Many people have described observing this anecdotally, like W0UN with his 50
to 100-mile view in Colorado, lighting strikes would cease when they neared
his antenna farm and pick up again a couple miles on the other side.
Many of us have also observed the tic-tic-tic of static discharge coming in
on a coax.
I doubt these things "prevent" a lightning strike, but I personally do
believe they help discharge the atmosphere near the antenna farm, which
helps prevent some strikes. This effect may be much more pronounced with a
multi-tower station than with just one tower.
On a dry winter day when you're walking on the carpet at the office and then
touch the metal drinking fountain you get a sudden static discharge,
analogous to a lightning strike (though micro). Touch something metal every
few steps and the charge cannot build up to such a size. You are
discharging the buildup before it gets so big.
73 - Rich, KE3Q
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Rauch" <w8ji@contesting.com>
To: "Wilson Lui" <wilsonlui@atitec.com>; "'David Robbins K1TTT'"
<k1ttt@arrl.net>; <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 5:07 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Lighting
> Thanks Dave and Wilson.
>
> > Grounding does not prevent strikes. What a proper
> grounding system does do
> > is allow for any lightning strike that does happen is
> condected safely into
> > the surrounding soil and not arc through any
> equipment/structure trying to
> > find a lower resistance path to earth.
>
> That's my opinion also, based only on the physics involved.
>
> I notice a large group of people actually think lighting
> does not hit grounded structures because grounding causes
> the charges to bleed off or dissipate.
>
> I'm curious where that idea actually came from. Does anyone
> know?
>
> 73 Tom
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
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>
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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