[BC] AM transmitter lightning sensitivity issue

[WBRadiolists at aol.com]

In a message dated 05/22/2008 1:57:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
rex at verticalradio.org writes:

> Yes, Some of the "Brain Trust" don't believe in the charge
>  dissipation ((Ground-Air-Charge dielectric bleed Off,)
>  "My description")
>  but they don't have to drive to my site!
>  Rex Lee _KNMI

I believe in it. The pointy ends of these dissipators take advantage of the 
discharge effect from a point. I saw this in smal-scale with my own eyes, with 
a tabletop VanDeGraaf generator. It had a built-in ball gap about two inches 
away that arced-over about every 2 seconds. If I held my finger about an inch 
from the ball, the static would build up until a small arc would jump the gap 
to my finger, about once a second. When I held the tip of a key at the same 
distance from the ball, there was no arc, just a soft purplish glow at the point 
at the end of the key. I could not draw an arc to the pointy key at all, at 
any distance! Holding the key within an inch or so also stopped the arcs at the 
built-in ball gap.

The point of the key was obviously causing the charge to "bleed off" long 
before it could build up enough to jump the gap to a smoother object. (I think 
it's called Corona Effect?) Having MANY points, those tower-mounted static 
dissipators are quite effective at discharging static into the air/cloud, thus 
preventing it from building up enough energy to initiate a strike. I would venture 
a guess that they would be effective at preventing nearly all lighting 
strikes, except those where the charge is so massive and builds-up so quickly, it 
cannot be dissipated in time. In that case, you're most likely going to have 
something get "toasted", anyway.

Willie...





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