On 7/19/2010 6:54 PM, Owen Duffy wrote:
The real danger with lightning protection is that a half baked approach
my give the implementor some comfort, but actually increase the risk of
adverse outcome.

The most thorough and consistent practice I have seen is that employed
here in mobile phone base stations. Sure, they are occasionally damaged
by lightning, but the vast majority of lightning incidents do not cause
permanent damage.

Owen

The biggest problem with lightning protection in my area is that the
local power company leaves the ground lines coiled up at the bottom of
the poles. On about half the poles I've checked.

When they put the new transformer in across the street from my house the
crew said they would be back to put in the ground rod. Nope. So I
called a friend that si a troubleshooter for the power company about 2
months later and told him about it. "Yup, I'll get somebody right
over." No joy 4 years later.

I lost $1500 dollars worth of gear last year because the only decent
ground was connected to my radio. And every bit of current that came
into the house on the power line exited that direction.

The power companies are likely the worst culprits from my perspective.
I have installed more grounds at my house than the rest of the street
has. Probably not all to spec, but safer than what wasn't here before.

I also discovered the dictionary definition of replacement cost is not
the same one the insurance industry uses. Big surprise.

tom
K0TAR

On 7/19/2010 8:06 PM, tom wrote:
On 7/19/2010 6:54 PM, Owen Duffy wrote:
The real danger with lightning protection is that a half baked approach
my give the implementor some comfort, but actually increase the risk of
adverse outcome.

The most thorough and consistent practice I have seen is that employed
here in mobile phone base stations. Sure, they are occasionally damaged
by lightning, but the vast majority of lightning incidents do not cause
permanent damage.

Owen

The biggest problem with lightning protection in my area is that the
local power company leaves the ground lines coiled up at the bottom of
the poles. On about half the poles I've checked.

When they put the new transformer in across the street from my house the
crew said they would be back to put in the ground rod. Nope. So I called
a friend that si a troubleshooter for the power company about 2 months
later and told him about it. "Yup, I'll get somebody right over." No joy
4 years later.

I lost $1500 dollars worth of gear last year because the only decent
ground was connected to my radio. And every bit of current that came
into the house on the power line exited that direction.

The power companies are likely the worst culprits from my perspective. I
have installed more grounds at my house than the rest of the street has.
Probably not all to spec, but safer than what wasn't here before.

I also discovered the dictionary definition of replacement cost is not
the same one the insurance industry uses. Big surprise.

tom
K0TAR

Methinks you need a professional engineer and good lawyer?

Marv
W5MTV

On 7/19/2010 9:31 PM, MTV wrote:
On 7/19/2010 8:06 PM, tom wrote:
On 7/19/2010 6:54 PM, Owen Duffy wrote:
The real danger with lightning protection is that a half baked approach
my give the implementor some comfort, but actually increase the risk of
adverse outcome.

The most thorough and consistent practice I have seen is that employed
here in mobile phone base stations. Sure, they are occasionally damaged
by lightning, but the vast majority of lightning incidents do not cause
permanent damage.

Owen

The biggest problem with lightning protection in my area is that the
local power company leaves the ground lines coiled up at the bottom of
the poles. On about half the poles I've checked.

When they put the new transformer in across the street from my house the
crew said they would be back to put in the ground rod. Nope. So I called
a friend that si a troubleshooter for the power company about 2 months
later and told him about it. "Yup, I'll get somebody right over." No joy
4 years later.

I lost $1500 dollars worth of gear last year because the only decent
ground was connected to my radio. And every bit of current that came
into the house on the power line exited that direction.

The power companies are likely the worst culprits from my perspective. I
have installed more grounds at my house than the rest of the street has.
Probably not all to spec, but safer than what wasn't here before.

I also discovered the dictionary definition of replacement cost is not
the same one the insurance industry uses. Big surprise.

tom
K0TAR

Methinks you need a professional engineer and good lawyer?

Marv
W5MTV

To deal with a monopoly? Approved by federal, state and local
government? Of both corrupt colors?

You are a comedian.

tom
K0TAR

On 7/20/2010 11:24 AM, Jim Higgins wrote:
On Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:40:04 -0500, wrote:

On 7/19/2010 9:31 PM, MTV wrote:
On 7/19/2010 8:06 PM, tom wrote:

I lost $1500 dollars worth of gear last year because the only decent
ground was connected to my radio. And every bit of current that came
into the house on the power line exited that direction.

Methinks you need a professional engineer and good lawyer?

Marv
W5MTV

To deal with a monopoly? Approved by federal, state and local
government? Of both corrupt colors?

You are a comedian.

tom
K0TAR


The value to the consumer of his state Public Utilities Commission
varies by state, but in those states where the PUC is good, the
utilities crap themselves when the PUC contacts them about something
like this. Maybe give it a try.


Minnesota is very similar to Illinois, and seems to be about as corrupt
in the way that only long entrenched Democrat machines can be. They're
just much nicer and friendlier about it. Which is a great disguise in
most cases, and helps the news crews put a positive spin on all the
nonsense that happens here.

I think I'll forego the pleasure of dealing with any state level
bureaucracies, thanks.

But thanks for the advice, I do appreciate it.

tom
K0TAR