[TowerTalk] Porcupines

[David Robbins K1TTT]

>From the last time this came up:
http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/Towertalk/2004-03/msg00380.html

btw, as to my qualifications: I work for the Electric Power Research
Institute at their high voltage lab in Lenox, Ma that was built by John
Anderson back in the 50's and we still use him as a consultant for lightning
and other research.  It was much of his research plus experimental work that
we did in Lenox that went into about 8 years of development of our TFlash
lightning protection software that I have developed, supported, and taught
classes on to utility engineers.


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 Ken Kinyon
> Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 21:34
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Porcupines
> 
> Ok,
> I usually sit here and read all the BS that goes on on this reflector and
> bite my tongue.  This time I have gotten annoyed enough to react. I have a
> degree in atmospheric Science from a reputable university and have spent a
> fair amount of time studying thunderstorms and their associated effects.
> If
> you really think there is nothing to  lightning rods, porcupines, static
> wicks and the like I would like to move next to you and put a bunch up on
> my
> own towers.  The argument about pine trees is irrelevant, because they
> have
> a high resistive path to ground.
> Please tell me who these reputable researchers are.  I don't have any
> problem with you expressing your opinion, it is as valuable as mine.  but
> if
> you are going to fall back on reputable researchers, you can at least let
> us
> know where this info is coming from.
> Regards,
> Ken W7TS
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -------------------
> Kenneth E.  Kinyon
> 34 Princeton Circle
> Longmont, CO 80503-2106
> -----------------------
> E-mail: W7TS at comcast.net
> ------------------
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> > [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of David Robbins
> > K1TTT
> > Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 1:36
> > To: towertalk at contesting.com
> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Porqupines
> >
> >
> > 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
> > > _______________________________________________
> > >
> > > 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.
> 
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> TowerTalk mailing list
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