Help with Amsteel please....is Amsteel

[MedicineMan]

Is Amsteel a conductor of electricity?
Most of us know lightening goes from the ground up, but even if it went 'tree' down it 'senses' the path of least resistance. How it knows there is a length of Amsteel in its path either way I don't know but it just does!
So say it does arc from the wet ground and hits your hammock (with you in it) then it runs toward the tree in its desire to reach higher (like us hammock hangers) what happens when it hits the Amsteel?
And for those who think lightening goes from the sky to the ground samy question, it runs down the tree and for some crazy reason decides to go to you and the hammock despite the easier route down the tree, what happens when it hits the Amsteel?
Next question so you can start thinking about it now it how does having a Dutch Biner in-line affect this transmission but don't answer that yet.

[Bubba]

Don't know how much amsteel conducts if at all but during a thunderstorm the amsteel is likely to be wet which can help conduct things.

[^shane^]

The electricity probably wouldn't conduct through the Amsteel itself, but if the rope was soaked, the electricity would conduct down through the water until it hit dry rope. I really think you'd see the rope melt/explode and you'd find yourself on the ground. And probably cooked. That much electricity for that little distance doesn't need much conductor to get to you.

I was going to post this in your other thread about hammocks vs. trees... God's aim is true. If He wants you, He will get you whether you are on the ground or comfortably hanging.

[BearChaser]

More than likely the tree itself would get you after being hit. Also agree with shane, it will be one way or another. Would you rather be hit while hanging in your hammock, or walking out the door going to or from work? It's just so unpredictable that's it's something I don't worry about. Of course I don't stand out in the middle of a field with a metal rod held high above my head either. Use common sense and knowledge to help protect yourself the best you can, in any situation.

NOAA Lightning Safety
Some NatGeo Facts About Lightning

[nothermark]

As a conductor It's not significantly different from any other rope. The "steel" part is descriptive of strength not material.

As far as lightening goes I think you might be a small bit safer in a hammock than in a tent as it is more like a Faraday cage. I really don't want to do the experiment. ;-)

[KerMegan]

the principle on which Faraday cages work is that metal conducts EM much more easily than air, so the charge/wave will go along the metal rather than straight thru the air. in a hammock what you have is a much larger 'spark gap' for the energy to jump, as nylon is more of an insulator than a conductor-thus it will be less likely to go thru you to get to the ground than the tree it has already hit. (though as said it might follow the path of least resistance down the wet ropes and over to the next wet tree, if that is the easiest path to the ground...)
HTH, KM

[gargoyle]

If lightning was close enough to run down the Amsteel, I'd say it's close enough to screw up more than the line...The few milliamps the line may carry would be insignificant as your hammock and hiney are on fire.

just saying.

[raiffnuke]

If lightning was close enough to run down the Amsteel, I'd say it's close enough to screw up more than the line...The few milliamps the line may carry would be insignificant as your hammock and hiney are on fire.

just saying.

Now that's what we call a "Screaming Alpha!"



(A class alpha fire for those that don't understand )

[Ramblinrev]

The conductivity of the suspension has no bearing whatsoever on the ability to be shielded from shrapnel. On that score... whether tent or hammock you are vulnerable. Might as well be comfy if it's going to happen.

[ewok]

What if you are using a Mylar space blanket as part of your insulation?