[TowerTalk] original source of "avoid sharp bends" in lightning

[Jim Lux]

On 4/12/12 8:26 AM, Drax Felton wrote:
> How come few houses of modern construction have lightning rods if they were such an important invention?
>

Money?  Fire insurance didn't really exist back in the 19th century, so 
a lightning caused fire was a catastrophic event, financially.
Today, given that the odds of any one house being hit are fairly low, 
the incremental losses for a HO insurance company from lack of rods is 
probably small. (that is, the cost of premiums is lower than the cost of 
a lightning protection system).

Also Modern houses are a lot less flammable than in the 19th century.

ANd, of course, maybe it's because people put up defacto lightning 
protection with TV antennas and DBS dishes <grin>


In businesses, particularly with expensive assets that are insured, you 
see a lot more lightning protection.

And, in high lightning areas, you see a lot more.. (at least in a 
commercial/industrial setting... I don't recall seeing a lot of 
lightning rods on houses in, say, Orlando)