Hi Day
On (01 Dec 96) Day Brown wrote to All...
 DB> The good news: My computer, stero, and VCR/TV all still run off 12 VDC.
 DB> The bad news: my telephone was not homepowered, and the lightning bolt
 DB> that hit the two foot trunk of a black oak 50 meters from my house and
 DB> exploded it into dozens of chunks of natural split firewood, would've
 DB> done the same to my other gizmos had there been a powerline to the
 DB> house to attract that hit instead.
Good conclusion. I used to be a "student" of lightning technology and have
enjoyed many arguments about it.
 DB> But, I also got a couple of kilometers of fried phone wire; the post-
 DB> mortem shows that the cable housing was split from internal pressure
 DB> like an anurysm on my carotid artery to the net, every 10 - 20 paces
 DB> in some places, with a few stretches of good wire 50 paces long.
When lightning flows thru non metals [eg a tree trunk or power pole] it flash
boils the moisture therein, to steam and it is the steam that bursts the
structure in an explosive way.
 DB> Of course, it wasn't a bolt out of the blue, so my modem was unhooked
 DB> when I heard the storm coming. Nevertheless, I've been offline for a
 DB> while. One of the businesses out on the highway lost 4 answering
 DB> machines in 15 months, and has given up on them..
Some lightning strokes are so severe that close up hardware cannot be
protected. BUT! most device failures that occur, are due to poor design or
poor grounding practice. Visit a major military base, especially one having
vital commumications or ammunition bunkers, and you will see some real nice
grounding techniques.
One explosives bunker I visited had a metal mat at the entry door connected
to extensive metal plating on the door panels and latch, so that as you enter
the place, your personal static charge [= mini lightning] is collected before
entry.
 DB> Anyhow, if you are considering moving way out there, consider also the
 DB> danger that the utility power would bring with it.
Having a big old oak tree close to your house, is probably a greater danger
than what the utility may deliver to you. Their lines are designed to flash
down to ground at voltages *WAY BELOW* the value of lightning voltage. The
flash is effectivel a short, and the voltage quickly dies.  Your ole' man
oak tree was designed by a humane but less technical Guy!
 DB> With homepower, the lightning would havta hit the solar panel.  And,
 DB> if you add the cost of adequate surge suppression needed to protect
I suggest it is wrong to evaluate HOMEPOWER on a lightning basis.  The vast
majority of people, never suffer a significant lightning injury. But all of
us, havta enjoy energy consumption. Enjoy! regardless of where you buy it.
Cheers....ALEC
... History is an art which must not neglect the known facts [Berenson]
--- PPoint 1.92
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