I was standing on the receiving dock (in Houston Texas where 20% chance of rain means 20% of Houston WILL get rained on - often with strong lightning {Summer time}). A colleague of mine and myself were standing, talking when we heard this crackling sound (Streamers). Almost immediately after that we saw the flash (the light from the flash not the bolt) and less than a second later the crash of the thunder. It was daytime. But it would have been interesting to see those streamers, as they CAN be seen sometimes at night. Still, the parking lot lights would have probably obscured them.A lightning strike is initiated by what are called "streamers". A "streamer" is an invisible stream of electrically charged particles emanating from a source. When a "streamer" from point A meets a "streamer" from point B, a lightning bolt forms between these two points.
We have to follow the electrical codes. In my area, it calls for 2 rods.Every location has different issues for ground rods... Use what works for you...
Are you in Canada? Max keeps saying that but here in Georgia we only drive one rod for panel grounding. At work megging was speced and I can't remember if that was per NEC or Corporate standards. If megging failed then we drove a 2nd rod. And we used 10' rods at work. Gotta find my NEC code book, had it my hands a few weeks ago and now can't find it.We have to follow the electrical codes. In my area, it calls for 2 rods.
Commonly used here, the neutral is bonded to the incoming copper water supply for Ground reference..I would not use a buried copper water supply line with actual water in it as a lightning ground, any quick thermal expansion of the pipe/water could crack it and cause a water leak.
Also allowable standard NEC practice where ground rod cannot be driven. IE rocky soil. Not up on the codes for commercial and multiunit housing construction.Commonly used here, the neutral is bonded to the incoming copper water supply for Ground reference..
The problem with the NEC Code here in the US is not only the changes, my last revision was 2008, but the fact that state and even local codes can trump the NEC. Most states and localities just run with the NEC rather than regulate their own codes but not all.Are you in Canada? Max keeps saying that but here in Georgia we only drive one rod for panel grounding. At work megging was speced and I can't remember if that was per NEC or Corporate standards. If megging failed then we drove a 2nd rod. And we used 10' rods at work. Gotta find my NEC code book, had it my hands a few weeks ago and now can't find it.
Absolutely and you guys are a commercial station. The Empire State Building is home to dozens of commercial antennas and they average two strikes a month. Interesting is that when the building takes a hit lightening does not always strike the very top antennas, the building also gets strikes on the sides. NSA Spook, does lightening always strike the top of your tower or does it also strike the sides? Just a curiosity thing.The NEC ground rod specs are for electrical safety not lighting protection. Our station antennas/receiver/transmitter facilities would get lightning strikes several times a month will no damage to equipment or the RF grounding system because we had real lighting protection installed in addition to electrical safety grounding.
by Aaron Carman
by Aaron Carman
by Jake Hertz
by Duane Benson