"This a copper roof. Remember, copper is not a good conducter of electricity, . .

[Strelnikov_]

so we're talking it's not a good conductor of lightning I should say . . . "

Jim Cantore, Weather Channel, Sept. 1 2008


Either Jim has taken a few too many wind gusts, or I had better get out there and swap out that large copper wire I have running from my outdoor antenna to the ground, boy howdy quick.


Get some sleep, Jim.

[Raksha]

1. WHAAAAT??? Copper is an excellent conductor

of electricity. Even I know that, and I'm no electrician!!!

[BlooInBloo]

2. BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[cliffordu]

3. DARWIN AWARD COMING RIGHT UP!!!

[ProdigalJunkMail]

4. compared to what?

gold? in that case he might be ok... :-) aluminum works ok as well...

Jim is in need of some serious remedial ee classes...hell, basic physics would work too...

sP

[slampoet]

9. only gold and silver conduct more than copper at room temps

[Salviati]

15. Gold is actually a poorer conducter than copper...

It's only used in connections because of the fact that it doesn't corrode so it will always make good contact in a connection...

[slampoet]

17. Thanx for the correction. I confused them.

[hootinholler]

5. If properly grounded

It is a good shield because it's a good conductor. Lightning generally doesn't strike conductors.

-Hoot

[depakid]

7. I heard those comments too

but figured he just misspoke:

Copper Lightning Protection Systems Save Lives, Billions

http://www.copper.org/publications/newsletters/cutopics/ct80/lightning.html

[retread]

16. Ask Ben Franklin about conductors and lightning. n/t

[hootinholler]

18. Why not?

IIRC he would have been using kite string in his experiments, which at the time, would have been linen or cotton, both of which are poor conductors.

Lightning rods (which are a Franklin invention) work because they dissipate the charge before it can build enough potential for a discharge.

-Hoot

[Stinky The Clown]

6. Doesn't Jim like own the weather channel and have more money than god?

I go with whoever above said the poor guy just took one gust too many.

[Canuckistanian]

8. Copper is second only to silver as an electrical conductor

And Gold is a distant third.

[DemoTex]

10. Earlier today Stormin' Jim said this:

"It looks like Gustav will not make it to be a minor major hurricane."
A minor major hurricane?

:wtf:

[XOKCowboy]

11. I just noticed you were talking about Cantore. He's always been....

just a little the other side of plumb. I like the Weather Channel but sometimes he's more comedy relief than hard info. Now that Stephanie Bettis can sure get me interested in a weather pattern but that's a whole 'nother topic. :)

[Berry Cool]

12. Is this what happens when we cut down on science education? n/t

[RepublicanElephant]

13. someone in another thread mentioned...

...ge/nbc buying the weather channel.

that might explain the toned-down global warming talk there lately.

[draftedin66]

14. He was trying to dumb down the basic science for the public!

No doubt he knows copper is a good conductor, he was (poorly) trying to point out that it's a material that doesn't allow a lightning strike to "puncture" it like wood or shingles. He's not ignorant but he explained it poorly. :D