Carbon tripods and electrical hazard? (1 Viewer)

[Saxatilis]

Hello all
I recently purchased a carbon tripod.
I already had heard something about this, but never properly thought of it until now.
Is there the real possibility that carbon tripods can attract electrocution from lightnings and in close proximity to electromagnetic fields (power lines)?
The instruction sheet itself shows graphically this kind of hazard.
I regularly use the tripod during surveys of raptor migration (35 days every year), certainly not under severe thunderstorms, but rather for consecutive days and several hours per day, and the dominating locations I use are sometimes topped by HV or MV power line cables...
Is someone better informed and documented on this subject?
Thanks and greetings

 

[Bwana1]

Carbon certainly conducts electric current, but so does any other tripod material on the market...aluminum was used for standard house wiring for years, and still used today for entrance cable(hi voltage from pole).

No different from fishing or any other outdoor activity, use good judgment in bad weather.

 

[jring]

Hi,

carbon fiber as used in tripods is not a very good conductor due to the fact that the carbon fiber is embedded in polymer. An aluminum tripod is certainly a better conductor by orders of magnitude. But the difference is probably a moot point if the tripod got wet in the thunderstorm... in that case only the fact that it is higher than the surrounding environment counts.

I would not be concerned about power lines - they are supposed to have ample clearance for a 4m high truck passing under them...

Joachim

 

[Barred Wobbler]

Hi,
carbon fiber as used in tripods is not a very good conductor due to the fact that the carbon fiber is embedded in polymer. An aluminum tripod is certainly a better conductor by orders of magnitude. But the difference is probably a moot point if the tripod got wet in the thunderstorm... in that case only the fact that it is higher than the surrounding environment counts.

I would not be concerned about power lines - they are supposed to have ample clearance for a 4m high truck passing under them...

Joachim

So is the carbon fibre used in carbon fishing rods. It didn't stop me getting a belt from an electric fence when I clumsily let the fishing rod I carried touch the conductor wire - and that's a low current. All carbon fibre fishing rods and poles come equipped with a warning sticker against the danger of electricity.

There have been instances where anglers have been killed by electrocution when their fishing poles got too close to high voltage overhead conductors.

Having said that, lightning is usually (not always!) attracted to the highest object in the vicinity of a strike. Sometimes that object is the top of a person's head. I wouldn't worry too much about a tripod, but if I was out in a storm, I'd lie a tripod down just to be on the safe side.

 

[jring]

Ok, having just taken my multimeter to my Velbon carbon tripod I have to admit that I am astonished at how good a conductor it is at some tens of ohms minimum (varying a lot with probe pressure). I had done the same many years ago for an unpainted carbon cycle frame which was rather non-conductive.

So while this is still two or so orders of magnitude higher than aluminium I would have expected a few orders of magnitude more.

As for fishing poles - yes, there are indeed cases of electrocution from power lines while fishing but unlike tripods fishing rods are 5m or so and are swung above your head with a long wet line for extra reach...

Joachim

 

[John Dracon]

No question. Many mediums conduct electricity. Suppose the tripod has rubber cups on each leg tip. What then?

John

 

[Bird_Bill]

Safety could be a consideration to power lines. In that case, note conductor spacing.
Use the entire span as minimum rule of thumb governing proximity.
Stay aware of humidity. The ability to bridge an "arc gap" can lengthen in a saturated atmosphere.
Lightning hazards can not be understated.
If a storm is moving in our direction and confirmed by intervals of lightning and resulting thunderclap.
There is always another day

Carbon anodes are used to generate an arc in smelting processes.
No doubt it's conductive

 

[leybold12]

If you are really worried about it, get a tripod with fiberglass legs. There where some out there before carbon fiber became popular.

Electrician ladders are fiberglass.

 

[Saxatilis]

Hello all
I'm not worried rather was curious and interested in knowing more (myths and legends aside...).
So far I had read conflicting opinions. My carbon tripod has rubber cups around the steel toe at each tip but regularly use the rubber cups on the ground.
And finally in stormy (or very wet) weather I usually withdraw my equipment!
Thank you

 

[leybold12]

To a bolt of lightning, the rubber tripod feet will not stop the flow. Rubber soles will not. Car tires will not. The only reason you are safer in a car is that you are in a very conductive metal cage so the current goes around you.

Good idea to get inside.