While you are continuing your luck streak, think again about a possible
lightning strike. The energy in a typical strike is many times the amount
you can bleed off with your tower/antenna system. If you get unlucky and
happen to take a direct strike, damage will be directly proportional to your
grounding system impedance.
73, Keith NM5G
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Doug Renwick
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 9:07 AM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Grounding base slab and pier tower bases
Not true in my case. Before I installed the porcupine my mast bleed off the
charge. A number of years ago I added the porcupine and my mast/porcupine
combo still bleeds off the charge. In other words, my addition of the
porcupine did not have a negative effect. In almost 30 years I have not had
any lightning damage. One of my mottos is 'experience trumps theory EVERY
time' and this is another example.
Doug/VA5DX
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Grounding base slab and pier tower bases
If you want to minimize the chance of a lightning strike to your tower do
not place a device on the top with sharp points. A blunt point rod should be
placed at the top.
The so called lightning preventers or porcupine items do nothing to abate a
strike. In fact they can increase the chance of a lightning strike by
providing sharp points where early streamers can form. There is no way to
"bleed off" any energy from a tower as the earth can re-supply it many times
faster than you can get rid of it.
73
Gary K4FMX
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