How ligtning arrestors works in tower cranes?

Question

How ligtning arrestors works in tower cranes?

Answer 1

I would think a tower crane has lightning rods with grounded electrodes.

It's all about controling the flow of electricity when (not if) lightning strikes.  You want to avoid having the surge damage the crane's equipment or injuring anyone on the equipment.

Answer 2

As a matter of fact charge accumulates at the sharp points. The lightening arrestors are made sharp at the end. the lightening is a stream of charge passing from sky to the earth.

The arrestor's sharp end attracts the stream of charge present in the lightening bolt. The arrestor is grounded to the earth. Therefore the charge coming during the lightening passes to the earth without damaging the tower crane.

Answer 3

A Lightning Arrestor doesn't attract lightning it actually prevents the lightning strike.

The air is ionized with charged particles. These particles are attracted to a large body of mass and cling to it. When sufficient charge is obtained the opposite charge is attracted breaking down the air creating a path to the opposite polarity.

The lightning arrestor dis-charges these particles into the air, reducing the build up. Based on the principal that the charged particles can't accumulate on a sharp metal object which is grounded to earth. This prevents the lightning strike. The arrestor has been used on buildings for hundred's of years such as wooden barns, wooden ships and other buildings.