[wxqc] Grounding of anenometer mast

[Dennis Maier]

As soon as it's safe to climb up on my second story garage roof I intend to
extend the height of my anemometer from about 7' to maybe 15' or more above
the roof.

At the present time the Davis Vantage Pro anemometer is connected to their
Wireless Anemometer Transmitter mounted on the mast just above the tripod.
Also mounted on the same mast a couple feet below the anemometer is a large
TV antenna used to pickup On-Air HDTV. The TV antenna coax is routed into
the garage through the roof eaves vent down to the ground floor and into a
metal patch panel enclosure and grounding block then into the house. The
enclosure and a coax grounding block are grounded with #4 copper wire
through the wall outside to a ground rod. I did it this way to preserve the
appearance (no unsightly wires) of the newly vinyl sided house and garage.
At this time the mast is not grounded.

Was this, routing the wires inside the building before the ground block, an
unsafe decision from a lightning standpoint?

Because of occasional missed data packets from the Wireless Anemometer
Transmitter when I extend the mast I will probably hardwire the anemometer
to the Davis ISS and do away with the Wireless Transmitter. So that will be
additional wires running from the mast to inside the home.

I live on the waters edge of Saginaw Bay off Lake Huron in the Thumb of
Michigan. A few years ago lightning struck the electrical wires entering my
home at the utility pole, so I know it likes my area.

What are forum members thoughts about grounding the mast? I worry that
grounding the mast will just attract more lightning strikes.


Dennis Maier
CW4869