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Anonymous Poster

Lightning Strikes Near Tall Metal Objects in Srilanka

06/21/2010 1:10 PM

After installing a steel tower for cell phones the people in the locality complain that the incidence of lightning has significantly increased in the neighbourhood and a lot of damages were caused to their household equipment. Also some people have complained that near a high voltage transmission line there were more lightning than before. What are the technical aspects to prove or disprove this?.
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msamad
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#1

Re: Lightning Strikes Near Tall Metal Objects in Srilanka

06/21/2010 4:55 PM

The incidence of lightning has significantly increased in the neighborhood:

The lightning always passes through the shortest path to the ground and it finds the tall steel tower the shortest path to ground. The lightning that used to get shortest path through some other nearby taller installations are now passes through the newly installed steel tower which is the tallest installation in the area. So, it is true.

A lot of damages were caused to their household equipment:

If there are overhead electric lines near the installed tower and there is not adequate lightening protection for the overhead lines, the lightning that passes through the tower also spreads over the overhead lines and this may cause surge electric voltages in the system and may cause household equipment damage.

Near a high voltage transmission line there were more lightning than before:

It is the same reason that is indicated for the tower.

Suggestions:

Apply the proper lightning protection system for the new tower and for the electric overhead lines so that the lightning is mostly absorbed by the protection.

- MS

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DamnGud EE
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#2
In reply to #1

Re: Lightning Strikes Near Tall Metal Objects in Srilanka

06/22/2010 1:02 AM

GA. Lighting Protection equipment (Like Arresstors) would do the trick and protect your towers and homes from lightning.

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pnaban
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Location: srilanka
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#4
In reply to #1

Re: Lightning Strikes Near Tall Metal Objects in Srilanka

06/22/2010 9:07 PM

The telecom tower is usually protected by finial and earth electrodes connected by copper tape while the HV lines are equipped with overhead earth wire.Will the resistance of the earth electrode and proximity of the houses affect? S.Sri

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pnaban
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#5
In reply to #1

Re: Lightning Strikes Near Tall Metal Objects in Srilanka

06/23/2010 12:41 PM

When the lightning surge ,say >30kA,passes through the lightning protection,s ground electrode,say 05 ohms,what will be the step voltage in the vicinity? How far from the electrode this will be felt? Another question is whether the cell phone companies suffered damage to their equipments like Air conditioners,battery charger,battery,lights sockets etc. Those who work in cell phone companies should answer. When it strikes the tower will there be induced voltage in the nearby LT overhead lines,trees,roof tops etc? In HT power lines there is an earth wire on top which can attract lightning and will it induce a strike in the nearby trees and roof tops? S.Sri

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LAA_Lucke
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#3

Re: Lightning Strikes Near Tall Metal Objects in Srilanka

06/22/2010 2:07 PM

More to it than just attraction:

First: Is the tower getting hit by lightnings?

- If the tower seems to be protected by some anty lightning device AND the neighborhood is the one getting the hits, then the device on the tower is the culprit: There are two different types of lightning protection (maybe more...): the ones that protect by attracting and discharging to a ground pit, AND the ones that repell the lightning ... bounces to other structures nearby!

In any case, the fact that it attracts the lightning because of its hight (eve the 2nd type because it only has an effect of bouncing when the lightning gets nearer...), will create secondary paths that will scatter arround and might hit others...

The 1st type is the best of the two since it channels most of the energy down a grounding pit and save the immediate area near it. it kind of protect... The 2nd type should not be allowed in a populated area but only (maybe) in remote and sparsely populated area or there must be some norms???
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PWSlack
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#6

Re: Lightning Strikes Near Tall Metal Objects in Srilanka

01/06/2023 7:33 AM

Q: <...What are the technical aspects to prove or disprove this?...>

A: <...people in the locality...in Sri Lanka...complain that the incidence of lightning has significantly increased...>.

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