In message , J. Mc Laughlin
writes
There is more to the Franklin rods used in England: George III is said to
have required the ends to be converted to round from pointed when the
Revolution started - a pointed slam at Dr. Franklin. Nevertheless, the
houses (once there were two) of parliament were protected by Dr. Franklin's
rods.
It would have been so easy for the English to have co-opted Dr. Franklin
and quite changed the course of history. Instead, he conned the French out
of the critical support needed to win our freedom. 73 Mac N8TT
--
J. Mc Laughlin; Michigan U.S.A.
Home:
Very interesting! However the American Benjamin Franklin's pointed
lightning rods (it was not a British design) was never scientifically
challenged until a couple of years ago. Scientists have now shown that
blunt-tipped air terminals are attached by lightning with significantly
higher frequency than sharp tipped rods are. Pretty amazing that it took
over 230 years to "discover" this! So scrap the concept that a sharp edge
attracts charges, at least it does not attract lighting, the ultimate
charge.
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/reso...ghtn-rod-tests
.htm
http://www.esdjournal.com/articles/f...n/franklin.htm
http://www.mikeholt.com/news/archive...tningblunt.htm
etc, etc
Jack Painter
Virginia Beach VA
In message , J. Mc Laughlin
writes
There is more to the Franklin rods used in England: George III is said to
have required the ends to be converted to round from pointed when the
Revolution started - a pointed slam at Dr. Franklin. Nevertheless, the
houses (once there were two) of parliament were protected by Dr. Franklin's
rods.
It would have been so easy for the English to have co-opted Dr. Franklin
and quite changed the course of history. Instead, he conned the French out
of the critical support needed to win our freedom. 73 Mac N8TT
--
J. Mc Laughlin; Michigan U.S.A.
Home:
'Protected' is the word. What is not always appreciated is that the
primary purpose of lightning rods (usually called 'lightning conductors'
in the UK) is to PREVENT a strike by allowing the electrical charge to
leak away before sufficient voltage builds up to cause an actual strike.
Ian.
--