I once took a direct hit on a wire antenna that was disconnected (thankfully) from the Collins S line. I t was the loudest bang-sounded like a big gun was fired in the back room (shack). When I went back, there was a black smudge on the wall by the coax and the smell of an electrical short. No damage to anything. I now have a lighting protection device in line with the rig, but I still disconnect when I know a thunderstorm is around.
-----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Philippe Trottet Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 11:52 PM To: Don Wilhelm; Jim McDonald Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair Fully agree with your comments Don, And I want to take the opportunity to encourage every Ham to pay more attention to protect our lovely K's and all ellectronic devices in the house. I've seen so many locations who are facing huge lightings storms and this does not happen only to others, I'm a survival ! I do not want to start a thread beacause it is not directly related but I will be happy to share my experience with those who are interesed. To have some ideas what it is done today on lightning protection, please have a look at: http://www.indelec.com/foudre/Comprendre_la_foudre/Comprendre_la_foudre.aspx I have no interest at all in this company but I have always pay very much attention to be well protected in the various locations I was playing Ham specially after an lightning hit when in France (F5LTB) When in 2003, I arrived in Democratic Republic of Congo (9Q1TB), where lightning protection is mandatory I was looking to the companies who can provide such service and discover that one has a different and a technically interesting approach. I have equipped my house and during the 5 years I stayed in Kinshasa and never face any problem even the head of the lightning device up to my antenna system on my metallic roof has been hitted many times by direct lightings, my younger son can testify, the noise amplified by the metallic roof was really impressive, but none of the electric/electronic devices has been destroyed. The skyscraper where I'm living in UAE is already lightning protection equipped and apart of the strong lightnings during the "colder" season it is very useful because we are facing time to time sand storms who induce an important amount of static. Have a good day Bst 73's Philippe A65BI K3#3616 >>> Don Wilhelm <w3...@embarqmail.com> 05-07-2010 5:15 >>> Jim, I too would place lightning damage into the "Acts of Nature" category and not a warranty consideration. A warranty covers premature component failures and failure to perform to specification, which is different IMHO. For a comparison example, a new automobile has a warranty period, but if a tree falls on it and it is damaged, would that be a warranty repair? - I think not - that is why we have insurance coverage for those kind of catastrophic events. 73, Don W3FPR Jim McDonald wrote: > The radio was new last > November or so, so it is in the warranty period, but I assumed the warranty > wouldn't cover lightning. > > ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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
