Links in your other post suggest that silicon bronze, which is about 98% copper, is the alloy of choice. Failing that, I don't know its availability in sheet form, I guess that copper would be next best.
Thanks! They remind me of those ball poles in science class lightning generators and Frankenstein movies. I think those are just chromed steel?
The SERTEC CMCE MARINE operates as a passive sensor system that provides permanent protection by balancing and deionising the effects of atmospheric phenomena using one or more compensators. By stabilising the existing electric field in its environment, it creates a ‘shield’ that cancels the formation of the ascending tracer by draining the electric charges to the earth or surrounding water in harmless milliamperes. This eliminates the formation of lightning within the protected area.
Each capacitor has one of its electrodes referenced to the ground system which is charged with the same polarity as it. The free electrode induces atmospheric charges of opposite polarity to the ground system, balancing internally between its electrodes. This generates a flow of charges to the ground system, which are absorbed from the atmosphere, not allowing the formation of lightning.
Looks like they've even given it a bit of a Fritz Lang design for good measure.
Thanks! So, i guess the way to DIY this might be to find the biggest of those Van der Graaf contact balls, cut that in half, and put an insulator in between?
What to use for the insulator then?
I think you're confusing two technologies, the Van Der Graaf generator and a lightning conductor. I believe Sertec's marketing is also attempting to do this so you envisage their product surrounded by St Elmo's fire efficiently doing it's job when all you need is a grounded conductive spike higher than the thing you are trying to protect.
From their movie, it seems their goal is to prevent an arc, rather than conduct it through:
100% copper is used for land based conductors. Maybe silicon bronze offers rather better corrosion resistance in air at sea?
A spike lightning conductor also prevents the arc - the aim isn't to attract the bolt but to dissipate the local charge. There are still quite high currents involved, hence the heavy conductors to earth, but a lightning conductor that is hit probably melt the conductor!
Thanks! Researching about catamarans being more difficult to ground, because their path down to the water is not straight, I’m wondering why the cat OEMs don’t provide an option to dangle a 000 or 0000 cable from bottom of mast straight down into the water below?
Normally it won't be. But there's always the off-chance!
But did it, to any degree, work?
If there’s still always the off-chance even using what is not snake oil, then seems these CMCE things can’t do any harm, as long as made DIY at minimal cost.
I think this is a terrible idea. Assuming stainless steel wire of back stay the resistance is quite high compared to copper or iron. That will vaporise the wire more quickly. Best bet is a wire clamped to base of ali mast then over the side to water. Ali mast can carry a lot of current easily. Don't earth stays. ol'will