[TowerTalk] spider balls

Jerry Keller k3bz at arrl.net
Wed Jul 28 09:44:07 EDT 2004 

No, I don't sell spiderballs or anything else. I don't use a spiderball either. But I constantly hear this or that about how lightning will or won't strike here or there for whatever reason... and as far as I can see lightning seems to have a mind of its own. If an argument is to be made without proof against the efficacy of spiderballs....or similar devices intended to bleed off charges before they build up to dangerous levels....then I see no reason why an argument cannot be made in favor of them, without proof. 

When I think of lightning's behavior, I can't help but remember the behavior of the static charges from that huge VandeGraf generator at the science museum, and the guy in the Faraday cage who explained about the buildup of electrons and how they discharge in a lightning bolt across the gap when the difference in potential builds up and gets large enough. And I can't help but think of pointy gadgets at the top of towers and how over time the points get all burned from bleeding off excess electrons into the atmosphere or whatever they do.....corona, or whatever they call it... so an excess doesn't build up.

But hey, lightning seems pretty much unpredictable, I'm certainly no expert, and I sure don't want to get into an argument on either side of the issue. No matter what side they are on, though, folks seem to like to watch the sparks fly....

73,  Jerry K3BZ
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Keith Dutson 
  To: 'Towertalk Reflector' 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 11:37 PM
  Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] spider balls


  Interesting viewpoint.  Do you sell these devices?  Sounds like the same
  argument used by some who buy lottery tickets: "If you don't buy a ticket,
  you can't win the lottery."  Statistically, there is a better chance of
  being hit by lightning inside your home than winning the lottery.  I use my
  money to buy towers. 8^)

    _____  

  From: Jerry Keller [mailto:k3bz at arrl.net] 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 10:16 PM
  To: keith at dutson.net; 'Towertalk Reflector'
  Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] spider balls


  snip...
  "Never heard of any proof that they
  work as advertised, to lessen the risk of a strike."
  snip
   
  Never heard of any proof they don't work, either. 
   
  73, Jerry K3BZ

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Keith  <mailto:kjdutson at earthlink.net> Dutson 
  To: 'Towertalk Reflector' <mailto:towertalk at contesting.com>  
  Cc: 'CQ Contest' <mailto:cq-contest at contesting.com>  
  Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 9:21 PM
  Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] spider balls

  I have one of these but never installed.  Never heard of any proof that they
  work as advertised, to lessen the risk of a strike.  Decided it likely could
  not be proven anyway.

  Keith

  -----Original Message-----
  From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
  [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Grillo's
  Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 7:47 PM
  To: Towertalk Reflector
  Cc: CQ Contest
  Subject: [TowerTalk] spider balls

  Since we are on the subject of lightning, has anyone ever used "spider
  balls" to dissipate energy thereby eliminating strikes on the structure?
  These are a steel rod with over 200 fine spiked elements about 2 ft. long
  each that create a cluster of very sharp spikes.

  Can you visualize this?  I have three spider balls and am considering
  installing one each about 40 feet up from the guy anchors on the steel guys
  that would be connected to the anchor rods.  The balance of the guy lines up
  to the top of the 120' tower are polyphaser cable, so are insulated.  I
  would install three copper ground grids at each guy point and link them
  together with underground copper cable.

  The other thought is to mount them on top of the 120' tower and put one
  ground grid under the tower.

  I'm looking for alternatives before the concrete gets poured in 2 weeks....

  Pete
  W0RTT


  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Tom Rauch" <w8ji at contesting.com>
  To: <keith at dutson.net>; "'TowerTalk'" <towertalk at contesting.com>
  Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 2:18 PM
  Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Lightning Strike - Epilogue


  > > Analysis of the damage has revealed that the lines running
  > from main house
  > > to shack need to be grounded.  But I have decided on a
  > better solution.  The
  > > telephone line will be replaced with a new connection that
  > will enter the
  > > shack in a different location that is far from the power
  > entrance.  The LAN
  > > connection will be wireless.  The TV connection will be
  > removed and a new
  > > dish will be installed for the shack.
  >
  > Keith, I think you are making a mistake. You should bring
  > all lines in at the same point, and bypass and ground them
  > at that point.
  >
  > Moving a telephone line to the opposite end of the building
  > is asking for trouble.
  >
  > Adding a separate small dish is OK, as long as it too enters
  > near the power line and all share a common ground.
  >
  > > BTW, the bolt apparently hit the power lines in front of
  > the house, after
  > > the transformer.  The lines enter a weatherhead on another
  > pole and run
  > > through underground conduit to the main breaker panel.
  > The 200 amp main
  > > breaker did not get tripped.
  >
  > Maybe it there, but most likely not. The problems occured
  > because current passed through your equipment on the way to
  > different "grounds". From the extent of the damage when
  > considering the nearly total lack of protection, it doesn't
  > sound at all like a direct hit on your service entrance.
  >
  > Lightning might hit your tower and a large portion of the
  > strike current will flow from the power line, since it is
  > such a massive ground. It may hit a power line, and current
  > flow from your tower ground through your equipment. It may
  > have hit tree down the street, or a mile away.
  >
  >  The wireless LAN is good because it totally eliminates a
  > path. The TV feed change at best won't help very much, and
  > if you install a dish away from the power line entrance it
  > can make the problem much worse than simply having a
  > properly installed cable follow the power line to the shack.
  > Moving the telco line away from the power line entrance will
  > certainly make things much worse.
  >
  > The last thing we ever want to do is to isolate devices, and
  > intentionally create multiple grounds and entrance points
  > into a structure or equipment cluster. It is the worse
  > possible thing to do.  This is why everyone universally
  > recommends common point grounds and single point entrances.
  > It's why telco and CATV lines enter near the utility
  > entrance and share the same ground.
  >
  > You might consider looking at commercial installations and
  > rethinking your plans. The next hit could be a disaster.
  >
  > 73 Tom
  >
  >
  > _______________________________________________
  >
  > See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
  Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
  questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
  >
  > _______________________________________________
  > TowerTalk mailing list
  > TowerTalk at contesting.com
  > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
  >


  _______________________________________________

  See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
  Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
  questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

  _______________________________________________
  TowerTalk mailing list
  TowerTalk at contesting.com
  http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

  _______________________________________________

  See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
  Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
  questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

  _______________________________________________
  TowerTalk mailing list
  TowerTalk at contesting.com
  http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk


  _______________________________________________

  See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

  _______________________________________________
  TowerTalk mailing list
  TowerTalk at contesting.com
  http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

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