Lightning Protection

M

Mr. Sir

Guest

• Mar 24, 2009

• #1

Here's a few pics of a lightning protection system I installed in a large live oak. The tree is 52" DBH, 70' tall with a 60' spread. There are two main downleads, one on each side of the trunk, extending from the tops of the two largest stems down to two separate 10' ground rods about 30' from the trunk. Each main downlead also has two secondary downleads to cover the rest of the canopy. There is a jumper wire just above grade level on the trunk to connect the two downleads so that the whole system is connected to both grounds.

I was able to reach most of it with the bucket, but had to climb out to get the very tops and ends of leads. Total time on the job was just over 3 hours.

Has anyone else done this kind of work?

 

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SkwerI

Treehouser

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #2

Is that the oak in your back yard, Brett? I didn't remember it being that big.

 

M

Mr. Sir

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• Mar 24, 2009

• Thread Starter Thread Starter
• #3

It may have grown a bit since you've been here.

 

MasterBlaster

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #4

I did it climbing a couple times and hated it. The only thing worse than that is climbing a tree with LP in it - a most royal PITA.

 

B

Blinky

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #5

MasterBlaster said:

I did it climbing a couple times and hated it. The only thing worse than that is climbing a tree with LP in it - a most royal PITA.

Click to expand...

I don't mind doing LP systems, it's a nice change every once in a while.

Climbing a tree with Xmas lights all in it is pretty sucky too.

 

Old Monkey

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #6

That's a cool tree, I can understand trying to protect it like that.

 

stehansen

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Ceres, CA

• Mar 24, 2009

• #7

We get very little lightening here.

 

Old Monkey

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #8

I wonder if you could put some flash bulbs on the line to add to the show if it ever gets hit?

 

T

top hopper

Guest

• Mar 24, 2009

• #9

I think the systems deter a lightning strike D.

 

squisher

THE CALM ONE!!!!

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #10

Yah does anyone here have any experience with a lightning system that's been hit?

 

Old Monkey

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #11

top hopper said:

I think the systems deter a lightning strike D.

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I am not Mr. Scientist but how is that possible? I would think it just gives the lightening an easier path to ground than the cambium of the tree. How would that deter lightening strikes?

 

MasterBlaster

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #12

top hopper said:

I think the systems deter a lightning strike D.

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No, it absorbs/directs the lightening to ground.

 

squisher

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #13

I think he was joking about the 'deterring' thing. Atleast I assumed so.

 

T

top hopper

Guest

• Mar 24, 2009

• #14

Yeah thats what I meant.

I stand corrected

 

squisher

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #15

squisher said:

Yah does anyone here have any experience with a lightning system that's been hit?

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So have any of you lightning experts seen one of these systems after a direct hit? Did it save the tree?

 

Old Monkey

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #16

Yes, and they captured it in a bottle at the bottom.

 

squisher

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #17

The bolt of lightning or the tree?

 

stehansen

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #18

How big of cable was that Brett?

 

Old Monkey

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #19

squisher said:

The bolt of lightning or the tree?

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Lightning in a bottle. It has to come from somewhere.

Personally, I'd burry my dead pets at the base of that tree to see if the power of lightning could reanimate their dead flesh.

 

squisher

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #20

Not a bad idea. Although I'd hate to see ole Gunth back as a zombie.

 

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Paul B

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #21

bet he would tear some shit up if he was a zombie dog. RIP Gunth.

 

Old Monkey

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #22

So he'd need to eat the brains of some school age kids making out up on the ridge every now and again, he'd still be your loyal companion and isn't that what really matters?

 

NickfromWI

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #23

MasterBlaster said:

No, it absorbs/directs the lightening to ground.

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No- it does actually deter the lightning. By virtue of spending all that money on a tree, you can rest assured that you'll never need to rely on all that money you spent.

 

Old Monkey

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• Mar 24, 2009

• #24

Too funny and probably true.

 

M

Mr. Sir

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• Mar 25, 2009

• Thread Starter Thread Starter
• #25

Memo from a spelling Nazi

For the record, "lightning" does NOT have an "e" in it. :what: