Up here in the foot hills of Northern Calif., this morning started out
with a major rain and snow storm with extremely high winds. Gust were
well into the 80's. About 5:30 am I heard a loud bang, and went out to
investigate, and the curved top part of my dome, the top shutter, about
7 feet long and 38" wide was ripped from its hinges and 2 bars that lock
the dome up or down in its closed position, had been ripped from there
lock down position, as well as the 2 heavy duty guy type wires that keep
the door from folding beck, were snapped in half. So I turned the dome
backwards into the wind to help get the door back in place, well I
needed no help the wind blew it closed, but still lots of damage to the
door. Several hour later we had a heavy thunder storm and hale, with
mixed snow, at 450 feet! Then after that more lightening, and here in
the control room, near the dome, all power went off and back on so fast
the florescent lights didn't go out, the all the computers and other
electronics went off. It was a magnetic pulse, like a nuclear weapon
would cause to power up electronics. Thank God nothing was damaged,
except my HD won't Finnish a defrag, but went OK on the scan disk? The
boom from the strike was very close, as I could feel the energy from it
in my hair. Upon going outside, I could see a small bored hole in the
ground, with the green grass blackened up to a certain point. This area
is something I have brought up before. When we made the concrete pad, we
dug up the ground to at least 3 feet down around the pad going about 5
feet out from the pad. I laid in stainless hog fence wire, that is
normally 48" high. This would act as a ground and support for concrete.
There are 5 copper clad stainless poles in each corner, and one by the
pier for grounding. That black path went to the edge where the fencing
wire is in the ground. this is the second time this has happened and it
works. The 416XTE and 201 and QC cam all work just fine. No electronic
damage at all. Last time I brought this up several people said it
wouldn't work. Well after 2 shots now, I can say it does. It is some
what based upon a Faraday Shield. I recommend this idea for anyone
building a dome set up, no matter the type, round, square like mine, or
roll off roof. One, along with rebar, the laid out fencing hog wire
supports the concrete, but also takes the voltage to ground real nice.
Seems like the last few month have been like hell, and I sure pray this
is the end. 73's Mike

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