[Towertalk] lightning-slightly off topic

[Jon Ogden]

on 10/6/02 10:55 AM, Kelly Taylor at ve4xt@mb.sympatico.ca wrote:

> Grounding isn't designed to ward off strikes; it's designed to channel them
> safely to ground. Indeed, the lightning rods you see on barns and some rural
> houses are specifically designed to attract hits (notice the sharp point) so
> tha the lightning rod and not the house or barn takes the hit.

At the same time though, grounding helps to eliminate static buildup on a
tower or object.  Preventing charge buildup helps prevent strikes.

So it does a dual purpose.  It does indeed help to ward off the strikes and
it does channel them to ground.

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."