[Brokenfriend]

I enjoyed lightning storms before I was a teenager with my neighbor who became a scientist,and storm chaser.

When I became interested in Scanner radios,and short wave radio,I worry about those antennas being struck by lightening. I even have two antennas on the back of my car for listening to a scanner,and short wave radio at the same time. I have a third antenna for AM,and FM music.

I know. It sounds strange. BF

[Mari]

Originally Posted by Brokenfriend

I enjoyed lightning storms before I was a teenager with my neighbor who became a scientist,and storm chaser.

Oh, yeah. Steve.

I can see that. . . . especially if you had a scientific neighbor.

(I think I hate loud storms more now than I did when I was younger. I am more sensitive to sound.)

Yes. I understand about equipment concerns.
Right now you have what you need and the antennas are working for you.
I hope that that continues.

M

[Theta Z]

Originally Posted by Mari

Oh, yeah. Steve.

I can see that. . . . especially if you had a scientific neighbor.

(I think I hate loud storms more now than I did when I was younger. I am more sensitive to sound.)

Yes. I understand about equipment concerns.
Right now you have what you need and the antennas are working for you.
I hope that that continues.

M

I noted that last year, Mari, that there was a totally different quality to some thunderstorms. About this time of year on the best coast.

It was almost unnatural, just how big, how booming, how loud, shaking the house, feeling the vibrations in my very body of of the intense crack and rolling boom, like artillery or bombs.

It was one of the two most terrifying thunderstorms of my life.
I was all alone and seriously ill with cellulitis for that one. No one to call.
Scary as he**._

The other was decades ago in the Black Hills of North Dakota ... Camping no less! We prayed aloud and fervently through that one!
It was the sweetest most peaceful, calm, quiet morning/day following that, with lots of folks coming together to help, assist, share dry clothing, food, etc.
My friend and I drove to town to a fave thrift store to buy warm clothing, mittens, socks, boots, hats, etc for the little kids in camp.

A good storm can bring out such an instant authentic sense of community, naturally working together for the greater good.

Or in my case last year, the frightening realization of just how alone and vulnerable we can become.
I've lost my fearlessness, I'm sorry to say.
I am no longer the intrepid younger woman I was.

They tell me out here that the NW coast doesn't get thunderstorms. Odd.

[Brokenfriend]

I've noticed the BOOMINGsound in the Spring thunderstorms in the last several years.

We had black clouds all over the place on Thursday afternoon. I experienced four thunderstorms.

I have antennas on top of the house,and the antennas,and radios are grounded with several deep ground rods. I have a couple of big copper wires coming into the radio room from the ground rods that have been driven into the ground.

I have one radio's outside antenna plugged into the scanner right now,but I'm going to unplug,and secure the antenna end into a glass mason jar that is filled with rubber,and has a ground wire right over the mason jar. Any lightning theoretically will follow the copper into the ground. I do this to often. To much information. Sorry BF

[Mari]

Originally Posted by Brokenfriend

s.

[B] Any lightning theoretically will follow the copper into the ground. I do this to often. To much information. Sorry BF

Steve,

That makes perfect sense.
Can one ground a computer? I only have a surge protector.

When we first started using computers back in the early 90 s / old AOL days, people told me to get off until the storm passed.

Mari

[Brokenfriend]

Originally Posted by Mari

Steve,

That makes perfect sense.
Can one ground a computer? I only have a surge protector.

When we first started using computers back in the early 90 s / old AOL days, people told me to get off until the storm passed.

Mari

Hey Mari My computer isn't grounded,but the electric system of the house is grounded. If there is a terrible thunderstorm,a surge protector,and unclipping the telephone wire from the wall behind the computer should be sufficient. My satellite TV receiver box is grounded,because the satellite Dish could be struck by lightening. So anything with a outside antenna needs to be grounded.

I'm not a electrician,or an expert by any means. These are some things that I have learned over the years.

The electric system of this house is basically protected by the ground rods that I have driven into the ground. If there isn't a ground rod protecting your electric system,I'd get it grounded. It takes a standard 8 foot ground rod to protect the electric system. Lightening wants to go into the ground,so the ground rod protecting the electric system is a good idea. A ground wire from the rod in the ground can be attached to a metal screw in the back of the computer cabinet case. It's not needed if the electric system in the house is already properly grounded,but you can.

The electric outlet in the houses standard plugs can be checked to see if they are grounded with a ten dollar electric outlet polarity socket checking device from Lowes. I believe that the electric power supply in the computer is grounded by the electric power outlet if it is grounded through the electric systems ground.

It's complicated because people will tell you different things. I've had one of my antennas struck by lightening,but the lightening didn't come down into the radio room,and the antenna was heavily grounded,and the lightening went right into the ground. It could have because you never ever know exactly what lightening will do.

What I get concerned about is the tall transmitter,and reciever antennas on top of this house could get struck by lightening,and the lightening can come down in the room where I have my radio transmitters,and receivers. One of those antennas are over 20 feet tall on top of about 20 feet of mast,attached to the chimney on a second floor,and there are wires called guide wires to keep the antenna in place during high winds.

I have two scanner antennas on top of the roof,and one is attached to the back of the house with about 30 feet of mast. I have two other dipole antennas that are horizontal.

I'm not an expert,or an electrician. I just know the basics. I hope that this helps. I hope that I didn't make it to complicated. If anyone out there is a electrician,please feel free to add anything that could be helpful. BF

[Mari]

Originally Posted by Brokenfriend

Hey Mari My computer isn't grounded,but the electric system of the house is grounded. If there is a terrible thunderstorm,a surge protector,and unclipping the telephone wire from the wall behind the computer should be sufficient. My satellite TV receiver box is grounded,because the satellite Dish could be struck by lightening. So anything with a outside antenna needs to be grounded.

I'm not a electrician,or an expert by any means. These are some things that I have learned over the years.

The electric system of this house is basically protected by the ground rods that I have driven into the ground. If there isn't a ground rod protecting your electric system,I'd get it grounded. It takes a standard 8 foot ground rod to protect the electric system. Lightening wants to go into the ground,so the ground rod protecting the electric system is a good idea. A ground wire from the rod in the ground can be attached to a metal screw in the back of the computer cabinet case. It's not needed if the electric system in the house is already properly grounded,but you can.

The electric outlet in the houses standard plugs can be checked to see if they are grounded with a ten dollar electric outlet polarity socket checking device from Lowes. I believe that the electric power supply in the computer is grounded by the electric power outlet if it is grounded through the electric systems ground.

It's complicated because people will tell you different things. I've had one of my antennas struck by lightening,but the lightening didn't come down into the radio room,and the antenna was heavily grounded,and the lightening went right into the ground. It could have because you never ever know exactly what lightening will do.

What I get concerned about is the tall transmitter,and reciever antennas on top of this house could get struck by lightening,and the lightening can come down in the room where I have my radio transmitters,and receivers. One of those antennas are over 20 feet tall on top of about 20 feet of mast,attached to the chimney on a second floor,and there are wires called guide wires to keep the antenna in place during high winds.

I have two scanner antennas on top of the roof,and one is attached to the back of the house with about 30 feet of mast. I have two other dipole antennas that are horizontal.

I'm not an expert,or an electrician. I just know the basics. I hope that this helps. I hope that I didn't make it to complicated. If anyone out there is a electrician,please feel free to add anything that could be helpful. BF

Thanks Steve.

I mostly understand. I will get back
To you .


M

[waves]

Steve.

Yoou gaave good information, with explanations and context.

Adding my own comments, going on my very basic knowledge of physics. I'm not an electrician either.

Originally Posted by Brokenfriend

If there is a terrible thunderstorm, a surge protector [...] should be sufficient.

Right. Without grounding, the potential effect of a lightning hit a lightning hit is a large surge.

With grounding, most of the charge transfers directly into the earth. You might still see a small surge which the surge protector can handle.... in the vast majority of cases.

unclipping the telephone wire from the wall behind the computer

Yeah, I've seen telephone equipment fried that had no power connection. Phone lines can carry a damaging level of charge during a hit.

I don't know if phone systems are grounded these days? If not, all equipment with a land-line connection is vulnerable -- unplug phone wire.

you never ever know exactly what lightening will do

Right. It is made of plasma arcs of random shape and size: the power impact is unpredictable.

Exceptionally, a hit could produce a surge big enough to "overpower" the surge protector. Very improbable, but possible.

waves

[Mari]

Originally Posted by Theta Z

I
A good storm can bring out such an instant authentic sense of community, naturally working together for the greater good.

Or in my case last year, the frightening realization of just how alone and vulnerable we can become.
I've lost my fearlessness, I'm sorry to say.
I am no longer the intrepid younger woman I was.

They tell me out here that the NW coast doesn't get thunderstorms. Odd.

Hi,Theta,

Sometimes the thunderstorms change the air in a good way.
Black Hills?! That must be amazing!

We ARE alone. Sometimes I can trust Nature.
It does its thing and then goes on to its other thing.
Of course, it helps to be safe and secure when it is doing its most to get our attention.

M