Re: [Elecraft] Lightening static
It isn't limited to vertical antennas at all. I once got zapped with a thick 2 inch long bright blue arc from an 80m Inverted-V that didn't have any static bleedoff. I used to just short the shack end of the coax for that purpose, but one time I had forgotten to do that until I remembered just as a storm was approaching in the distance. As I reached down to put on the sorted PL259 (I had one hand on the concrete floor) the zap nailed me on the other hand. The biceps of both arms were sore for three days. Anything that can generate a difference of potential is a potential risk. It's informative to look up how much voltage is required to create a 2" arc in dry air. I can't find a source, but it would probably also interesting to see what kind of current is necessary to make the arc almost 2 mm thick. 73, Dave AB7E On 7/31/2023 2:54 PM, Gmail wrote: Static buildup is a problem mostly with vertical antennas. __ 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
[Elecraft] Lightening static
Static buildup is a problem mostly with vertical antennas. Wind blowing across the antenna creates static. Measure the end of the coax cable to see if there is DC connection to ground. Some of the lightening devices have static drain inductors. I think AC/DC does. Polyphasers do not. Coil “Q” coil on a butternut ant asks as a static drain choke. The black box matching units on Cushcraft verticals have a static drain choke. If there is not a DC path to ground, use a 1 megohm resistor or static drain choke. Do not disconnect cables inside the house. I have seen lightning jump 5 feet from a cable on the floor to a wall ac outlet. Do not bring lightning into the house, where it goes is unpredictable. ARRL, I think the “ doctor is in” did a story about coax switches and lightening. The switch contacts are to close together. Lightening will weld the contacts. Ray Sent from my iPad __ 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
