Dynaplate as a Lightning ground; Yea nor Nay?

[transmitterdan]

I do RF electromagnetic simulations all the time. There is nothing about sintered bronze that makes it better than a same size plate of plain old bronze. However, I believe sintered bronze is cheaper and lighter.

I can find no documented cases of "explosions due to boiling water". Lots of "I heard about it from a friend" cases out there.

[BigSmile]

I have no basis for comparison, but in the middle of a bright sunny day, in the mast cluttered harbor in SF, on a vessel with a Dynaplate, a ham reached Ecuador.

[zboss]

So.. some ignorance here on my part. Is the lightning ground separate from your normal sea/engine ground? Is each of those different from your zinc bonding?

From the factory, our shrouds are bonded to our zincs so I always assumed they were doing double duty as lightning protection.

[Nicholson58]

This Urban Legend repeats itself regularly. It has been roundly rejected. On the basis of logic alone, where are all the shattered Dynaplates? Nobody has ever posted a picture of a single one. I have searched for the pictures.

Two summers ago on July 5 we were struck in our slip. Witnesses saw the direct hit. The Windex was vaporized; all SS antennas on the mast top were also melted. There were only bits of SS on the deck remaining. We lost three radios, 5 LED lights, 60 amp main shore breaker; 1.5 KW alternator; fused the wiring in the bow; all Raymarine instruments; 18 Buss fuses; AIS; the transom paint cracked, etc. The Dynaplate is unaffected. Further, the 4" wide X 1/16 inch thick copper bonding strip inside the boat was also not damaged. This strip is many times less cross section for carrying the current than a Dynaplate.