[Elecraft] Ligntning protection

[Steve Ellington]

Question:
Does grounding your tower or metal mast increase the likelihood of it being 
hit by lightning?
I have a 50' metal mast holding up the center of a dipole. No antenna 
contacts the mast and the ant. is supported by rope. Should I drive in a 
ground rod just for the mast? If I do, would lightning be attracted to it 
then? It just seems like I'm inviting a hit by grounding it.

Steve
N4LQ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Townsend" <ftownsend at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'Randy Moore'" <wrmoore47 at gmail.com>; <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 12:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Ligntning protection


> Randy:
> I can not speak to your local building codes but the rule of thumb is
> lightning does not like to travel horizontally. That doesn't mean it won't
> happen but usually lightning seeks the shortest path to ground. That
> suggests you should connect to the closest ground (exception: any fuel
> line).
> If possible I would drive my own ground rod below the shack and use the
> garage ground as well.  There is no penalty for extra grounds.
>
> 73
> de AE6QL, Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Randy Moore [mailto:wrmoore47 at gmail.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 8:15 AM
> To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Ligntning protection
>
> Sorry if someone has already asked this. My shack is on the second floor 
> of
> my home and is on the opposite corner of the house from where the 
> electrical
> power entry and ground are located. However, the electrical panel is in 
> the
> garage right below my shack. Can I connect my shack ground to the panel
> ground instead of running a ~200' long line to the electrical ground on 
> the
> other end of the house?
>
> Tnx es 73,
> Randy, KS4L
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html