[Boatanchors] Storm Damage to Electronics

[David Stinson]

The lightening "horror stories" are true, and so is this one.
My Microwave/VHF/Telemetery tower in Cumby, Texas
has an extensive, industry-standard grounding system with all 
the protections you heard failed in one instance.

I drove-up to Cumby Tower one rainy spring day and, 
as I got out of my truck to open the pasture fence 
across the road to the tower, which is about 200 yards 
into the field, I looked up just in time to see the tower
take a direct lightening strike.

It lasted a millisecond, blasted my ears and was ..... awesome.
The tower lit-up with blue light.  Bolts shot from it to the 
guy wires and to ground.  Blue fire jumped at the base 
of the tower.  I had spots in my vision for a few minutes.
And I would never, never admit to a small wet spot somewhere....

I just knew everything in the tower was going to be
"crispy critters."  I opened the door and found every 
system in good order.  Nothing wrong.  Not one fuse.
Not even a trip on the line protectors.  
I said a little pray of thanks to The Almighty for that one.

There's a reason they call lighten strikes an "Act of God:"
what happens, good or bad, 
often defies reason and can seem like magic.

73 DE Dave AB5S