X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:05:28 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from mail-gg0-f177.google.com ([209.85.161.177] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.0.4) with ESMTPS id 6185333 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sun, 07 Apr 2013 11:32:05 -0400 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=209.85.161.177; envelope-from=pjdmiller@gmail.com Received: by mail-gg0-f177.google.com with SMTP id q1so801606gge.36 for ; Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:31:30 -0700 (PDT) X-Received: by 10.236.126.7 with SMTP id a7mr10481182yhi.98.1365348690042; Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:31:30 -0700 (PDT) X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from pjdms-mbp.cfl.rr.com ([68.202.59.203]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id y5sm20275609yhd.3.2013.04.07.08.31.28 (version=TLSv1 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-RC4-SHA bits=128/128); Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:31:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Paul Miller Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="Apple-Mail=_CC18C10E-F66B-43DD-A5B6-DA3BCDCEBBE3" X-Original-Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 (Mac OS X Mail 6.2 \(1499\)) Subject: Re: [LML] Static Wicks X-Original-Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2013 11:31:27 -0400 References: X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" In-Reply-To: X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.1499) --Apple-Mail=_CC18C10E-F66B-43DD-A5B6-DA3BCDCEBBE3 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 John, lots of discussion on this subject on LML and other sites. = Basically, the static charge builds on the flight surfaces, in this case = your rudder. Unless you have an anti-static primer (for fibreglass = components) then the charge will build until it sparks off the airframe = or finds some other path to migrate to. The anti-static primer takes = the charge and leads it to the static wicks. It only has to travel the = thickness of the paint to the primer and then the primer conducts it to = a point where the static wicks can take over. Most people in fair = climates don't seem to have a problem. In the flight levels, dry = precip, snow, rain, virga, low RH you may have issues especially if the = static is popping near an antenna. Paint systems for aircraft are well = engineered for static and all the major aerospace paint manufacturers = have systems to deal with composite aircraft and static dissipation. = Some of the builders here have used those systems and described the = components on LML. Paul On 2013-04-07, at 11:02 AM, "John Barrett" = wrote: > This question has to do with the rudder in the IVP. It=92s written = that because the rudder is fiberglass, wicks aren=92t effective due to = non conductivity.=20 > =20 > A build shop installed wicks on my rudder and they ran ground wires to = those wicks from a/c ground. It seemed logical that this would make = them useful, but last night I had a discussion with Dan Newland who got = involved in static discharge problems on a satellite project in his = working days and he scratched his head at the notion. Said he wasn=92t = sure but would guess that the wicks are not going to be useful in that = configuration.=20 > =20 > Anyone on the LML have knowledge that bears on the subject? I would = like to learn more. > =20 > Thanks > =20 > John Barrett, CEO > Leading Edge Composites > PO Box 428 > Port Hadlock, WA 98339 > =20 > www.carbinge.com > =20 --Apple-Mail=_CC18C10E-F66B-43DD-A5B6-DA3BCDCEBBE3 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 John, = lots of discussion on this subject on LML and other sites. = Basically, the static charge builds on the flight surfaces, in = this case your rudder. Unless you have an anti-static primer (for = fibreglass components) then the charge will build until it sparks off = the airframe or finds some other path to migrate to. The = anti-static primer takes the charge and leads it to the static wicks. = It only has to travel the thickness of the paint to the primer and = then the primer conducts it to a point where the static wicks can take = over. Most people in fair climates don't seem to have a problem. = In the flight levels, dry precip, snow, rain, virga, low RH you = may have issues especially if the static is popping near an antenna. = Paint systems for aircraft are well engineered for static and all = the major aerospace paint manufacturers have systems to deal with = composite aircraft and static dissipation. Some of the builders = here have used those systems and described the components on = LML.

Paul

On = 2013-04-07, at 11:02 AM, "John Barrett" <jbarrett@carbinge.com> = wrote:

This question has to do with the rudder in the = IVP. It=92s written that because the rudder is fiberglass, wicks = aren=92t effective due to non conductivity.

A = build shop installed wicks on my rudder and they ran ground wires to = those wicks from a/c ground. It seemed logical that this would = make them useful, but last night I had a discussion with Dan Newland who = got involved in static discharge problems on a satellite project in his = working days and he scratched his head at the notion. Said he = wasn=92t sure but would guess that the wicks are not going to be useful = in that configuration.
Anyone on the LML = have knowledge that bears on the subject? I would like to learn = more.

Thanks
John Barrett, = CEO
Leading Edge = Composites
PO Box = 428
Port Hadlock, WA = 98339