How to Connect Lightning Rods

Drive two 8-foot-long ground rods, spaced eight feet apart, off of each corner of the building to be protected. The ground rods must be driven into the earth their full length, leaving three inches protruding aboveground. There should be two ground rods driven on each corner of the building for a total of eight rods.

Connect a single ground rod clamp to each driven ground rod. Tighten the clamp with the screwdriver.

Install the lightning rods, or air terminals, on the peak of the structure being protected. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for correct installation and spacing. Attach the lightning rod wire clamps to the bases of the rods.

Connect each lightning rod together with a single run of No. 2 AWG copper wire. Cut the wire to length using the wire pliers.

Run a single wire from the end lighting rod, down the corner of the building. Attach the wire to the first ground rod clamp.

Attach the first ground rod clamp to the second ground rod clamp with another No. 2 AWG copper wire. Tighten all wire connections.

Perform the same lightning rod-to-ground rod connections on each corner of the structure. The final electrical connections should tie the entire system together where each lightning rod has at least two paths to the earth.