Episode Idea: Lightning and protection systems

[nilium]

Hello Dave!

An idea for an episode just occurred to me, though it's not about electronics per se but about electrical engineering. I would love to hear your insights on lightning protection systems both large-scale and for the home. There are domestic products out there that claim can protect your appliances from lightning, but based on actual strikes and their aftermath I remain very skeptical about their effectiveness. I would buy that a proper lightning rod installed at a well-studied location is a good protection, but what can you do to protect a suburb/rural house without tall skyscrapers nearby to take the hit for you? When lightning hits a tree, the effects are quite nasty, especially for the house next to it... Even if your electrical installation were completely isolated, a surge could travel through your (TV/Internet) cable, phone line, etc. For example, would the devices powered by an isolated domestic UPS get any acceptable degree of protection against lightning, say that hits the front yard tree? How far from the "epicenter" does the danger extend?

Thank you in advance and I look forward to more awesome material from your vblog!

Nil

[wblackledg]

The new field of science focuses on lightning prevention. Protection is a given, and you shouldn't do anything without out it. But the new wave in lightning is in prevention using static dissipaters.

I'm making a few of these for my ham radio towers and such around the yard this winter.

http://www.nottltd.com/lightning.html

 

[mcinque]

I would love to hear your insights on lightning protection systems both large-scale and for the home

Me too! 

[jh15]

I used to use and sell the "porcupine" from The Wireman back in the 90's. http://www.thewireman.com/prodpix4.html product 8741.

You can buy it for under 30.00 if you uncomb it yourself.

Also used to demo the point source ionization phenomenon and showed kids they would no longer get the 'big spark' to their arm if I taped a thumbtack to a Van de Graff generator sphere.

The fun thing was to promise a kid that the tack would protect you if you were afraid to approach it but someone had removed it. (Not me of course, probably a teacher from the Wall album...)