All:
Read this, it's very informative. It turns out the lightning strikes
aren't always to the highest conducting object, e.g. light poles or even
metal towers. It's all about a positive (opposite) induced charge build
up on the ground. Lightning arresters don't necessarily cause a strike
on the top of a building but only prove a high current path to ground
to mitigate damage to the structure. Strikes often occur on parking lots
where numerous light poles exist and are Not hit. So it's all about the
amount of built up charge and not necessarily its proximity. Lightning
damage is more like to come via your AC power lines than a direct mast
or tower strike.
Last summer many of the electronic devices in my house were killed
due to massive strike 2 blocks from my house. I lost at repair cost of
~$2K and months of my time:
1) The Garage door controller,
2) All my Comcast video (not internet) boxes,
3) One of my A/C thermostats,
4) My Ice box ice maker controller,
5) My kitchen disposal unit,
6) An Uninterrutpable AC box (UPS), and
6) One LED light bulb.
This damage was distributed between the garage apt. and my house.
None of my Ham equipment was harmed (sheer luck?).
73, Gary
https://www.iii.org/article/lightning-safety-10-myths-and-the-facts
On 5/25/2021 11:28 PM, gmuller12103 via BVARC wrote:
Lived in Houston for 27 yrs and have a 2 mtr on the roof and beam up
45 to 50 ft and never had a lightning 🌩 strike.
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Mike Lambert via BVARC <[email protected]>
Date: 5/25/21 10:35 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <[email protected]>
Cc: Mike Lambert <[email protected]>
Subject: [BVARC] roof antenna lightning strikes
How common are home roof antenna (12 foot or less) lightning strikes in
Houston?
How many BVARC folks have had a lightning strike on their radio (or TV)
antenna (elevation 12 foot or less) on their roof?
Is this a Stir-Crazy Net subject?
Thanks,
Mike
KI5MIK
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--
Gary Sitton, K5AMH
[email protected]
SDR/DSP Consultant,
"Have FFTs, Will Travel."
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