Should one ground a clothes line

[techman]

If the line is of any length and metal, grounding it can prevent a charge buildup that occurs in the atmosphere when thunderstorms are present. You have little to no risk if not grounded, but if there is storm activity in the near area and the wife goes out to collect the wash, she might get a nice static jolt from it.

Some other general comments. Large metal towers, etc that are grounded generally make it less likely that lightning will hit. they drain off accumulated charge in the air reducing the likelihood of a strike. Pointy spikes help if mounted on the pole/tower. Like lighting rods on buildings, they are not intended to "take" a strike, but rather drain atmospheric charge to prevent strikes. A direct strike will likely vaporize the wire grounding the lightning rods. Likewise on transmission towers you will always see two relatively thin wires running along with the main conductors, usually at the top. They are ground wires and act as a charge drain to protect the tower and power wires. They create a ground envelope around the main wires and drastically reduce the chance of a strike hitting the lines.

Insulation Coordination in Power System | Electrical Engineering





paul

 

[Midniteoyl]

Why is that linked to my post?

Because you had this : Kind of reminds me when people say it's that 1/2 of rubber tire that saves you from lightning in a car. ..

 

[Midniteoyl]

Here is my original post your referring to.

"Lightning just traveled through how many thousand feet of insulating air. You must have some really awesome disconnect switches if they stop lightning LOL. Kind of reminds me when people say it's that 1/2 of rubber tire that saves you from lightning in a car."

I never say that tires save you. I was implying it's laughable to me when people think that.

I got that.. just linking to the theory as to why..

 

[Loadstar]

I got that.. just linking to the theory as to why..

I figured you did, I was just checking. I was hoping I wasn't taken as a insulating tire theorist lol

 

[Midniteoyl]

Nope.. not by me at least

 

[Industrial Toys]

I made the false assumption that ALL clothes lines had a steel core. Maybe the other would be safer. Do they last?

I was thinking more about the thimble used to insulate the guy wire. While this works to prevent high voltage from a transmission line from livening up the guy, I conceed it may be of little use to insulate the clothes line from ground in a lightning strike. Although I would rather a strike flash over the insulator at the far end, going to ground, then flash over to something at the house.

I still have my radio tower and repeater shack here on the property from when I was active in Ham radio, UHF repeaters (before cell phones!). I believe I installed some eight or so ground rods, with a farady cage around the wooden radio shack, a single point ground system with polyphaser lightning protection on all transmission, phone and hydro lines. Must say, I never had any damage what so ever.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Clothes line is up. I found some great (apparently the next fad in Mennonite Clothes Lines) big spoked, welded steel powder coated pulleys, with bearings. Big one at far end is maybe 22 inches! Cost a small fortune!

Got an old double stainless steel sink that I buried some four feet deep as a guy anchor. Try ripping that out of the ground in the next hundred years.

Grounded the guy wire (from the SS sink to the bolt that holds the pulley.

Then the horrible thought hit me about the vinyl insulation on the clothes line!

Oh well!