I got to thinking about it last night, and thought about all the metal fence posts we have, and the fact that I've been using these for a long time, they are going to stay as is, for now. I can only hope and pray that we don't get hit!
Thank you Delisa!
Gretchen, with all that metal, if it gets hit, you should have a spectacular light display. It's something to think about especially if you're in an area noted for lightning strikes. I wouldn't have thought of it if Sylvia hadn't said something about hers.
Ada: You're right! However we live in a very low spot (so low it has its own interesting microclimate), and I've never known it to strike anything around here... I'm going to figure something else out, but in the meantime, say my prayers that nothing gets hit!
Like Gretchen said, lots of people have metal fences, etc. that never get hit. It might have just been a freak event, or maybe it was because it was up against a tree. From looking at her plants, they really do seem to work well. It is just that since this happened to me, I've been reluctant to use rebar again.
If lightning is going to strike nearby, it's going to strike, with or without rebar. The rebar will conduct it, but it was going to strike really close-by anyway. But if your Brug tree is wet and taller than the rebar, it's quickest route to the ground is through the tree-not the rebar. And a tree is not as good a conductor as the metal, but wet........I don't know. It is more likely to hit your house-but you never can tell with lightning. I will probably set mine down 2-3 feet just so it will ground, but I think that when lighning hits, no matter what you're lucky if it doesn't fry everything near the strike site. and if it hits your house, it can travel through telephone wires, pipes, etc. I'd say better to hit the rod and ground there if I had the choice.
This message was edited Jun 23, 2004 11:51 AM
Sylvia: I appreciate your info, but I'm tending to agree with what Jenks has stated. Thanks, Jenks -- I think you're on the right track with your thoughts! Plus all of mine are at least 18" deep. Wonder if that's far enough. I hit rock at that point -- this whole area is on a huge limestone ledge...