[BC] Lightning

[Alan Alsobrook]

I suspect the area of glassification depends greatly on the moisture 
content of the soil. I.E. a strike when/where the ground is wet probably 
would not cause much of a problem. If you were in the middle of a 
drought and the ground was dry, it could possibly occur down the entire 
rod.

Bruce Doerle wrote:
> This is an excellent point of which one we should be aware.  The sand
> around the lightning rods can become glassified under extreme
> strikes.  But any strike strong enough to this will also bypass the
> 'prevention' devices anyway.  

Maybe maybe not, I still stick to my position that you can't prove this 
one way or the other.

> So there is not much you can do to
> really prevent glassification.  It is more important to develop you
> ground system to dissipate the energy across multiple lightning rods
> to reduce the currents and heat.  You can determine the affects of
> the glassification by measuring the earth resistance to ground system
> periodically or buy a shovel.  From what I understand most of the
> glassification really only takes place near the surface where the
> currents are the strongest.

> I need to come back up to your area soon to see the bird hatchlings
> out at the Alligator Farm.  Maybe we can get together when I get
> there.

Just let me know, I'd enjoy saying hello again :)

-- 
Alan Alsobrook CSRE AMD CBNT
St. Augustine Fl. 32086 904-829-8885
aalso at Bellsouth.net