Re: [TenTec] RE: Power Supply & Equip. grounding

[Curtis Rossow <curtisa@surfbest.net>]

> I remember seeing a  long and large braided lightning down lead that has 
> endured the passage of time.  While I was visiting Florence I went up to 
> the top of the Cupola on the Duomo at the cathederal. We were 65 meters 
> above ground level and the ornimental lantern rose another 22 meters.

While I was there I noticed the ground braid that came down from the top of 
the lantern. The braid was two to three inches in diameter. It had a green 
patina which showed that it had been there for some time.

I know that it did its job. About twenty minutes after we came down from 
the top we walked about two blocks towards our hotel we heard a loud roar. 
It started raining in a downpour. I am sure that the roar was from a 
lightning strike on the cathedral.

I would have liked to go backup and look at the ground braid. I am sure 
that it was still intact.

From this experience I am sure that braid does work for grounding.

Curt Rossow NU7R

> > Even better than braid in a lightning dissipation strap is wide flat copper
> > strap.
> >
> > Braid could explode if struck at a tower with a direct hit.
>
> Now I wonder why the FAA specifies "woven lightning down leads" rather 
> than solid conductors.  This lightning protection is located on the long 
> range radars radome.  Several lightning rods (with very sharp points are 
> locate around the external surface of the  radome.  These are connected to 
> a ciruclar ring of woven cable which has a couple of woven down leads that 
> eventuall connect to the tower down lead which is also woven wire (this is 
> some pretty big wire and the "strands" are pretty healthy size.  For some 
> reason solid coductors were prohibited.......
>
> 73, de wd4air
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Take advantage of our best MSN Dial-up offer of the year ? six months 
> @$9.95/month. Sign up now! http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec