On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:00:35 -0400, wrote:

On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:24:48 GMT, (Richard
Casady) wrote:

Every powerline has lightning protection, a
grounded wire above the power conductors. What does every electric
utility know? None the less lightning does hit powerlines. A long wire
lacks sharp points, if that makes a lot of difference.


That is certainly not true in Florida. The top wire on the MV
distribution poles around here is the medium voltage wire. The
grounded conductor is on the bottom. (actually the top of the
secondary triplex here.)


http://esteroriverheights.com/electr...20-240_bus.jpg

On the HV transmission lines they do put the ground on top tho.

This is 250KV and the ground is on top
http://members.aol.com/gfretwell/powerline.jpg

My mistake. I went for a country drive. The HV lines around here are
on two kinds of CorTen steel tower, galvanized ones, and wood,and
there are many of them. [Des Moines, Iowa] Indeed they have a grounded
wire above the energized ones. They would need lightning protection
more than the 22KV ones in front of the house. [The ones with the fist
size insulators, not the yard long ones.]

Casady