[TowerTalk] spider balls.. they work

[Jerry Keller]

I'm glad we agree. But if you go back and re-read all the previous posts, risk reduction was all I was ever saying.

73,  Jerry K3BZ


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Keith Dutson 
  To: TowerTalk 
  Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 11:36 AM
  Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] spider balls.. they work


  Well, the truth finally comes out!  Thanks for the clarification of your
  view.  Now we are in agreement. :)

  Keith

  -----Original Message-----
  From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
  [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jerry Keller
  Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 10:32 AM
  To: keith at dutson.net; TowerTalk
  Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] spider balls.. they work

  Keith... I beg to differ.  There's two things I think just about everyone
  agrees on:  
  (1) the wisdom of proper grounding systems to handle a strike when one
  occurs.... and.... 
  (2) a strike cannot (yet) be absolutely prevented.... that is, the risk of a
  strike cannot be reduced to zero. 

  The claims for spiderballs and similar pointy things at the top of towers
  address reducing the risk of a strike, not preventing one. 

  73,  Jerry K3BZ

  .
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Keith Dutson
    To: TowerTalk
    Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 9:19 AM
    Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] spider balls.. they work


    Your subject line says "they work" but you do not describe the claim of
  what
    they are supposed to do.  This is highly misleading.  Most of the posts on
    this thread have referred to advertising that claims these devices can be
    employed to prevent lightning strikes.  What are you claiming?

    Keith

    -----Original Message-----
    From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
    [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Norman Hockler
    Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 1:14 AM
    To: TowerTalk at contesting.com
    Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] spider balls.. they work

    Ok, here is what I have observed.

    In the 40's as a teenager I was crew on a wooden 100 ft sailing ship every
    summer for 8 years.
    We saw St. Elmos fire all the time.  It would shoot out from the spar ends
    and screw or bolt ends.

    About the 3rd or 4th year the owner bought some spider balls ( they were
    called spline balls.)  and they were installed on the mast head of the
  fore
    and main masts.

    The result was most of the St Elmo fire was dissipated by them and very
    little could be observed from the spar ends.

    Would this result in lowering the likely hood of a lightning strike on my
    tower...... who knows.... but it did move most of the discharges to the
    "sharp pointy spline balls"

    Norm Hockler
    N8NH



    _______________________________________________

    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
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    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.

    _______________________________________________
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  _______________________________________________

  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.

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