Jere Lull wrote:
On 2008-11-13 03:40:42 -0500, "Edgar" said:

This is the first time anyone has mentioned the 'bottle brush' but I have
always believed that a spiky device at the very top of the lightning
rod is
essntial if it is to act effectively to reduce the possibility of a
dangerous strike.

That is one theory, the use of a "bottle brush" conductor is another;
there are others. Knowing a bit about electrical engineering,
electricity and electronics, I can follow the observations and math and
find good points in many of the theories advanced.

The problem is that no matter how long scientists (and snake-oil
salesmen) have been studying the problem, lightning strikes are
relatively random (determined by cosmic rays?) with the probability of a
strike in a particular location only slightly affected by man-made agents.

Well, there is the exception of the folks at U of Fl. who launch rockets
trailing thin wires into thunder clouds........


Other than that, fair enough..

Cheers
Martin