Question
Why did the old lightning rods on top of the barns in the Northeast have a glass ball about four inches down from the top of the rod?
Answer
The glass ball was there primarily to prevent the electrical charge from jumping off the conductor, the copper wire that actually made up the rod, and hitting other parts of the building. It also provided a greater degree of stability to the rod itself, another important factor in a lightning rod and ground system’s effectiveness.
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