How to prevent weather sensor from being hit by lightning?

[Ugly Duckling]

What do I do about the risk of possible lightning strikes. My ISS is mounted on 10' conduit with 2 1/2' of PVC above that. This pole sits on deck that is 8' above ground which puts ISS 20 1/2 AGL. Also what about should I install a roof tripod with 6' conduit? Grounding reduces the chance of being hit by lightning?

Thank you so much,

Many Happy Weather Changes.

Marci Anna

[Bushman]

Grounding is about the only thing you can do.  And even then it really won't do much is there is a lightning strike NEAR, let alone at, your wx station.

[Downlinerz2]

     I have my station on the roof with the Ambient Weather tripod.  I have a wire, can't remember the gauge, going down to a rod in the ground that the gas company installed.  I have not had any strikes, thank God, but a few strikes within 100 yards with no damage.  I do have a lot of trees that are higher about 40 feet plus away.
    Mark

[sacreyweather]

Marci,

I grounded mine using 2/0 gauge wire I got for half price some years ago from Lowes.  I got an 8' grounding rod, banged into the ground until only about 3" was left sticking up and used a brass clamp made for the purpose to attach the wire.  I also used a clamp on the pole (1 1/2" TV antenna pole for the anemometer).  On the wire, don't buy anything smaller than 8 gauge.  The lower the number the bigger the wire.

Hope that helps,

John

[bayu]

Lightning or surge,

1. you must have ground camber to discharge energy when lightning crass your pot, this grounding using galvanic still pipe and drill into ground til find less then 5 ohm resistance (use earth meter to measured)
2. connect that ground tap with NYY cable to highest position of your instrument
3. connect spike (look like multi tap omni antenna) in the end off NYY cable,

this circuit will discharge energy lightning directly to earth and don't forget to add surge protector to your power line circuit



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Just Try To Help, Just Need to know, Nothing Else Nothing More

Bayu Wibowo
Smart Research Institute