One of my jobs while in the military was installing and maintaining towers and
antennas. On most, but not all of the towers I serviced in Okinawa had a
"Porcupine" mounted on the top shelf. I asked an OIC (Officer in Charge), who
was an EE, why they were there and he gave me the static discharge explanation.
I then started looking closely at them and never saw any char or burn marks on
the ends of the "needles". I also deduced that if they did in fact work, after
a while they would have to be replaced as the ends of the "needles" burned off.
In five years of working on those towers I never replaced one. Lightning was
very prevalent there to the point that we once lost an entire aluminum tower to
a strike (it was GONE - nothing but base bolts and silvery dust on the coral
where it used to be) so I know the conditions were right for that sort of
protection. I realize this is anecdotal evidence but I think it is a
theoretical idea without real world proof.
I am however open for any information and am willing to listen to any and all
arguments.
Clint - W5CPT
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Todd
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 6:46 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Porcupine
Does the Porcupine work for static discharge. Wire man price is $32. I dont
want to wast my money.
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