02-08-2018, 06:42 AM
The lightening will follow the most conductive path to ground - without a lightening rod, that might be your power wiring, water pipes, internet cable (if you are still using copper) etc.; with a lightening rod, it will be the heavy conductor that is grounded (protecting your wiring, piping and everything connected to it) and preventing arcing inside the walls or under the house that could start a fire.
Long ago, on the mainland, I had occasion to replace the thermostat for the furnace - when I pulled it off the wall and drew some of the wire out that connected it to the furnace, I found several feet of the insulation blown off/melted. I suspect that it was the result of arcing over of a lightening strike (of which, over the years, we had several near our home).
Bottom Line: the purpose of the lightening rod is to reduce the likelihood of that happening.
Long ago, on the mainland, I had occasion to replace the thermostat for the furnace - when I pulled it off the wall and drew some of the wire out that connected it to the furnace, I found several feet of the insulation blown off/melted. I suspect that it was the result of arcing over of a lightening strike (of which, over the years, we had several near our home).
Bottom Line: the purpose of the lightening rod is to reduce the likelihood of that happening.