[Towertalk] lightning-slightly off topic

[Jerry Keller]

A "well-grounded tower" DOESN'T get hit? I thought lightning always takes
the EASIEST path to ground. Isn't proper grounding of the tower designed to
provide an easier path for lightning into the ground rather than have it go
thru your equipment? I would guess that the tower in the picture isn't close
enough to the plane to be a better ground path. Any comments? Jerry K3BZ

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-admin@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-admin@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Jon Ogden
Sent: Sunday, October 06, 2002 8:14 AM
To: FireBrick; TowerTalk List
Cc: John Fleming; Kok Chen
Subject: Re: [Towertalk] lightning-slightly off topic


on 10/6/02 6:21 AM, FireBrick at w9ol@billnjudy.com wrote:

> But you may find this interesting. You'll notice the water tower in the
> background isn't hit.
>
> http://lightning.pwr.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp/lrg/temp/plane.html

Amazing!  I wonder how many times a year planes get hit and I wonder what it
does to the avionics.  I know on a sailboat it can do all sorts of bad
things to the instruments.  I wonder on a plane, how the lightning gets
dissipated.  Maybe it acts strictly like a conductor since there was also a
discharge to ground.

As for the water tower, I guess it must have been very well grounded.  I
guess it proves that good protection will help to prevent a strike from even
hitting you!

73,

Jon
NA9D

-------------------------------------
Jon Ogden
NA9D (ex: KE9NA)

Life Member: ARRL, NRA
Member:  AMSAT, DXCC

http://www.qsl.net/ke9na

"A life lived in fear is a life half lived."

_______________________________________________
AN Wireless Self Supporting Towers at discounted prices,
See http://www.mscomputer.com

Wireless Weather Stations now $349.95. Call Toll Free,
888-333-9041 for additional information.
_______________________________________________
Towertalk mailing list
Towertalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk