Franklin France lightning conductor – Saint Elme model (piezoelectric)

The Saint-Elme lightning conductor with piezoelectric early streamer emission is the result of research by Franklin France together with the French Atomic Energy Commission, with over 20 years of operating experience.
Its operating principle is to create a concentration of charges (ionised particles and electrons) near the air-terminal tip and initiate a highly conductive upward streamer, providing a preferential path for the lightning discharge.

The Saint-Elme lightning conductor is a one-piece unit containing the following components:

1.   Air-terminal tip – corrosion-protected, electrically conductive and shaped to force airflow upwards towards the tip (the Venturi system). The ion emitter inside the tip uses the corona effect to produce the ion flow required to ionise the air above the lightning conductor and initiate an upward streamer at the appropriate moment.

2.   Support rod – made of stainless steel, supporting the tip and housing the high-voltage cable connecting the ion emitter to the piezoelectric transducer;

3. Piezoelectric transducer – an encapsulated ceramic element located at the lower end of the support rod, combined with a simple, reliable mechanical activation system. The high-voltage cable transmits the potential generated by the piezoelectric element to the ion emitter.

Saint-Elme piezoelectric lightning conductors have a 2-year warranty.

Click here to view installation of a lightning conductor