I have Antenna TV. I notice if there is a thunderstore within 30 miles I can see the lightning flashes on TV. Thats nothing new I have noticed that for 55 years.
When I fly my control line model airplane on over cast days if there are thunderstorms 30 miles away I get static electric shocks while flying. The metal control lines pick up a lot of electricity the higher up the airplane is the stronger the electrical shocks are.
I did an experement I put 950 turns of #24 enamel coated copper wire on a 4" PVC pipe. I soldered a neon light between the 2 wire ends. When a thunder storm was in the area the neon would flash on. When the storm was 15 miles away the neon would flash bright often from lightning strikes in the distance. When the storm was 5 miles away the neon stayed on and flashed very bright during lightning strikes. I could sometimes see the lightning strikes in the distance and the neon flashed bright at the same time.
I made a larger 6" coil and repeated the same experement. This larger coil pick up better, the neon glows brighter and flashes brighter. With the 4" and 6" coils setting 4 ft apart I see a very noticable difference in brightness on the 6" coil.
There is not much light from 1 neon. The coils will not light up a fluorescent light.
I dug a hole in the yard and put an 8 ft fluorescent light in the hole like a fence post about 2 ft deep. I got a kite flying on 300 ft of #24 enamel coated copper wire tied to the top end if the fluorescent light. As the storm got closer the fluorescent light started flashing. When the storm was very close the fluorescent light stayed ON and flashed too. The wind picked up as it started to rain and the kite crashed. I was keeping my distance just in case the kite got a direct hit by lightning.
I did the experement several years ago.
I was wondering if there is a better way to pick up electricity from a storm?
When I fly my control line model airplane on over cast days if there are thunderstorms 30 miles away I get static electric shocks while flying. The metal control lines pick up a lot of electricity the higher up the airplane is the stronger the electrical shocks are.
I did an experement I put 950 turns of #24 enamel coated copper wire on a 4" PVC pipe. I soldered a neon light between the 2 wire ends. When a thunder storm was in the area the neon would flash on. When the storm was 15 miles away the neon would flash bright often from lightning strikes in the distance. When the storm was 5 miles away the neon stayed on and flashed very bright during lightning strikes. I could sometimes see the lightning strikes in the distance and the neon flashed bright at the same time.
I made a larger 6" coil and repeated the same experement. This larger coil pick up better, the neon glows brighter and flashes brighter. With the 4" and 6" coils setting 4 ft apart I see a very noticable difference in brightness on the 6" coil.
There is not much light from 1 neon. The coils will not light up a fluorescent light.
I dug a hole in the yard and put an 8 ft fluorescent light in the hole like a fence post about 2 ft deep. I got a kite flying on 300 ft of #24 enamel coated copper wire tied to the top end if the fluorescent light. As the storm got closer the fluorescent light started flashing. When the storm was very close the fluorescent light stayed ON and flashed too. The wind picked up as it started to rain and the kite crashed. I was keeping my distance just in case the kite got a direct hit by lightning.
I did the experement several years ago.
I was wondering if there is a better way to pick up electricity from a storm?
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