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eHam.net Survey
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Survey Question
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Do you have any form of Lightning protection for your shack?
Posted: Jul 24, 2008
(1268 votes, 42 comments)
by VK5LA
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Survey Results
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Yes, full protection...
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21% (267)
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Some protection...
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46% (582)
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No Protection!
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23% (288)
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At least my antenna is a DC ground!
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4% (56)
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I have NOW...
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1% (8)
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I've never thought about it...
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1% (16)
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It won't happen to me...
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4% (51)
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Survey Comments
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static
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My friend Paul said to run a separate ground stake and run a wire(any size) up the tower.Attach it to every tower section and also to the mast at the top.This is not for the lightning to travel.It is merely to dissipate the static that causes the strike in the first place.Without the static there will not be a strike.A strike does not shoot out of the cloud, rather it starts at the source (static).I questioned a guy installing lightning rods on a house we were working.He wanted the copper braid to enter my chimney in the attic and out the cap where his sharp rods would attach.I told him if there was a strike it would probably blow my chimney apart.He straightened out my way of thinking for years.I thought lightning rods were there for lightning to strike.They are there instead to dissipate the static so lightning will never strike in the first place.Also I was told by hams to never put a fiberglass omni antenna at the top of your tower.It is an absolute lightning magnet.Hope this helps.Take care,Dave NR8TV
Posted by
NR8TV
on August 19, 2008
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static
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My friend Paul said to run a separate ground stake and run a wire(any size) up the tower.Attach it to every tower section and also to the mast at the top.This is not for the lightning to travel.It is merely to dissipate the static that causes the strike in the first place.Without the static there will not be a strike.A strike does not shoot out of the cloud, rather it starts at the source (static).I questioned a guy installing lightning rods on a house we were working.He wanted the copper braid to enter my chimney in the attic and out the cap where his sharp rods would attach.I told him if there was a strike it would probably blow my chimney apart.He straightened out my way of thinking for years.I thought lightning rods were there for lightning to strike.They are there instead to dissipate the static so lightning will never strike in the first place.Also I was told by hams to never put a fiberglass omni antenna at the top of your tower.It is an absolute lightning magnet.Hope this helps.Take care,Dave NR8TV
Posted by
NR8TV
on August 19, 2008
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Huh??
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"I have several antennas so until I build a grounded panel I connect the antenna coaxes ( 2 at a time together using a barrel so the lightning (If it happens) will stay in the coax."
Do you actually think it will stay in the co-ax if you get a direct strike? You must have some darn good hardened co-ax!! :-)
Posted by
K1CJS
on August 18, 2008
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"i read in QST that you should run a wire from your radio to a waterpipe. Sounded like good advice so i went to the local scrap yard and purchased two pieces of waterpipe, about 3 feet long. One for the home station, and one for my mobile rig."
~3 foot long is a half wave on two meters, so your ground is no good on that band as that length represents a very high impedance. Chop a few inches off both your home and mobile water pipe and you'll be in business.
Posted by
AB0RE
on August 17, 2008
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Dont attract the lightning..
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I must say I never gave it a good analysis, but my guts feeling says me that if I mount a real good lightning protection, it will also be a nice attractingpoint for lightning So, my strategy is "isolation". My antennamast from off the rotor is glasfiber, my cables are disconected whenever I am not there or when there is thunderalarm in my neighbourhood. Cross fingers, I never had any strikes here.
Just my 2 cents opninion, I am no expert...
best 73, Dick PA2DW
Posted by
PA2DW
on August 17, 2008
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I Connect
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I have several antennas so until I build a grounded panel I connect the antenna coaxes ( 2 at a time together using a barrel so the lightning (If it happens) will stay in the coax. I just hook them together and unplug the equipment. But I do use Panamax's lightning / surge protectors on the AC lines. I use a 2pc Molex connector in the rotor cable so I can disconnect it.
Posted by
W4ARZ
on August 14, 2008
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Waterpipe ground.
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i read in QST that you should run a wire from your radio to a waterpipe. Sounded like good advice so i went to the local scrap yard and purchased two pieces of waterpipe, about 3 feet long. One for the home station, and one for my mobile rig.
DE AP1RIL/1
Posted by
K0FF
on August 11, 2008
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Oh geeze!!!
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GAWD Bill! UR killin me!!! My face hurts now from laughin!! Can I sue somebody for that?? emotional and physical distress!!
Dan/NØFPE
Posted by
N0FPE
on August 9, 2008
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no ground
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My station is on the upper floor and the main electrical ground if it is hook up is under the backporch on the far side of the house.
I also have a hugh and I mean hugh telephone company tower across the street that takes all the strikes. Now also on the other corner is the local Internet company tower up at 100 foot. They get some too.
My little 40 foot tower is pretty safe under their umbrellas.
John
Posted by
W3ML
on August 7, 2008
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If all else!
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If all else fails, have insurance!!!
Posted by
NA5Q
on August 6, 2008
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There is such a thing!
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Dan:
Ya know, that post in the "Eham Survey" section was totally tongue-in-cheek.
Until Sunday morning!
I sat on the throne, got out the Universal catalog for a little reading pleasure, turned to some random page, and lo & behold...they actually DO make a coax connector condom! It's even got a little "tip" on the end!
The problem is, it's anatomically incorrect! The catalog says it is suppose to cover the FEMALE apparatus: an SO-239.
It's called the CAP SO239, catalog #4432 and is only ninety-nine cents!
Now all we need is for this company to mfg. a CAP PL259....
73, Bill - WA8MEA
Posted by
WA8MEA
on August 4, 2008
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HAHAHA
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Too Funny!!!! Thanks Bill!!
Posted by
N0FPE
on August 3, 2008
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Condoms
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I just learned this from another ham:
For the BEST PROTECTION after disconnecting each antenna, place a condom over the PL-259.
That way, the lightning won't escape.
ALWAYS use a NEW condom with each NEW thunderstorm! DO NOT REUSE OLD CONDOMS!
Thank you....
73, Bill - WA8MEA
Posted by
WA8MEA
on August 2, 2008
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Pretty well grounded ...
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I live on a very small city corner lot - the house takes up
virtually the entire lot. During a recent remodel, I was
able to put down a modest ground system that includes a
series of 10' ground rods, connected by a 70' run of
2"copper strap. The system terminates under my tower,
which has a "ground cage" of #6 copper wire anchored by
another 10' ground rod. The system is "bonded" to the
main household electrical ground system. Also bought
the full line of DX engineering lightning arrestors for all
leads coming into the shack. Had it been possible, would
have liked to run the copper strap & ground rod system
around the entire qth ... Maybe at my dream home.
Posted by
K6TTD
on August 1, 2008
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R56
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I try to be as close to that as possible.
Posted by
N3EG
on July 31, 2008
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Beware
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Never thought it would to me but....after 22 years hammin, got my first hit back in May. Struck the very top of a 60ft+ black locust tree where I had some dipoles anchored to the trunk. It was only just sprinkeling when it happened. Pretty lucky. It somehow damaged my Icom AH-4 long wire tuner which was mounted on the opposite side of the house from this tree, a HP all-in-one, a MFJ QRP power supply and a Midland WX radio. The rigs were ok. Must have came in mainly through the AC. I'm gunshy now. From now on, I disconect at least the coax when storms approach.
Posted by
N9GGE
on July 31, 2008
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Is burying my head in the sand a good ground? If so then I'm covered. It will never happen to me.
Posted by
ERIC
on July 31, 2008
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Grounding Here
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Currently I have a couple of small antennas on the house with PVC masts and wall brackets so I don't ground those. The vertical in backyard is grounded via a rod and radials.
I have ALL coax and the shack equipment grounded at a bonded entrance panel with switches in the shack to disconnect.
NG0K
Posted by
NG0K
on July 31, 2008
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Protection
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First, I use a "Whole House" Power conditioner, mounted inside my circuit breaker box, across the Mains. I then have a single point ground, that everything in my shack goes to, plus it is bonded to the house ground. I had my ground system tested, and it came in at .5ohms, yes you read that right 1/2 ohm. So you're not going to get a better ground there.
I also have "gas tube discharge" devices on ALL coax lines coming in, and they are bonded to this 1/2ohm ground. These are only good for static discharge, and I use 200V flashover tubes. Gas Tube discharge devices, made by whoever are all pretty much equal, and DO work for what they were intended to do. None of them will stop a direct hit on your antenna, but will keep your antennas at a minimal potential, thus making them less likely to a direct hit. Also when I built this house, my "radio room" was designed as just that, and I have copper screen wire behind the sheet rock walls and ceiling forming a Faraday Shield around the room. I also use a remote controlled antenna switch, which is back at the antennas, to put all of them directly to ground. So ever possible form of protection has been deployed here to keep lightning damage to the bare minimum.
For the record, I keep seeing posts that say commercial radio and tv stations, cell towers etc do NOT disconnect, and suffer no damage. This is NOT true! As a broadcast engineer, I have seen the damage many times, but do to proper grounding, halo systems, and other forms of protection, the damage is usually minimal and can be repaired very quickly. And 75+% of commercial broadcast stations are using TUBE transmitters, which can handle lightning surges much better than solid-state transmitters.
All in all, I feel pretty good about what I have done to keep damage to a minimal, but know fully well, that lightning storms still have a potential to do damage here. Just remember that "An ounce of prevention is worth several pounds of cure". If done correctly, it can reduce your changes by a huge factor, and nothing is 100%!
73 de W4LGH - Alan
http://www.w4lgh.com
Posted by
W4LGH
on July 31, 2008
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Single-point ground plate at the entrance point equipped with Polyphasers linked with a short length of flat copper strip to a single 8ft copper plated rod. One, maybe two T-storms a year, but there is usually a tree that gets it somewhere around here. No tower, just house-mounted stubs. I have EMP rated UPS feeding the electronics, including entertainment stuff. I usually get a few blips a month, probably cars hitting poles somewhere. TV, phone and Internet are FiberOptic based Comcast.
Posted by
N7TRZ
on July 30, 2008
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"Full Disconnect"
Dennis
Posted by
W7AWH
on July 30, 2008
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Disconnect....
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I think "Full Disconnect" should have been one of the choices.
"Full Protection" is a tad confusing. Does it mean total disconnection? Or....did someone buy a broadcast type lightning arrestor with a warrantied insurance policy in case the arrestor fails????
73, Bill - WA8MEA
http://HamRadioFun.com
Posted by
WA8MEA
on July 28, 2008
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The hard way
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I never had much concern for lightning because I always disconnected and grounded my antennas. Well about 6 years ago I forgot and left one of my SWL antennas connected to my SP-400 while running an errand. When I came back home my wife told me that we had a lightning storm and when I got to the basement shack I found the SP-400 had suffered some front end damage. That's when I consulted Ralph, my ham buddy at work and he suggested that I put Alpha Delta protectors on each antenna feed and use Alpha Delta protected switches to disconnect, ground and switch my small antenna farm. Since then I have had no damage from lightning and easy to switch the antennas to the disconnected/grounded position. My Ham station and my shortwave listening post have grown over the last several years but each additional antenna is protected by a AD transi trap and all antenna and radio switching is handled by the AD protected switches. Ralph uses the same devices on his HF and VHF set-up and he originally converted from polyphase protectors because the government and military customers our company services uses the Alpha Delta units. Whatever unit you choose get something between your rig and antenna. Be sure your grounds are adequate too.
Frank
Posted by
HFSPOOK
on July 28, 2008
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no protection in the desert
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Nope, no protection here in the desert. I did stop transmitting once when thunder arrived two seconds after a sheet lightening discharge. That was two years ago.
Posted by
WI7B
on July 28, 2008
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I (also) Disconnect
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It's about a 75' run to my 30' aluminum tilt over. I mostly use my portable antennas but when I'm not on the air I pick up all the feedlines. Here in Florida thunderstorms are a major concern. It only takes a few minutes to drop a feedline and get on the air.
Dan WZ1P
Posted by
WZ1P
on July 28, 2008
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Misinformation
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There seems to be more old wives tales and misinformation floating around ham circles about lightning protection than truthful facts.
Public safety radio systems, Cellular tower sites, Commercial broadcast stations, Even ham radio repeater tower sites do NOT "disconnect" at every rumble of thunder, And when properly grounded AND bonded, Suffer NO damage from direct lightning strikes.
It does NOT have to cost a fortune to properly set up a radio station. Old used copper works every bit as good as shiny brand new. Old used copper TUBE works almost as well as solid copper wire, Copper roof flashing is GREAT etc.
My own tall towers up on the hill here take direct lightning hits most every large storm, With NO damage to any of my equipment.
Good BONDING of ground systems is much more important than the actual device (Arrestor) Like Polyphaser, I.C.E. etc used.
For some good FACTS read:
http://members.cox.net/pc-usa/station/ground0.htm
Included on that site are links to Polyphaser, etc. info sites, Which have lots of good information also, But always remember: Those companies are trying to sell you product!
Posted by
K9KJM
on July 27, 2008
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I use PolyPhasers
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I use PolyPhasers on all my lines coming in coax, remote antenna switch, and rotor cables. I have two towers with 40 ft of 1" copper tubing burred between them they are grounded to gather.
My ground strap that comes in the shack is disconnected when not in use to keep potential from coming back up the ground to the equipment. I also use Jones plugs on all rotor and remote switches to prevent a path for lightning.
Posted by
KA5ROW
on July 27, 2008
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recent neighborhood hit.
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I'm working on doing a better job. Until then I'll have to continue to unplug everything. I knew a storm was coming in so I disconected the two antennas from the rig and let them dangle behind the desk. It wasn't but a minute later when we had a neighbood strike and I heard the small snap behind the desk. I suspect it was my 160 meter loop. Had my 756P3 been hooked up it might have been damaged. That would have been a bad day for sure as I just got the radio.
I don't know enough about lightening to trust any ground system of my making. Even though I'll bulk up my grounding, I will continue to disconnect my gear and continue trying not to laugh at those who don't when they get unlucky :D
Posted by
NV2A
on July 27, 2008
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Even with disconnected antennas ...
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The family and I just got home when a severe storm hit. We were less than five seconds inside the front door when a large strike occurred in my back yard. This just happened six weeks ago on June 14th.
Like most other folks, I practice disconnecting the antennas when not in use. Inside the house, the only equipment affected was a VoIP device that needed to be reset. Outside, every cable leading to the shack burned, RF connectors exploded and a 6BTV ground mounted vertical (which may have actually taken the hit) lost the 80 meter resonator. Several trees, some separated by as much as 200', also showed evidence of some involvement. Some trees had charred bark and one tree had a branch that ignited and burned.
Summer lightning storms are common here in Central Jersey and I'm amazed that it's only happened once in all the time we've lived here. You can get pretty lucky sometimes, but this is one case that when your luck runs out there's a lot of damage and potential for personal injury or death.
We were lucky.
Posted by
WB2GBF
on July 27, 2008
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I'm in the same boat as -WIK: reside in coastal Calif (= very low incidence of lightning). I do have some inline suppressors and a single ground.
My main concern is with the AC mains service for my house. A few years back, during a summer thunderstorm, we had some lightning a few miles away that zapped the IC in my Astron RS power supply. It was an easy fix ($1.10 IC), but I then realized the potential was there for more extensive damage in my house.
Note that we usually only get one small summer thunderstorm through here per year (not at all like a midwest summer).
I've started work on a whole-house surge/suppression system. This should help with not only lightning-induced surge, but with dirty/surging power from PG&E...
Posted by
K6IHC
on July 27, 2008
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what a waste
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I see there are a lot of folks that are of no help to their community at all when severe weather strikes. The ole hide in the basement thing. I have ridden out so many storms that I hardly notice any more. The radios I need for Skywarn/AREA/RACES stay hooked up all the time. I have a very good grounding system. Lots of copper in the ground, GOOD I.C.E. lightning protectors, common point ground. Have I ever taken a hit, sure have, 2 times. Lost a DC ground antenna the first time, and a telephone the second. Do you also unhook your TV, stereo, telephone, answering machine, toaster oven, microwave, freezer, electric blanket, and just about every other thing in the house? I bet not...I would bet you are watching your TV hooked to an antenna or cable while it is storming. Makes me laugh when folks say "I unhook EVERYTHING IN A STORM" what a waste of time.
Posted by
N0FPE
on July 26, 2008
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grounding
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When I am not operating, I remove the antennas AND grounds from my radios and connect the antennas to a ground by themselves. I also disconnect all my power supplies from the AC outlets. The only way to avoid damage, in my opinion, is to completely remove the radios and other equipment from any path static or lightning could take, and that means removing the equipment itself from all ground leads. That way it is completely isolated.
Posted by
WB4TJH
on July 26, 2008
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4 rods, still damaged
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Just two days ago we got damaged by a severe lightning storm. Four well spaced, 8 foot ground rods, heavy copper cable to radio room, additional copper piping connecting the rods, all underground, but we still lost one new TV, possibly 2, SWR/WATT meter, Astron Power Supply and several other items as well as damage to my HF rig.
Perhaps I will add even more ground rods.
Posted by
WA3LWR
on July 26, 2008
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Indoor Antennas
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Seems like the best lightning protection. However, what can't get in, can't get out either, like RF, haha.
Posted by
N3FT
on July 26, 2008
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It won't happen to me HI HI.
I have some 2 ground rods.
But I still unplug my radios because I am not losing my IC-718 that thing is like my baby!
Posted by
KC9MAV
on July 26, 2008
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Shack Grounds?
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I have ZERO grounds in my shack or on my tower.I disconnect "EVERYTHING" when I am not using the gear.I have quick disconnects on coaxes & rotor box as well as I unplug the power cables for the wall when not in use.I do NOT operate during severe weather or even MOST rainstorms without lightning in the area.If you operate during a storm your asking for a hit & getting hit yourself before it's over.NOT worth getting KILLED for a QSO!Before it comes up "NO" I do NOT have TVI issues either! }:>)
Clayton
W4KVW
Posted by
W4KVW
on July 25, 2008
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Tower, Shack & Coax Ground
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Lighting protection is a must when living in Florida since during the summer months we get almost daily thunderstorms. I have four ground eight foot ground rods and a deep fresh all bonded together to the shack ground. Suppressors for all coax, rotor and antenna control box. I have many detailed pictures that you can access by the following link:
http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/s99/wy4j/
Posted by
WY4J
on July 25, 2008
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Governor
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I have automatic protection. My wife, who has a General license, at the first hint of a storm goes to the shack and diconnects all equipment. I use a home built switchboard with bulkhead connectors instead of antenna switches so the process is quick and simple.
Posted by KQ6P on 7-25-2008
Posted by
KQ6P
on July 25, 2008
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Grounding
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Many Hams with roof mounted antennas (this also applies to others with TV antennas up there) just have a single ground wire going from their chimney masts to a 6 foot ground rod below about a foot or two from the home's foundation. They may also ground their HF rigs with a ground wire going to another ground rod right outside the shack. Some say this is better than nothing... others say it makes 'no dent'.
Posted by
W8KQE
on July 25, 2008
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But what if...
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I have an extensive RF ground system for the shack. Although there are items in the shack that are NOT connected to the "station RF ground system", such as, my PC and the telephone. Reasoning behind that decision is; I still occasionally use those things in foul weather. If they took a hit and were hooked to the station ground I would likely lose my whole station.
I have extensive grounding on my antenna system and support structures.
However, the DC antenna grounding, station RF ground and residential primary AC service are not all bonded together as required by the NEC...
During the thunderstorms , as well as most times I am not working the station, all of my amateur radio equipment and accessories are completely disconnected from ALL exterior leads...therefore ISOLATED.
---------------------------------------------
During foul WX I also disconnect the RF ground main strap that runs to the GND network outside. This is because I have experienced 1 loss over the 12 years of a TS 850 PLL that took a static hit which came in through the station ground. YES, THAT CAN HAPPEN ! Fortunately I didn't have a "big" station at that time and that was the only loss I suffered. In other words it was the only thing in the station other than the power supply and a mic and a key... No AC power was to the power supply and the antenna feed line was disconnected and outside. The only possible source of the static hit was the station ground.
I disconnect ALL antenna, rotor control leads and switching networks from the station.
I disconnect ALL primary AC and DC power sources from the shack equipment.
---------------------------------------------
After 12 years, fortunately, I have only had the PLL loss the one time (remember that came in through the station ground) ...Even though there have been many very close lightning events (within a few yards) I have witnessed over those years.
Unless a person has the financial capabilities to invest in "commercial grade" grounding systems, such as a broadcast station (AM,FM,TV...)employs, there is not really much a person can do to protect their shack and property from a DIRECT hit by lightning. Honestly, after what I have been researching over the past several weeks about lightning AND lightning safety... A lot of the "outcome" is a matter of luck. I do RESPECT the fact that I am probably not as "protected" as I would like to be. Just because I have been "fortunate" enough to only suffer 1 lightning/static related loss over my time in amateur radio does not render me"cocky" in this "luck". My system for protection may be weak by standards and may not even be close to antiquate for other OPs.
73 and have fun w/ the hobby
Posted by
KC8BYF
on July 25, 2008
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My antennas are grounded, outside.
I have grounded lightning arrestors in the feedlines, also outside.
That's it.
Nothing "in the shack."
Of course, we don't actually have any lightning here so I don't even know why I bothered with the arrestors...
WB2WIK/6
Posted by
WB2WIK
on July 25, 2008
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I - DISCONNECT
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I have a main Coax feed to an Antenna relay Switch Box out on the tower, I disconnect my feedline and power strips. Still... there is Rotor wire and Steppir control cable, Oh well I do what I can each time I am finished playing radio. 8-) God Bless all.
Posted by
N5JFJ
on July 25, 2008
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