Catalina Capri 22 Owner's Manual page 52

E-4 LIGHTNING PROTECTION
Based on ABYC's assessment of the existing technology,
and the problems associated with achieving the goals of
this standard, ABYC recommends compliance with this
standard for all systems and associated equipment
manufactured and/or installed after July 31, 1998.
4.1 PURPOSE
These standards and recommended practices are guides for
the design, construction, and installation of lightning
protection systems on boats.
NOTE: The probability of a lightning strike varies with
geographic location and the time of the year, but, when
the conditions that create an electrical charge between
clouds and the earth exist, there is nothing that can be
done to prevent the light11ing discharge. A boat can be
struck i11 ope11 water or while tied to the dock.
4.2 SCOPE
These standards and recommended practices apply to
powerboats and sailboats if a lightning protection system
is installed.
NOTES:
1.
Complete protection from equipment
damage or personal injury is not implied
2. A light11ing protection system offers llO
protectio11 whe11 the boat is out of water, and is llOt
intended to afford protectio11
if
any part of the boat
comes ill contact with power li11es while afloat or
ashore.
3.
Protectioll of persons and smaU craft from
lighttri11g is depelldellt Oil a combillatioll of desigll and
mailltellaiiCe of equipme11t, and oil person11el behavior.
The basic guides contai11ed ;, this standard shall be
considered and used in designing and installi11g a
lightning protection system. However, in view of the
wide variatioll ill structural design of boats, and the
unpredictable 11ature of lightllillg, specific
recommemlations cantwt be made to cover all cases.
4.3 REFERENCED ORGANIZATIONS
ABYC - American Boat and Yacht Council, 3069
Solomon's Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037-1416.
410-956-1050
NFPA - National Fire Protection Association, 1
Batterymarch Park, PO Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269-
9101. 617-770-3000.
4.4 DEFINITIONS
E-4
12/96
Air terminal - A device at the upper most point of the
lightning protection system to dissipate the charge or start
the lightning ground process.
Equalization bus - A metallic strap, which may be
installed on the interior of a boat, substantially parallel to
the exterior lightning ground plate, and connected to the
lightning ground plate at both ends. Secondary lightning
conductors can be connected to the equilization bus. The
equalization bus provides a low resistance path to the
lightning ground plate.
Lightning bonding conductor - A conductor intended to be
used for potential equalization between metal bodies, and
the lightning protection system to eliminate the potential
for side flashes.
Lightning ground plate (or strip) - A metallic plate, or
strip on the hull exterior below the waterline, that serves
to efficiently transfer the lightning current from the system
of down conductors to the water.
Lightning protective gap {air gap) - A form of lightning
arrester wherein a small air space is provided between two
metallic plates, with one connected directly to the vessel
grounding plate or strip, and the other to an operating
electrical system, such as a radio transmitter or receiver.
Lightning protective mast - A conductive structure, or if
non-conductive, equipped with a conductive means, and an
air terminal.
Parallel path - A path to ground that may be followed by a
lightning strike. This path is separate from the path
formed by the primary lightning conductor.
Primary lightning conductor - The main vertical electrical
path in a lightning protection system formed by a metallic
mast, metallic structure, electrical conductors, or other
conducting means, to a ground plate, ground strip, or a
metallic hull.
Secondary lightning conductor - A conductor used to
connect potential parallel paths, such as the rigging on a
sailboat, to the primary lightning conductor, or to the
lightning ground plate, strip or equalization bus.
Side flash - An arc-over discharge that occurs from the
lightning system to any metallic object.
Zone of protection - An essentially cone shaped space
below a grounded air terminal, mast, or overhead ground
wire, wherein the risk of a direct lightning strike is
substantially reduced. See Appendix
I.
© 1996 American Boat & Yacht Council, Inc.
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