[BC] Lightning

[Bruce Doerle]

Alan,

I have not seen one of your systems, but I think Mario is confusing grounding with lightning protect.  We had a "consulant" with a PE and PHD do the design specs for our site before I was hired; he was going to use #8 wire to interconnect 18 20' ground rods.  I would not give you nickel for the value of his worthless work.  This guy has no idea about the ground conductivity of Central Florida yet alone the propagation considerations of RF in flat terrain with frequent temperature inversions.  Our lightning system conforms to NFPA 780 and the grounding system supercedes NEC.  Supercedes creates a problem; if it does not match the NEC code exactly, you really have to explain why you are using ground strap over #2 stranded wire.  It was a pain, but we proved our point and a local FL PE did qualify our ground system as we designed it.  I have written before, it works, and moreover, we don't have problems with the numerous lightning hit we get.  (That is a cut at the guy who said if "I'll take a 50% to 90% reduction in lightning strikes to my tower ANY day.")  You can lots of hits safely or you can take a few safely and suffer greatly because you believe in something that really cannot prevent a hit. Alan, if you you have it write, great.  I know you get many hits too, you are not far off our corridor.  Keep up the good work.

Bruce


>>> radiotech at bellsouth.net 05/23/05 5:57 PM >>>
But by who?
Mario, Mario Mario.. hehe I'll take one of my lightning systems any day over many I have seen 
designed by PE's..
Obviously I'm not a PE, and to go back and finish the schooling required to get it would drive me 
crazy. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn express last night.. Ohh Wait I'm in a LaQuinta.. darn


Mario Hieb, P.E. wrote:
> But I respectfully disagree about lightning...
> 
> Improperly designed lightning systems have killed people, destroyed 
> property, etc. I believe that in Florida, a lightning systems design 
> must get stamped along with other electrical designs.




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