[TowerTalk] Lightning avoidance

[john at kk9a.com]

You can lessen ther risks of your tower being hit by lightning by lowering 
it or moving it to an area less lightning prone.   Painting or coating the 
system will not help.  You should accept that fact that the tower will get 
hit and invest in appropriate protection equipment to lessen the damage.  My 
antenna system has taken a number of direct hits and it's never fun.

73,
John



To: <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Lightning avoidance
From: "Dan Schaaf" <dan-schaaf at att.net>
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:54:14 -0400
List-post: <towertalk at contesting.com">mailto:towertalk at contesting.com>

I live in an area (SW FL ) which has an average of 90 lightning days per 
year.
We really get hit hard with lightning. Is there any way to avoid a direct 
hit
on an antenna by painting the antenna or coating the antenna with plastic or
shrink tubing to remove the metal to air contact? Basically insulating the
aluminum like an insulated wire.

Vy 73, Dan K3ZXL
http://www.k3zxl.com