Learn / Lightning 101 / Charge Transfer
Charge Transfer
The charge transfer phenomenon has been known for many years in the scientific community and has been seen for hundreds of years by sailors who called it St. Elmo’s Fire.
LEC’s SBI demonstrates the Charge Transfer Principle
This remarkable video was captured in 2003 by our partners at Hitachi Corporation during a laboratory demonstration of charge transfer technology. This phenomenon is rarely seen and difficult to capture on film.
The lightning rod to the left continually collects strikes from the lightning simulator electrode directly above it. But as the Spline Ball Ionizer (SBI®), an LEC modular lightning protection product, moves closer to the lightning simulator electrode it actually stops strikes from being collected!
You can see development of a cold blue ion cloud which grows stronger as the SBI gets closer. this ion cloud is the visible appearance of the point discharge phenomena.
The Dissipation Array® System (DAS®) works on the same principle but has far superior transfer rates and can prevent virtually all lightning strikes within the protected area. Learn more about our lightning prevention solutions.
How LEC’s Charge Transfer Technology Works
LEC technology is designed to prevent strikes. The DAS has been specially engineered to be optimized for the correct discharge; it allows no buildup of lightning streamers or counter leaders thus preventing lightning strikes. This careful approach is based on studies done in Japan, Russia, and our U.S. based technology development center. In addition, each DAS design is engineered to be the most effective protection for each site, and comes with our no-strike warranty. Contact us for your Lightning Protection Solution.
