alt.energy.renewable

Jim wrote:

> "Eeyore" wrote
> > RadicalModerate wrote:
> >
> >> And as for "ground wire" I don't know what they do in Blighty for
> >> above-ground electric utility cables but here in the . there is a
> >> bare wire above all the others which is used to take the brunt of any
> >> lightning strike.
> >
> > A 'wire' will NEVER take the brunt of a lightning strike. It might take
> > the 'edge' off it but no more. The kilo-amps of current and the fast rise
> > times means it doesn't behave like ordinary line frequency AC.
> >
> > Graham
>
> I've seen Fulgurites (sp?) after storms. A wire would vaporize....

Exactly. I mean, a lightning strike can cause a tree to explode (it
instananeously turns some of the sap to steam) !

Graham