[TowerTalk] Routing wire from tower to ground for lightning protection

Ron Youvan ka4inm@qsl.net
Tue, 26 Oct 1999 01:05:31 +0000


Hi :

> << The electric company's ground is of little value to you as a ham, as
> regards lightning protection. The reason is that, any grounding over about
> 75 ft. away, is too far away( inductance in the wire literally "pinches
> off" that path.
>  Lightning is generally disappated inside that distance, in reasonably
> conductive soil. Thats why i installed 53 ground rods and . . . >>

  As the charged cloud comes over your farm (OR WHAT EVER) a ground charge with an (EQUAL?)

BUT opposite polarity travels under it.  If your ground `connection' can conduct this (electrons usually)

to your tower etc. quickly enough, there will not be nearly as large of a GROUND current flow

which is what causes the difference in potential between the various `grounds' on the property,

which causes the damage.  This is why tall towers get hit thousands of time a minute

(in a storm) but the equipment is never damaged (unless it comes in on the TELEPHONE LINE).

  The tower is pre charged and the flow from the ground is greatly reduced.

  73 (= Best Regards) de: Ron ka4inm@qsl.net
VISIT my HAM WEB SITE at: http://www.qsl.net/ka4inm
  using LINUX here & loving it!




--
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