Carbon tripod/lightning conductor

Sharp5

Sharp5

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Alan
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Should one be concerned about being caught out in a thunder and lightning storm with a carbon fibre tripod strapped to ones back.
Am I right in thinking the tripod may act as a lightning conductor.
I'm not caught out in a storm by the way, just watching it thru window!!
Kind regards, Alan
 
Well carbon fishing rods can act as lightening conductors so i guess its possible a tripod could.
 
The simple answer is yes. You should always fold and put your tripod on the ground.

By the very nature it has carbon in it, it will conduct a current at very high voltages.

It wont at low voltages because of the resin coating on the fibres acting as an insulator.

I have seen experiments with a Vandergraph generator used to explode carbon fibres, quit spectacular.
 
Aluminium tripods are just the same! Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. I kayak and have been out fishng on the yak caught in thuinder with lightning strikes happening all around me. Sat on the sea (saltwater is a conductor too!) in a grp kayak, with contact to the sea through being wet and having carbon fishing rods and carbon paddle......there is always the chance, but I think it is pretty remote.

Some people are just paranoid about everything. If you worry about it, it is more likely to happen.
 
Lightning will always take the shortest easiest route to ground, just make sure you are not the tallest nor most conductive thing around and you'll be fine.
 
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