Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Lightning rod

chemx01 - 7-6-2011 at 01:56

I'm currently upgrading my laboratory (new paint, fumehood...) and i'm wondering if it's worthwhile aquiring a lightning rod.
I wouldn't be happy if my 35l+ solvents ignites by lightning.
Does anyone working in an amateur lab have one? How much did it cost?
And most importantly do you think it'll worth the investment? I mean my lab is near my house in a shed which is about 3m tall which means that it's much smaller than my house and I know that "it'll hit the highest thing" logic doesn't always applie but it's more probable that the house will be hit rather than lab.

Thank you for suggestions.

smuv - 8-6-2011 at 16:26

Well, there are about 16 gallons of gasoline in a filled automobile gas tank, and I don't thing garages detached from houses have lightning rods.

hyperkinetic - 9-6-2011 at 03:56

A car is an ideal Faraday cage... Do you have a steel flammables cupboard? Is you lab metal or wood?

If you have a steel cupboard in a steel building it seems like lightening reaching your solvents would be highly unlikely.