[TowerTalk] Porqupines

[David Robbins K1TTT]

And what would happen if you could 'siphon off' enough charge?  The
manufacturers of those things say the prevent strikes by either bleeding off
enough charge to prevent the streamer or ionizing enough air around them to
hide the object.  Neither of those makes sense and have been very soundly
rebutted by very reputable researchers.


David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
> bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of K4SB
> Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 20:21
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Porqupines
> 
> David Robbins K1TTT wrote:
> > They are supposed to prevent lightning hits.  Just think about this
> though,
> > if porcupines dissipated enough charge to prevent lightning why would
> > lightning EVER hit a pine tree that has many more sharp points on it,
> let
> > alone anywhere near a huge pine forest!
> -------------
> I think we're talking metal vs another type of conductor. Porcupines
> are not made to prevent a strike, but to siphon off static electricity
> and prevent it from reaching a critical point.
> 
> Good case: Next time you go flying, take a look at the trailing edge
> of the wing. Those little 6" or so stubs are porcupines. You may also
> find them at other points on the aircraft.
> 
> Believe me, during my flying days, I got hit by lightning on the
> windshield wiper blade nut so many times I couldn't count it. Still as
> scary as the first time...well maybe second time.
> 
> One way I used to sorta predict when it was about to hit was to turn
> on a LF radio. When the noise level increased dramatically, it wax
> time to hunker down.
> 
> 73
> Ed
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