[TowerTalk] Porcupine

[W5CPT]

One of my jobs while in the military was installing and maintaining towers and antennas. On most, but not all of the towers I serviced in Okinawa had a "Porcupine" mounted on the top shelf. I asked an OIC (Officer in Charge), who was an EE, why they were there and he gave me the static discharge explanation. I then started looking closely at them and never saw any char or burn marks on the ends of the "needles". I also deduced that if they did in fact work, after a while they would have to be replaced as the ends of the "needles" burned off.  In five years of working on those towers I never replaced one.  Lightning was very prevalent there to the point that we once lost an entire aluminum tower to a strike (it was GONE - nothing but base bolts and silvery dust on the coral where it used to be) so I know the conditions were right for that sort of protection.  I realize this is anecdotal evidence but I think it is a theoretical idea without real world proof.

I am however open for any information and am willing to listen to any and all arguments.

Clint - W5CPT
 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ron Todd 
  To: towertalk at contesting.com 
  Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 6:46 AM
  Subject: [TowerTalk] Porcupine


  Does the Porcupine work for static discharge. Wire man price is $32. I dont want to wast my money.
  _______________________________________________



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