on 10/6/02 10:55 AM, Kelly Taylor at ve4xt@mb.sympatico.ca wrote:
> Grounding isn't designed to ward off strikes; it's designed to channel them
> safely to ground. Indeed, the lightning rods you see on barns and some rural
> houses are specifically designed to attract hits (notice the sharp point) so
> tha the lightning rod and not the house or barn takes the hit.
At the same time though, grounding helps to eliminate static buildup on a
tower or object. Preventing charge buildup helps prevent strikes.
So it does a dual purpose. It does indeed help to ward off the strikes and
it does channel them to ground.
73,
Jon
NA9D
-------------------------------------
Jon Ogden
NA9D (ex: KE9NA)
Life Member: ARRL, NRA
Member: AMSAT, DXCC
http://www.qsl.net/ke9na
"A life lived in fear is a life half lived."
|