[Towertalk] More on Lightning protection

[Donald R. Bozarth]

As I understand lightning, it happens when the difference in potential
between the "sky" and the "ground" becomes great enough that a discharge
becomes the law.

I'm told that one way to help ensure that something high, like a tower,
doesn't present a convenient place for lightning to establish its path is to
"dissipate" the charge on the tower.  Hence those bushy looking dissipaters.
Attached at the top of the tower (not the mast!) these dissipaters are
supposed to bleed off charges that a tower can have, making it a less likely
target for lightning.  They also provide an "umbrella" of sorts for things
within some radius from the tower.  Seems logical.  Anyone with any
experience??

Don
W6DRB

----- Original Message -----
From: "S. J. Blackwell" <w5lu@hotmail.com>
To: <K7LXC@aol.com>; <Barockteer@aol.com>; <K4WSB@arrl.net>;
<towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 4:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Towertalk] More on Lightning protection

>
> > I am not sure there is anything that can be done to lower the
probability
> of
> > a hit except lower the antenna. It would seem that the thrust is to
lower
> > the amount of energy that gets to the shack and then keep everything at
a
> > common potential so the is no voltage between the pieces of equipment
and
> > the common ground, all of which could go thousands of volts above
another
> > non common ground. It doesen't protect the operator who could be a
> conductor
> > to another ground at another potential.
> > 73
> > Sam, W5LU
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: K7LXC@aol.com
> > >To: Barockteer@aol.com, K4WSB@arrl.net, towertalk@contesting.com
> > >Subject: Re: [Towertalk] More on Lightning protection
> > >Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 19:00:28 EDT
> > >
> > >In a message dated 5/14/02 2:34:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> > >Barockteer@aol.com writes:
> > >
> > > > Well, there seems to be two approaches t lightning:
> > > >
> > > >  1. Protect your equipment in the event of a hit.
> > >
> > >     Actually the primary reason for a lightning suppression system is
to
> > >keep
> > >the charges OUT of your building or house where the equipment is.
> > > >
> > > >  2. Do something that reduces the probability of a hit.
> > > >
> >
> >
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