We are going to explain, in broad terms, how an ESE (Early Streamer Emission) lightning rod works, like the Advance, Sigma and Electron models.
When a storm forms, there is an increase in the atmospheric electrical potential that can exceed 10kV/m. The device stores this energy in the electro-atmospheric capacitor formed by the outer metal casing and the earthed shaft.
With this increase in potential, two things happen simultaneously; the first is that a downward leader is produced from the clouds towards the ground, and the second is that an artificial upward leader is created by the lightning rod. This upward leader intercepts the downward one, channelling the electrical discharge through the lightning rod and conducting it safely to the ground.
The time by which the upward leader from an ESE lightning rod precedes a leader created by any passive element, such as a Franklin rod, is what determines the protection radius. This time is what is known as the early streamer emission time. That is why there are different ESE models with different early streamer emission times depending on the meters that need to be protected in each case.
In short, an ESE lightning rod is a technological system that actively attracts any lightning strike.
