While we are on the subject of lightning, let me mention a friend. I went to
school with Scott Bradley, more years ago than I care to contemplate. While I
went to learn about electronics, Scotty decided to make some money on the wheat
thrashing circuit.
Scott was found dead after one of those dry prairie thunderstorms you get in
the Dakotas, lying by his truck a few feet from a windmill tower. He thought
the tower would act as a lightning rod, and it would be safe enough to step out
and take care of a little urgent business. Lightning hit the tower, and the
induction field paralyzed his heart nerves.
Since then many hikers and campers have been found "mysteriously dead" near
lightning blasted trees. Death by induced electromagnetic field is a recognized
"act of God." And that is cause for thought for those of us who put up Rohn or
other makes of "neighborhood lightning rods."
YOU DO NOT want to be within fifty feet of a lightning strike under any
circumstances. If it is at all possible locate your tower as far from your
house/shack/occupied building as it is humanly possible. Do provide an adequate
and preferably redundant ground for the tower, and for any cabling to and from
the tower. This is one case where more is not only better, the best you can do
is not enough.
73 Pete Allen AC5E
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