Flying a kite in a storm was perhaps Benjamin Franklin’s most famous experiment that led to

the invention of the lightning rod and the understanding of positive and negative charges.
The connection between electricity and lightning was known but not fully understood. By
conducting the kite experiment, Franklin proved that lightning was an electrical discharge
and realized that it can be charged over a conductor into the ground providing a safe
alternative path and eliminating the risk of deadly fires.

Franklin had not heard of the success of his experiment in Europe before he conducted the
same experiment with a kite. One day in June 1752, it occurred to him that he could test his
hypothesis by flying a kite instead of waiting for the church to be built. With the help of his
son William he built the body of the kite with two crossed strips of cedar wood and a silk
handkerchief instead of paper as it would not tear with wind and rain. They attached a foot
long sharp and pointed wire to the top of the kite as a conductor and at the bottom end of
the string where it is held they attached a silk ribbon and a metal key. A metal wire connected
the key to the Leyden Jar.

Franklin kept dry by retreating into a barn; the end of the string was also kept dry to insulate
himself. When the storm passed over his kite the conductor drew electricity into his kite. The
kite was not struck by lightning but the conductor drew negative charges from a charged
cloud to the kite, string, metal key and Leyden jar. It appears that he knew enough about
grounding to protect himself from being electroshocked. When he moved his hand near the
key he received a shock because the negative charge attracted the positive charge in his
body.

This is the description of the electric kite experiment in Franklin’s own words from the
Pennsylvania Gazette dated October 19, 1752. In 1753 Franklin published an article in
Poor Richard’s Almanac describing how to secure houses from lightning.

It has pleased God and his goodness mankind, at length to discover the means of securing
their habitations and other buildings from mischief by thunder and lightning. The method is
this: Provide a small iron rod but of such a length that one end being three or four feet in the
moist ground, the other may be six or eight feet above the highest part of the building. To the
upper end of the rod fasten about a foot of brass wire, the size of a common knitting needle,
sharpened to a fine point; the rod may be secured to the house by a few small staples. If the
house or barn be ling, there may be a rod and point at each end, and a middling wire along
the ridge from one to the other. A house thus furnished will not be damaged by lightning, it
being attracted by the points and passing through the metal into the ground without hurting
anything.
Our Commitment to provide complete end to end solutions
towards Lightning and Earthing related hazards is our prime
focus in all the projects we undertake.

Cikit’s products are traded under the brand name “Armour”

and our varied range of products are highly qualitative,
tested & certified by renowned laboratories in India
and abroad.

CONTENTS
Overview 02
Lightning Protection System 04 - 05
Lightning Aressestor Accessories 05 - 09
Earthing Protection System 10 - 15
Earthing Accessories 16 - 19
 AN OVERVIEW
When positive and negative charges grow large enough, a giant
spark - lightning - occurs between the two charges within the cloud.
LIGHTNING Most lightning happens inside a cloud, but sometimes it happens
between the cloud and the ground. A lightning strike discharges about
Protection System 1-10 billion joules of energy and produces a current of 30,000 – 50,000
amps. Lightning strikes usually last around 1 or 2 microseconds with an
average temperature of around 20000 °C (36000 °F) and are produced
by cumulonimbus clouds that are very tall and dense. There are bolts
of lightning striking somewhere on Earth every second.

LIGHTNING FACTS
LIGHTNING PRODUCTS

Franklin Rod
Air Terminal At any time there are
Multi-Pointed Head over 2,000 thunder -
ESE Lightning Arrester storms occurring world
wide, each producing
over a 100 lightning
strikes a second.

LIGHTNING ARRESTORS
ACCESSORIES That’s over 8 million
lightning bolts every
LA Mast day.
Guy Wire
Digital Lightning Event Counter

Each lightning flash is

about 3 miles long but
only about a centimetre
wide

A lightning strike
discharges about 1-10
billion joules of energy
and produces a current
of 30,000 – 50,000 amps.

4
PRODUCTS

Working Principle Convention Type

The traditional Air Terminals are believed to provide an inverted cone of protection at 45 degree angle from the
tip of these terminals. In general the theory is that higher these air terminals are mounted on the structure to be
protected, larger the protection area you get at the bottom.

Figure a) A house protected by a single lightning rod having an assumed 45 degree angle cone of protection –
that is, the height of the rod is H and the base area assumed to be safe from a lightning strike has a radius H. (b)
The same house protected by a lightning rod system consisting of three smaller rods, each assumed to provide
a 45 degree – angle cone of protection.

FRANKLIN ROD
Commonly known as the Franklin rod, these arrestors consists 5 spikes, a
sphere, and a base plate with a mast mounted on the highest point of the
structure to intercept the lightning strike. These lightning arrestors provide 45
degree inverted cone of protection from its tip. These are made of pure
copper.

Technical Specification:
DESCRIPTION LENGTH (mm) DIA (mm)

SPIKE 390 16
SPEAR 200 85 Standard of Compliance:
ROD 1010 22 IS 2309
BASE PLATE - 150 X 150 X 6 (l x w x h)

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 PRODUCTS

AIR TERMINAL
The sigle air terminal lightning arrestors are more commonly used in the utility
sectors mounted on top of the transmission towers. These kind of arrestors are
available in conductive metals such as Copper, Aluminium and GI solid rods
with a pointed spike at one end of the rod. The length and the diameter of the
rod can be customised as per the requirement.

Standard of Compliance:
IS 2309

ARMOUR MULTI-POINTED HEAD SPIKE

These are similar to the Franklin rod but with a total of 4 spikes. The dimensions
are much lesser than the Franklin Penta spikes. These lightning arrestors consists
of central body with three pointed spikes and a central Air Terminal solid rod
made of copper.

AIR TERMINAL BASE

These base are used to mount the air terminals on to it and available in either
Brass or Gun Metal.

Technical Specification:
PART NO. THREAD
SIZE
AATB 16 16
AATB 20 20

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PRODUCTS

ESE LIGHTNING ARRESTOR

In accordance with NFC 17-102 2011 Cikit’s R&D team has designed
ArmourESE type Lightning Arrestor that ensures excellent performance,
durability and long service life. In the moments directly preceding an
eminent direct strike it is designed to activate itself, as it is an externally
mounted, proactive, structural lightning protection device.
The Armour range is made of SS 304, which provides high tensile
strength to resist from corrosion and damages, caused due to heat and
any other chemical reactions. The internal design requires no
maintenance and works in all types of atmospheric condition.

Working Principle ESE type

The Armour range of ESE type Lightning Arrestors are made of SS 304 which
provides high tensile strength to resist from corrosion and damages caused due to heat
and other chemical reactions. The Internal design has been developed in such a way that it requires no maintenance
and works in all types of atmospheric conditions. The Armour ESE type lightning arrestor is an electro mechanical
device and does not require any external power source. When the downward leader approaches the structure and
creates an electric field to enable free movement of charges, the internal design of Armour range of ESE type
Lightning Arrestor helps to increase the quantity of emitted charges, once the Armour Arrestor gets fully charged, a
very powerful upward streamer with high charge density and of longer length is then released from the tip of the
Armour LPR which couples with the downward coming streamer from lightning at a very high distance from the
structure to be protected. Hence as the length of the upward streamer is longer, the area protected by Armour LPR
rod is also larger.

RADIUS OF PROTECTION - Armour Lightning Arrestor - NFC 17-102/2011

The radius of protection is the distance between the point where you want to place the (ESE) rod and the further point
from the structure or building we want to protect. For calculating the radius of protection , It is very
important to get the triggering advance time value of the device.

TRIGGERING ADVANCE TIME (Δt)

The triggering advance time is defined as the difference in triggering time of an early streamer lightning rod and a
simple franklin rod obtained when both rods are exposed to the same atmospheric & electrical conditions
Δt = TSR - TESE.
where,
TSR = The mean triggering time of the upward leader of a simple lightning rod.
TESE = The mean triggering time of the upward leader of a ESE lightning arrestor. Rp

h
CALCULATION FOR RADIUS OF PROTECTION
The protection radius of an early streamer emission air terminal is
calculated using the following equation :

Rp = √ h x (2 x D - h) + Δt (2 x D + Δt),
h is the height (in m) of the rod above the considered surface
Δt (in µs) is the triggering time gain obtained during the test
D (in m) depends on the selected level of protection
(D = 20 for LP, D = 45 for LP2, D = 60 for LP3.)

Technical Specification:
MODEL ARMOUR 60 ARMOUR 40 ARMOUR 25
t 60 µs 45 µs 25 µs Standard of Compliance:
LEVEL 1 79M 63M 42M NFC 17-102/2011
LEVEL 2 87M 71M 49M
LEVEL 3 97M 81M 57M
LEVEL 4 107M 89M 65M Tested By:
HIZAL, Turkey

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 PRODUCTS

Protection Level

Protection area with Level I

Protection area with Level II
Protection area with Level III
Protection area with Level IV

LIGHTNING ARRESTER ACCESSORIES

LA MAST
Cikit’s LA mast are made of MS pipes and are available at various lengths as
per the requirement. The masts are designed in such a way to withstand
strong wind pressures at any height it is installed on. The mast comes with a
flange to connect the LA, and clamps at regular intervals for the down
conductors to pass through.

LA BASE PLATE
These base plates are designed to hold the mast and the lightning arrestor
mounted on it. Heavy duty MS plates are used manufacture these base plates to
withstand the entire weight of the mast and the lightning arrestor.

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LIGHTNING ARRESTER ACCESSORIES

GUY WIRE
The guy wire is used in LA installations to provide more stability to the mast
holding the lightning arrestors. The kit consists of guy wire, guy ring, S clamps
and the turnbuckles.

DIGITAL LIGHTNING EVENT COUNTER

Cikit’s Lightning Event counters comes in both analogue and digital formats.
These counters registers the lightning impulse during a strike and can be used
in both conventional and the ESE type lightning protection systems. Cikit’s
analogue counter comes in 6 digits and the digital counters comes in 2 and 4
digits.

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 AN OVERVIEW
An Earth Protection System is the process of bringing together metallic
bodies of all electrical equipments to an enormous mass of earth by a
EARTHING conductor having trivial resistance. To ensure compliance with BS 7430,
BS EN 50522, Cikit Electricals & Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., offers
Protection System earthing solutions vital to safeguard people and the buildings. To this
effect, Cikit offers a complete solution and service package, right from
site analysis, design, supply and installation to its continuous
maintenance.

WORKING PRINCIPLES
Decreasing the risk of a serious electric shock from
current leaking into uninsulated metal parts is the chief
function of earthing.
It works by enabling the safe flow of faulty or excessive
current into the ground by creating an alternate path
in the presence of minimal resistance. This faulty/
excessive current is carried away harmlessly by
tripping the fuse.
EARTHING FACTS
The As per IS 3043-1987, vide Cl. 0.7, the
terms ‘earthing’ and ‘grounding’ are
synonymous. Perhaps the different
nomenclature is due to the usual conflicting
usage of English language between the
Americans & the British. While the British
termed it as ‘earthing’, the Americans termed
it as ‘grounding’. IEC & IS Standards refer as
‘earthing’, while IEEE & ANSI Standards refer
as ‘grounding’.

Apart from providing protection from lightning currents to

ground, earthing also helps to reduce the risk from power
surges.
Any conductive metal can be used as an
earthing electrode and not necessarily copper
alone as in all earthing design calculations
only the resistivity of the soil and the
dimensions of electrode is considered and not
the type of metal. Copper is widely used as
earthing electrodes for its resistance to
corrosion.

EARTHING PRODUCTS
Plate Earthing
A pipe, rod or strip as an earthing electrode
Pipe Earthing has a much lower resistance than a plate
Rod Earthing electrode of equal surface area.

EARTHING ACCESSORIES
Earthing Rod Clamp
Square Tape Clamp
DC Flat Clamp
Full Threaded Coupler
Half Threaded Coupler
U Bolt Cable Clamp
Earthing Conductor
Chamber And Cover
Test Link
Bus Bar

10
PRODUCTS

PLATE EARTHING
A copper or GI plate of adequate size is placed vertically down inside the
ground at a depth of 3m and is embedded in alternate layers of salt, charcoal
and sand. Conductor strips are bolted to the plate and brought on to the
ground level. The plate earthing is in practice for centuries and being used till
date in electrical earthing systems. We provide these plates as per IS
standards.

Technical Specification:
PLATE EARTHING DIMENSIONS IN MM THICKNESS IN MM
COPPER PLATE 600 X 600 3.14
GI PLATE 600 X 600 6

Standard of Compliance:
IS 3043

PIPE ELECTRODES (GI SINGLE PIPE)

Cikit provides the widely used conventional GI pipe earthing electrodes as per
IS 3043. These pipes has perforated holes across the length of the pipe and
comes with a funnel for pouring water in to the earthing system.

Technical Specification:
OUTER DIA/ INNER DIA/
PRODUCT WALL THICKNESS WALL THICKNESS LENGTH MICRONS
CODE IN MM IN MM

A’GI/SP502 48mm/3.2 NA 2 80-100

A’GI/SP503 48mm/3.2 NA 3 80-100
A’GI/SP802 76mm/3.6 NA 2 80-100
Standard of Compliance:
A’GI/SP803 76mm/3.6 NA 3 80-100 IS 3043

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 PRODUCTS

CAST IRON PIPE EARTHING

Cast iron pipes are used as earthing electrodes for their higher mechanical
strength and longer service life. Cikit’s cast iron earthing pipes comes at a
standard 100 mm dia and the length can be customised as per the
requirement.

Technical Specification:

PRODUCT MM LENGTH THICKNESS

CODE (mtrs) (mm)

ACIP25 100 2.5 13

ACIP03 100 3 13

Standard of Compliance:
IS 3043

PIPE IN PIPE EARTHING

Pipe in pipe electrodes are two pipes which is made of one smaller dia mild
steel pipe fitted into a larger dia mild steel pipe, then Hot Dip Galvanized. The
cavity within and inside the pipes are compactly filled with an highly conductive
and anti corrosive material to extend the service life of these electrodes. The
dimensions of the electrodes are as per IS 3043 and is among the most
popular modern type electrodes used for earthing in India.

Technical Specification:
HOTDIP GALVANISED PIPE-IN-PIPE ELECTRODES
OUTER DIA/ INNER DIA/
PRODUCT WALL THICKNESS WALL THICKNESS LENGTH MICRONS
CODE IN MM IN MM IN Mtrs THICKNESS
A’HDG/PIP502 48mm/3.2 26.9mm/2.3 2 120-150 Standard of Compliance:
A’HDG/PIP503 48mm/3.2 26.9mm/2.3 3 120-150
A’HDG/PIP802 76mm/3.6
IS 3043
42.4mm/2.6 2 120-150
A’HDG/PIP803 76mm/3.6 42.4mm/2.6 3 120-150
Tested & Certified By:
PURE COPPER PIPE-IN-PIPE ELECTRODES
CPRI
OUTER DIA/ INNER DIA/
PRODUCT WALL THICKNESS WALL THICKNESS LENGTH
CODE IN MM IN MM IN Mtrs
A’PCP/PIP502 48mm/3.2 26.9mm/2.3 2
A’PCP/PIP503 48mm/3.2 26.9mm/2.3 3
A’PCPPIP802 76mm/3.6 42.4mm/2.6 2
A’PCP/PIP803 76mm/3.6 42.4mm/2.6 3

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 PRODUCTS

PURE COPPER RODS

Technical Specification:
PURE COPPER RODS
PRODUCT CODE DIA (mm) LENGTH (mtrs)
A’CP/12/08 12.5 2.5
A’CP/12/10 12.5 3
A’CP/14/08 14 2.5
A’CP/14/10 14 3
A’CP/15/08 15 2.5
A’CP/15/10 15 3
A’CP/16/08 16 2.5
A’CP/16/10 16 3
A’CP/19/08 19 2.5
A’CP/19/10 19 3
A’CP/20/08 20 2.5
A’CP/20/10 20 3

STAINLESS STEEL RODS

STAINLESS STEEL GROUND RODS/ EARTH RODS ( THREADED)
PRODUCT CODE DIA (mm) LENGTH (mtrs)
A’SS/T-12/08 14 2.5
A’SS/T-12/08 14 3
A’SS/T-58/08 17 2.5
A’SS/T-58/10 17 3
A’SS/T-34/08 20 2.5
A’SS/T-34/10 20 3

STAINLESS STEEL GROUND RODS/ EARTH RODS ( UNTHREADED)

PRODUCT CODE DIA (mm) LENGTH (mtrs)
A’SS/UT-12/08 14 2.5
A’SS/UT-12/08 14 3
A’SS/UT-58/08 17 2.5
A’SS/UT-58/10 17 3
A’SS/UT-34/08 20 2.5
A’SS/UT-34/10 20 3

Standard of Compliance:
IEC/BS EN 62561-2 & BS 7430
UL467

Tested & Certified By:

UL KDER.E501435

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PRODUCTS

EARTHING COMPOUNDS
An Earthing Compound is a soil enhancement material, which is mixed with water and put around the earth
electrode to bring down the resistivity and enhance the performance of the earthing system.

This is made of eco-friendly materials mixed in different proportions. It has good conductive and hygroscopic
properties. It absorbs moisture when mixed with water and retains the same around the earth electrode for a long
period of time. These compounds come in a package of 25 kgs, which is best suited for a 2-meter long electrode,
and in the case 3-meter long electrode we suggest 50 kgs minimum.

•Hygroscopic in nature.
•Enhances Earth Electrode conductivity (Electrolytic Gel)
•Maintains moisture to enhance conductivity around electrode.
•Does not leach in to the normal soil.
•Reduces soil resistivity around the electrode.
•Non Toxic & Eco Friendly

CARBOLITE
Carbolite is a clay based compound mixed with other minerals to increase
the efficiency of its electrical conductive properties. It is best suited for low
resistive soil. The clay based compound, Carbolite reduces soil resistivity,
retains moisture and maintains the moisture near the earth electrode.
CARBOLITE

Technical Specification:
MODEL WEIGHT
Armour Carbolite 25kg

CARBOTITE
A 80% Carbon based earthing compound that can be used for
enhancing the earth electrodes performance in harsh soil conditions.
The benefit of Carbotite is that it does not get washed away and holds
on to the pit and retains moisture in all climatic conditions.
CARBOTITE

Technical Specification:
MODEL WEIGHT
Armour Carbotite 25kg

Standard of Compliance:
IEC 62561-7:2011

Tested & Certified By:

NTH, ROHS

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EARTHING ACCESSORIES

EARTHING ROD CLAMP

These are mechanical clamps used for connecting the conductors to the earth
rods. These clamps are sturdy and accurate in dimensions. These clamps are
also highly resistant to corrosion, rugged in construction, easy installation,
longer service life and very cost effective price.

Technical Specification:
PART NO. ROD CONDUCTOR
SIZE SIZE
AAERC 58 5/8” 16 - 70
AAERC 34 3/4” 35 - 95

FULL THREADED COUPLER

Cikit’s full threaded hex coupler is made of high strength copper alloy to
ensure excellent corrosion resistance. It protects the copper bond earth
rod threads against damage. It is used for connecting copper bond
earth rods with the use of a driving stud and it protects these copper
bond earth rods against damage.

Technical Specification:
PRODUCT CODE MM
AAFTC 14 14
AAFTC 16 16
AAFTC 19 19

HALF THREADED COUPLER

The half threaded coupler by Cikit is made of high strength copper alloy
to ensure excellent corrosion resistance. It’s compliance to industry
standards makes it protect the copperbond earth rod threads against
damage. It’s used for connecting copperbond earth rods with the use of
a driving stud.

Technical Specification:
PRODUCT CODE MM
AAHTC 14 14
AAHTC 16 16
AAHTC 19 19

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 EARTHING ACCESSORIES

SQUARE TAPE CLAMP

Cikit uses square tape clamps, which are employed to fix bare flat copper
tape in either a ‘cross’, ‘tee’, or ‘right angle’ connection to the surface of
the structure. The materials used are of high-grade industry standards
and corrosion resistant.

Technical Specification:
PRODUCT CODE MM
AASTC 253 25X3
AASTC 254 25X4
AASTC 256 25X6
AASTC 506 50X6

DC FLAT CLAMPS
Cikit’s DC flat clamp are used to fix bare flat copper tape to the surface of
the structure. These are high quality alloys of either copper or aluminium
down conductor clip for securing flat tape. It’s designed from industry
standard copper alloy.

Technical Specification:
PRODUCT CODE MM
AADFC 253 25X3
AADFC 256 25X6
AADFC 406 40X6
AADFC 506 50X6

TEST LINK
Test Links are a way to break the connection to Earth temporarily. To allow
periodic disconnection and testing of the earth termination network,
Cikit’s test clamp can be placed within the run of each down conductor.
Test links by CIKIT are excellent devices to guarantee that new conductor
strands are introduced into the system quickly and thoroughly.

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EARTHING ACCESSORIES

COPPER FLEXIBLE CONNECTOR

Cikit’s Flexible copper connector is terminated with pressed ferrule
connector at each end. This is suitable for bonding gates, doors, fences etc.
Pressed ferrule connection ensures maximum electrical contact with
minimum earth resistance. It can also be used for earth bonding.

Technical Specification:
PRODUCT SIZE CROSS SECTION HOLE SIZE HOLE CENTER
CODE (MM) AREA (MM) (MM)
AACFC 252 25*3.5 35 MM 2 11 208
AACFC 254 25*3.5 35 MM 2 11 400

FLEXIBLE THINNED BRAID

Cikit’s flexible thinned braid is used for bonding different kinds of
metallic objects where flexibility and movement is required such as
fences, gates, doors etc. Pressed ferrule connectors can be used at
both ends.

Technical Specification:
PRODUCT SIZE CROSS SECTION HOLE SIZE HOLE CENTER
CODE (MM) AREA (MM) (MM)
AAFTB 252 25*3.5 35 MM 2 11 208
AAFTB 254 25*3.5 35 MM 2 11 400

CHAMBER AND COVER

CIKIT provides earth pits chamber and covers to ensure that earthing is
protected at all times. The earth pits we provide are made of fibre-reinforced
plastic that gives it a very high load-bearing capacity. Along with this
exceptional feature, our chamber and covers are lightweight with superior
strength. Because they are resin based, our CC’s can stand a load of five
tonnes approximately. We provide pit covers in a range of sizes that can be
used in industrial and residential areas. The chamber and cover is available
in 3 ton and 5 ton also.

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 The world map shown below is the series of images taken by NASA’s space satellites

LIGHTINING POTENTIAL

SLIGHT MODERATE SEVERE

According to satellite observations, it occurs more often over land than over the oceans. The map above shows the
average yearly counts of lightning flashes per square kilometer from 1995 to 2015. Areas with the fewest number of
flashes each year are in purple; areas with the largest number of lightning flashes—as many as 150 per year per square
kilometer—are yellow.

The map is based on data collected from 1995–2015 by the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) on NASA’s Tropical Rainfall
Measuring Mission satellite, and from 1995–2015 by the Optical Transient Detector (OTD) on the OrbView-1/Microlab
satellite. Flashes above 38 degrees North were observed by OTD only, as the satellite flew to higher latitudes.

The higher frequency of lighting over land makes sense because solid earth absorbs sunlight and heats up faster than
water; this means there is stronger convection and greater atmospheric instability, leading to the formation of thunder
and lightning producing storms.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens using LIS/OTD data from the Global Hydrology and Climate Center Lightning Team.
Caption by Kathryn Hansen.

ELECTRICALS & TECHNOLOGIES INDIA PVT LTD

ELECTRIFICALLY EVOLVING

# 3, D.A Swamy Avenue,

Thirumullaboil Road, Korattur,
Chennai 600 080