Discussion on “lightning phenomena in electric circuits”, “protection against lightning, and the multigap lightning-arrester”, and “new principles in the design of lightning-arresters”, at New York, March 29, 1907

Dr. Steinmetz gives a clear description and classification of the lightning phenomena that aid us greatly in understanding the problems and the methods proposed for meeting them. They are, however, the simple problems; there is yet to discuss what occurs when two sets of waves started from different points on a long transmission line eventually come together. Aside from the increased constants (capacity and self-induction) I think there will be additional difficulties, due to the fact that in a long-distance transmission line traversing a great area there may be a storm at a certain part of the line and clear weather at another part; or there may be two independent storms in different parts of the line, giving lightning effects which induce waves that meet and combine, and increase the effects. Otherwise there would not be so much difficulty in protecting fairly well a long and extensive low-potential distribution system.