lightning arrester. ar-rester. In some states there is also required a "lightning switch." In nearly all states the lightning ground wire nwitch and arrester must bo placed outside the building The ground wire must be kept from tho i building at a distance of several inches on Insulating supports of cither glass or porcelain. INSTRUCTIONS FREF, Detailed Instructions for the proper installation of protectee means aro avallablo upon application to your fire insurance company or a representative representa-tive of tho Fire I'nderwrlters' a5soel-ation. a5soel-ation. A little care now will save you considerable con-siderable worry and Inconvenience When the season of heavy electrical j storms comes along later in the sum- mer It may also make It easier for you to collect insurance in ease of a fire due to other causes, wher otherwise lit may he impossible on account of Ian infraction of the underwriters' rulings. |