Re: Lightning Storm

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Ed Phillips <evp@xxxxxxxxxxx>

"I did some experements and have been flying a kite on #24 copper wire
200 ft long.  I have not detected any static charge with an NE2 neon
light on sunny days.  It is very interesting to note the neon light
will light up if there is a thunder storm 20 miles away.   Every time
the NE2 flashes it must mean a lightning strike in the thunder
storm.  I do not fly the kite if it is cloudy or over cast or any
thunder storms in the near by area.  Flying a control line model
airplane on 60 ft metal cables is not much different than flying a
kite on copper wire.

I sure would hate to get zapped by lightning.

Gary Weaver"

	The "signal" from the remote lightning bolt still results in a pretty
high step in field intensity.  If you flew your kite when there were
cumulous clouds nearby the neon bult might glow continuously and, if you
put a small capacitor across it, the frequency of blinking would be
proportional to the current flowing.  As a stunt a friend of mine made
up a "golfer's lightning cap" which consisted of a vertical wire about 1
foot long hooked to the parallel combination of a neon bulb and a
capacitor (forget the value).  Return circuit was through the scalp.  He
asserted that the thing would start blinking when any source of
potential lightning strike was far enough away to allow an escape to
safer territory.  It would be easy enough to rig something like that and
see what it did when electrified clous passed overhead.

	Fly RC - it doesn't have that particular shock hazard.

Ed