[PUP] FW: Lightning preparedness

[Ron Rogers]

What you intend to do cannot hurt. There is probably an infinite variety of 
strikes with different proximity and different outcomes. You do your best 
under your concept of what's appropriate. In the Army, we disconnected our 
antennas as a matter of personnel safety. Since power sources and grounds 
were discrete, you could disconnect your radio completely. I had 
disconnected my inverted "L" antennas just before two massive strikes about 
40 yards away on a hilltop. The radio was unaffected even though I forgot to 
disconnect the ground plane. This was a WWII/Korean War era radio. Yes, 
lightning does strike in the same place multiple times.

If the strike is not direct, you might survive with some gear intact. In 
reading the specs for a larger Nordhavn, I see that they use a grounded 
fuzzy metal dissipater to lessen the likelihood of a strike. You might wish 
to determine what method, if any, they used on your boat.

Lightning protection and bonding are both controversial subjects with 
experts on both sides. You have to pick your theory.

Ron Rogers
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott E. Bulger" <scottebulger@comcast.net>


| John advised:  I would suggest that will NOT include lightning even if it 
is
| disconnected completely.
|
| thank you John,
|
| It sounds like even if I remove the power, ground and antenna connections,
| stray current will damage the components through what sounds to me like
| "induction".  I'd hoped that an air gap of inches would have prevented
| conduction, but the forces are work here sound insurmountable.  I'm still
| pulling the wires for the gear and I have not abandon my idea of making a
| bulkhead that can isolate all the gear, it all goes the same place for 
power
| anyway, it's just a simple step to put quick disconnect fittings at the 
end.
| I'll consider this in light of your advice.  Again, thank you!  Scott