[TowerTalk] Comments on Lighting from a non-expert

[K7LXC@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-06-03 11:19:05 EDT, 10eesfams2mi@mass1-pop.pmm.mci.net
writes:

> I think the mistake is thinking the rod or some other gizmo will 
>  prevent a strike by bleeding off charge. Hey, it's the cloud that's 
>  charged. The earth is so massive it's a perfect charge source or 
>  sink. Unless you bleed those charges off right into the cloud, 
>  nothing changes except the field gradient around the source of 
>  discharge.
>  
      Isn't this the purpose of a porcupine static charge dissipater? Mounted
on the tower, this device provides many points of contact with the cloud and
its charge as it passes by. Being mounted to the tower and the tower ground
system, most of the charge is bled directly to ground before it causes a
leader from the cloud. 
  
     Even if it doesn't totally prevent a strike, the resultant strike is
quite a bit less than if it were not partially dissipated. And since you
already have the aforementioned ground system installed, the resultant damage
is probably zero (Warning - many assumptions).

Cheers,  Steve  K7LXC

--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm