I would consider lightening equipment and other grounding as separate systems never to touch. the last thing I would ever want to happen is a lightening strike going through my fuel systems. I would have them as physically separate as possible. A real life example of this is when I lived in Okeechobee there was a woman killed when the lightening struck her yard, traveled up the building ground and killed her as she was leaning on her stove.
Also there would be different electrical requirements anyway as lightening is high voltage high current and boat electrical is going to be low voltage and low current.
GT27 Build (Wes K)
Re: GT27 Build (Wes K)
also I would separate radio and radar grounds from the rest of the electrical as high frequency noise could cause unexpected problems.
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Re: GT27 Build (Wes K)
Not to be a nit, but the stove will always be tied to building ground and leaning on a stove or any building electrical equipment during lightening is dangerous.jonnymac wrote: ↑Sun Jan 03, 2021 2:50 pm I would consider lightening equipment and other grounding as separate systems never to touch. the last thing I would ever want to happen is a lightening strike going through my fuel systems. I would have them as physically separate as possible. A real life example of this is when I lived in Okeechobee there was a woman killed when the lightening struck her yard, traveled up the building ground and killed her as she was leaning on her stove.
Also there would be different electrical requirements anyway as lightening is high voltage high current and boat electrical is going to be low voltage and low current.
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Re: GT27 Build (Wes K)
Why would you ground the grab rails? They are attached to wood deck are they not? And doesn't grounding a boat only works when it's in the water?
"that it isn't just an ordinary sort of boat. Sometimes it's a Boat, and sometimes it's more of an Accident. It all depends." "Depends on what?" "On whether I'm on the top of it or underneath it."
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Re: GT27 Build (Wes K)
Grounding the rails provides a pathway for lightening which is better than through the house.OrangeQuest wrote: ↑Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:03 pm Why would you ground the grab rails? They are attached to wood deck are they not? And doesn't grounding a boat only works when it's in the water?
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Re: GT27 Build (Wes K)
But if they are ungrounded they are not a source for a lightning strike. Grounded they become a source and a high chance of lightning hitting them because once grounded they are higher than anything else around.fallguy1000 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 04, 2021 1:05 pmGrounding the rails provides a pathway for lightening which is better than through the house.OrangeQuest wrote: ↑Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:03 pm Why would you ground the grab rails? They are attached to wood deck are they not? And doesn't grounding a boat only works when it's in the water?
"that it isn't just an ordinary sort of boat. Sometimes it's a Boat, and sometimes it's more of an Accident. It all depends." "Depends on what?" "On whether I'm on the top of it or underneath it."
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Re: GT27 Build (Wes K)
No. The boat is always a source for a strike. When you ground the grabrails with a sufficient conductor; the energy can travel to ground via the conductor instead of via an iphone charger next to you which might kill you.OrangeQuest wrote: ↑Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:05 amBut if they are ungrounded they are not a source for a lightning strike. Grounded they become a source and a high chance of lightning hitting them because once grounded they are higher than anything else around.fallguy1000 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 04, 2021 1:05 pmGrounding the rails provides a pathway for lightening which is better than through the house.OrangeQuest wrote: ↑Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:03 pm Why would you ground the grab rails? They are attached to wood deck are they not? And doesn't grounding a boat only works when it's in the water?
Best way is probably grounding all four ends of the grabrails into thru hull electrodes for a Faraday effect. Things like a marine antenna which are high in the sky are also best kept away from helmsman.
Re: GT27 Build (Wes K)
probability for lightening striking an object isn’t going to change with grounding or not. The lightening just traveled through thousands of feet of air which is considered an insulator. Its halfway a crapshoot if it follows the grounding path vs just blowing a hole in the boat and following the plasma to the inside.OrangeQuest wrote: ↑Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:05 amfallguy1000 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 04, 2021 1:05 pmGrounding the rails provides a pathway for lightening which is better than through the house.OrangeQuest wrote: ↑Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:03 pm Why would you ground the grab rails? They are attached to wood deck are they not? And doesn't grounding a boat only works when it's in the water?
But if they are ungrounded they are not a source for a lightning strike. Grounded they become a source and a high chance of lightning hitting them because once grounded they are higher than anything else around.
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Re: GT27 Build (Wes K)
I've always wondered about this. Yet the sailboats that have proper grounding always fair much better (albeit with massive damage to electronics) that those that don't (that hole you mentioned). There is some value to the grounding but that may be more due to being a lightning rod 40'+ tall.jonnymac wrote: ↑Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:32 am probability for lightening striking an object isn’t going to change with grounding or not. The lightening just traveled through thousands of feet of air which is considered an insulator. Its halfway a crapshoot if it follows the grounding path vs just blowing a hole in the boat and following the plasma to the inside.
Re: GT27 Build (Wes K)
I’m sure its better to have the path to ground, its just not necessarily the only path the lightening could travel.Jaysen wrote: ↑Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:46 amI've always wondered about this. Yet the sailboats that have proper grounding always fair much better (albeit with massive damage to electronics) that those that don't (that hole you mentioned). There is some value to the grounding but that may be more due to being a lightning rod 40'+ tall.jonnymac wrote: ↑Wed Jan 06, 2021 9:32 am probability for lightening striking an object isn’t going to change with grounding or not. The lightening just traveled through thousands of feet of air which is considered an insulator. Its halfway a crapshoot if it follows the grounding path vs just blowing a hole in the boat and following the plasma to the inside.
for lower profile motor boats, I wonder how many are actually struck by lightening.
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