[TowerTalk] Lightning in the Earth

[Pat Barthelow]

>From: kb9cry at comcast.net (Phil Camera) Said:
(snip)
We do know from our Electricity 101 class, that electrical induction is a 
proven phenomena and if a large enough voltage is applied near a conductor, 
a current WILL be induced.
**********
.....25 Years ago, I was using  the K6LY Navy School Club Station, which was 
in a metal building, inside the  base of a 120 ft Metal tower, 20 ft on a 
side,  and had a  TH-6DXX tribander on top.  We experienced one of the rare 
thunderstorms of the area, so I disconnected the HF antenna coax, from the 
HF station, and placed it about 2" from the steel enclosed cable tray that 
was embedded in the concrete floor.
I sat back and operated handheld VHF, while listening to the thunder and 
lightning outside.  Most of the observable lightning flashes, you could see 
indirectly, through the windows, caused a powerful POP, and brilliant 
Flashover arc between the coax (shield, probably) and the grounded steel 
cable box, and the smell of ozone.  It was a memorable wait out of a rare 
thunderstorm in Monterey.  No direct hits, but it would have probably been 
wiser to toss the HF antenna Coax out the widow, to keep potential BIG 
sparks outside.

All the Best, 73,
Pat Barthelow     aa6eg at hotmail.com
http://www.jamesburgdish.org
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Jamesburg Earth Station  Moon Bounce Team