[Linda so]

What would be an adequate, common sense solution for grounding a flag pole with regard to lightning strikes?

Thank You,

Gene So

[NAVA1974]

If the pole is buried in the ground, isn't it already "grounded?" Seriously.

If, on the other hand, it is mounted on a building, then a solid copper wire should be bolted to the pole and then brought to the ground. The wire can be grounded by connecting it to a copper water pipe coming from the ground (NOT a hot water pipe as that is only connected to your water heater!)

[Cimerron]

Most big flagpoles have a grounding spike attached to the bottom of them and the pole itself conducts the charge down to the spike and into the ground. There could also be a lightening rod on the top with a wire down the inside of the pole to the ground spike. However small residential poles like up to twenty feet or so don't necessarily have any specific grounding device and the pole is the conductor for the charge being set into the ground. The charge just dissapates into the dirt. By all means do not be hanging around the flagpole if there is lightening nearby. Just get away form it and go in the house. Consider a fiberglass pole if you can afford it. Pete