[Elecraft] Lightning concerns: Was: K4 Remote: My QTH vs. a friend's, many miles to the north

Sat, 04 May 2024 21:59:12 -0700 

Thread subject changed to reflect the actual topic.
It is the station owner that is responsible for lightning protection (or other environmental risks); not Elecraft or most any product vendor of any type.  To require more, would cost more (for the hardware and for the liability risk that the company would have to endure). 


The area/s missed in the protective system design, can be demonstrated 
by a nearby or direct hit (induced voltages and current can be almost as 
damaging); as you already found (and it's EASY to miss an entry point, 
no blame intended).



The ARRL has a good amount of simplified how-to in the book "Grounding 
and Bonding" but several readings may still be needed for understanding 
the content.  There are other good resources (Motorola has one, so does 
the cell phone industry; each is excellent but best used to induce 
sleep, they are intense and technical and reference various applicable 
laws).



It's not all about lightning but static dissipation as an energy 
source.  That static source may also be dust, wind, snow, or rain (yes, 
water).  Diverting that charge OUTSIDE the building (shack) to GROUND is 
the basic plan but it must also include EVERY entry point (cable TV, 
phone, DSL, antenna, rotor, control cables for antennas, mast, satellite 
dishes and tower).



Using several ground rods as part of a system is common BUT they must 
all be bonded to each other AND to the one common safety ground of the 
building (US and other countries require this, by law).  Use of water 
pipes is no longer code, in the US (because PEX and PVC are common, 
defeating ability to take to ground).



From your description Jorge, it sounds like you did it correctly, but 
missed an entry point.  Now you'll have to replace parts, sadly.



Let's limit any more, to Elecraft specific topics.  This one has 
wandered well afield of Elecraft.


73,
Rick nk7i


On 5/4/2024 9:21 PM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:

Hi Dave

I have a panel like yours, each antenna to a discharger, on a copper sheet.
Nothing has happened with the coaxial and antenna switch

I have several rods that make the ground and a copper bar behind the desk
and all the equipment is connected to the ground

The lighting came through the antenna of my internet link, then it went to
the router, then to the computer where I have the kpa1500 connected with a
USB cable

My question about whether Elecraft could do more is whether there could be
something better than the USB it currently has, which seems to me to be a
simple USB connector, like that of any printer for example.

So there is my question, if for such an expensive piece of equipment, there
could be something of better quality, if not, I apologize, we will have to
live with these things.

See you in the bands!!!

Have a good weekend!

73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W

El dom, 5 may 2024 a las 1:08, Dave (NK7Z) (<d...@nk7z.net>) escribió:


Jorge,

I can only go by what you said:

"Last week I experienced a lightning strike"

That sounds a lot like a direct discharge into the shack, so I am
responding to your comment, if that is not correct, please help me
understand what actually happened...

Lightening is strange, it can take out one piece of equipment, and not
touch another...  It all depends on how your shack is grounded, and how
it is bonded.  When grounding commercial equipment, even the path the
wire takes is important...  Curves, straight line runs, etc...

What sort of ground system are you using, and what sort of lightening
protection did you have in place at the time of the lightening event?

Take a look at:

https://www.nk7z.net/building-a-coax-entry-panel/

That is my entry panel.  I am slowly building a ground ring around the
house...  Why?  Because only I can build a system to help reduce the
chances of lightening taking out something in my environment.  It is
after all my home, and my environment, so I can not, and do not, hold
Elecraft responsible for things they can not control.  Elecraft, can not
be responsible for my grounding, and bonding practices.

Respectfully, in your original question you implied that Elecraft should
have done more to make the KPA1500 withstand an as yet, correctly
defined lightening event.  Again, respectfully, if you believe Elecraft
failed in some way, then you should say what, and how they failed...
Not imply they should have done more...  That is unfair.

With respect to the weekend-- I hope to see you in the 7QP contest!  I
will be on Sunday, but I fear the Sun will not assist much...  Take care
my friend...

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 5/4/24 17:42, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:

hi Dave

I don't know what to tell you, I imagine that a direct discharge into
the shack would have burned everything.

I had 6 USB cables connected to the laptop, they burned the USB of a box
of GHE that costs $160 and the USB of the KPA1500 that costs +$7000

rotor controls and other PCs did not burn

In short, it was the fear I had of buying new and sophisticated
equipment living so far from where the company is located.

Have a good weekend

73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W

El sáb, 4 may 2024 a las 21:31, Dave (NK7Z) (<d...@nk7z.net
<mailto:d...@nk7z.net>>) escribió:

     Hi Jorge,

     That device would not stand a strike...  As per the US Weather

service,

     (https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-power
     <https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-power>), a typical

lightening

     bolt runs around 300,000,000 volts, at 30,000 amps.  That device is
     speced for 4000 volts...

     For Elecraft to protect the amp against a lightening strike as you
     described you had, they would need to add a LOT more hardware than

that

     to the price of an already expensive amp, and most people would never
     see need the protection.  Hence why they don't even try and protect
     against a direct lightening strike.

     The onus for lightening protection always rests with the device

owner.

     73, and thanks,
     Dave (NK7Z)
     https://www.nk7z.net  <https://www.nk7z.net>
     ARRL Volunteer Examiner
     ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
     ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

     On 5/4/24 16:36, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
      > Dave
      >
      > I am not an engineer and I don't know anything about electronics
     either,
      > but I am very receptive to the solutions that many radio friends
     give me.
      >
      > which made me think if the kpa1500 or k4 usb was built with
     something
      > like this,
      >


https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A

< 
https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A>

<
https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A

< 
https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A>>

it might be beneficial or not, just thinking out loud

      >
      > 73,
      > Jorge
      > CX6VM/CW5W
      >
      > El sáb, 4 may 2024 a las 19:06, Dave (NK7Z) (<d...@nk7z.net
     <mailto:d...@nk7z.net>
      > <mailto:d...@nk7z.net  <mailto:d...@nk7z.net>>>) escribió:
      >
      >     Jorge,
      >
      >     I would imagine if you approach Elecraft with that mindset,

their

      >     thoughts will be you should take care of your own lightening
     protection.
      >
      >     73, and thanks,
      >     Dave (NK7Z)
      >https://www.nk7z.net  <https://www.nk7z.net>  <https://www.nk7z.net
     <https://www.nk7z.net>>
      >     ARRL Volunteer Examiner
      >     ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
      >     ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
      >
      >     On 5/4/24 09:10, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
      >      > Last week I experienced a lightning strike and the I/O
     module of
      >     my KPA1500
      >      > was damaged, what has Elecraft thought to ensure that the
      >     equipment is not
      >      > damaged?
      >     ______________________________________________________________
      >     Elecraft mailing list
      >     Home:http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
     <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
      >     <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
     <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>>
      >     Help:http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
     <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
      >     <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
     <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>>
      >     Post:mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
     <mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net>  <mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
     <mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net>>
      >
      >     This list hosted by:http://www.qsl.net  <http://www.qsl.net>
     <http://www.qsl.net  <http://www.qsl.net>>
      >     Please help support this email list:
     http://www.qsl.net/donate.html  <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
      >     <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html  <

http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>

      >     Message delivered tocx6vm.jo...@gmail.com
     <mailto:cx6vm.jo...@gmail.com>
      >     <mailto:cx6vm.jo...@gmail.com  <mailto:cx6vm.jo...@gmail.com>>
      >
      >
      >
      > --
      > 73,
      > Jorge
      > CX6VM/CW5W
     ______________________________________________________________
     Elecraft mailing list
     Home:http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
     <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
     Help:http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
     <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
     Post:mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net  <mailto:

Elecraft@mailman.qth.net>

     This list hosted by:http://www.qsl.net  <http://www.qsl.net>
     Please help support this email list:http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
     <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
     Message delivered tocx6vm.jo...@gmail.com
     <mailto:cx6vm.jo...@gmail.com>



--
73,
Jorge
CX6VM/CW5W



______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com 























					Reply via email to