[TowerTalk] CDwelding a tower leg

[David Gilbert]

I'm certainly no expert on lightning, but I thought that that idea you 
could avoid lightning strikes by dissipating static from the clouds 
above had been debunked as nonsense years ago.  A lightning rod may 
offer some protection to the structure by being the most attractive 
target for a strike, but I doubt that it significantly reduces the 
probability of a strike.  Most likely other members of this list are far 
more knowledgeable on that than I am.

The bottom line, though, is that just because you've never had a problem 
it doesn't mean that your system is properly engineered to avoid one.  
Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but we hear the same thing from hams who 
put up 60 feet of Rohn 25 without guying it ...

73,
Dave   AB7E




On 9/17/2012 7:52 AM, Frank wrote:
> Nope, never been hit by lightning in over 30 years of hamming. 
> Evidently you have had that misfortune.
>
> Ever wonder if there might be something you don't understand about 
> static build-up?
>
> My tower is grounded by virtue of the tower leg bottoms stuck in sand 
> and dirt below the concrete.  I don't need any additional grounding.
>
> The tower acts like a big lightning rod.  Contrary to popular belief, 
> lightning rods don't attract lightning, they dissipate static charge.  
> At least mine seems to work that way.  Your milage may differ.