[TowerTalk] Static Discharge Porcupines?

[Patrick Greenlee]

My quick literature search showed the US Navy and others tested the ESD 
(Electrostatic Dissipation devices AKA porcupines) and found them to not 
reduce the frequency or number of lightning strikes on their test 
structures.

Seems counter-intuitive to me but I can't argue with their results as I 
have no experimental results to the contrary.  From what I read the 
porcupines can't handle the currents required to prevent the charge 
building up and having a strike.

I'm sure folks in the business of selling protective devices put the 
best face on their product as possible but...

In my early years I was taught that lightning rods were to prevent a 
strike by draining off the charge preventing a build up sufficient to 
make for a strike and to be well grounded with low resistance-low 
inductance paths to ground in case they took a strike. Oh well, 
empiricism trumps theory and or wishful thinking.

Patrick       NJ5G

On 8/7/2015 10:12 PM, Jim Lux wrote:
> On 8/7/15 7:39 PM, Tony wrote:
>>
>> All:
>>
>> I came across this video from Nott Ltd that describes how their static
>> discharge arrays or "Porcupines" help disapate static electricity to
>> prevent lightning strikes.
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYILAHIx2lk
>>
>> I understand they are used in several industries including
>> communications towers and was wondering if anyone has experience with
>> them. Installation is easy enough, but I wonder how this work work with
>> crank-ups?
>>
>
> Totally ineffective.
>
> You're not going to "dissipate" the charge in a thunderstorm.
>
> http://lists.contesting.com/_towertalk/2004-07/msg00971.html has a 
> discussion.  Run back and forth in the thread for more discussion.
>
>
>
>
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