I didn't mean to imply that anyone should follow my example; I was just relating what I do in my relatively simple station and computer setup.
I'm not about to install a sophisticated grounding system, so unplugging stuff is the next best option. I probably wouldn't go that route if my setup was very much more involved or if I lived on a mountain peak. 73, Drew AF2Z On Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:49:20 -0600, you wrote: > >I have to totally disagree with Drew's (AF2Z) statement that " the rare >close strike probably means everything that is connected will get taken >out". Nothing can be further from the truth. The next three paragraphs are >quoted from WR Blocks web site (W3FPR specifically mentions Ron Block in his >rather verbose dissertation in his email below): > > > >"Our challenge is to assemble the best amateur radio station possible, enjoy >the benefits of the hobby, and have our station operable during times of >need. This can be a significant challenge especially considering the height >of the antenna and the awesome capabilities of Mother Nature's lightning >strikes. While she may have the upper hand as far as when and how much >energy she delivers, you have the ability to influence how that energy is >diverted into the earth. Said another way, you can implement a lightning >protection plan that will protect your amateur radio station, even from a >direct strike! > >The commercial radio folks have done this for years; many of them have >critical, must operate, installations in some very difficult to reach >locations. Many of the installations are located on hills or mountaintops >that afford the best area coverage and are great lightning strike targets. >They do survive direct strikes and continue to provide important services to >the communities that they serve. While this type of solution is possible >for the amateur radio station, it does cost money and it does take a >significant amount of resourcefulness, ingenuity, and effort to implement >and maintain. > >The plan does work; but you must follow all of the rules, exactly. Any >violation of the rules, even just a little one, may result in a violation of >the protection plan and damage to your equipment. In some cases the damage >to a semi-protected radio station could be worse than if no protection plan >had been implemented at all. I'll start with some background and then get >into the heart of the matter." > > > >Don's (W3FPR) is right on track. I have lived south of Denver on top of a >hill since 1993, and moderate to severe thunderstorms seem to be the rule >rather than the exception in the Spring and Summer (around 40 or so). >Though I can't say that I have ever watched one of my towers take a hit (not >in the habit of sitting by a window during a lightning storm and "standing >watch" over my towers - I normally hibernate in the shack and use the >computer while enjoying feeling the house shake with the close by lightning >strikes); one evening (wife and I were out) the fire dept told me they >responded to the house after receiving a call from a passing motorist that >he saw one of my towers being hit by lightning. They did not find any >damage, nor did I after I arrived home and checked everything out. In an >earlier post, I mentioned that I did have some damage to the M2 Orion 2800 >rotor (on the 120 ft tower) and a diode in one of my Hy-Gain rotor relay >switch boxes being shorted after a storm last week. If that is the only two >"hits" I have had in 18 years, I am pretty damn lucky; according to the >charts, my 120 ft tower has a probability of being hit 2 1/2 times a year >based on the number of "thunderstorm days". > >When I was erecting my "antenna farm" I was well aware of the lightning >problems associated with living on top of a hill at 6600 ft; and took the >necessary steps to minimize the risks of sustaining substantial damage to my >equipment. All I will say is I can't agree more with what W3FPR states; but >rather than try and "dig up" old QST articles, just go to Ron Blocks web >site (http://www.wrblock.com) and "click" on PAPERS. That will tell you >everything you ever wanted to know about lightning protection and what you >need to do to effectively "ground" your station. > >Since I am not a big fan of "practice bleeding", I do not operate during a >storm; and I try and remember to disconnect the coax and rotor cables >(normally four - five if the 2 mtr radio is connected). However, I have to >admit that more than once I did not disconnect stuff prior to leaving and a >storm rolled through while I was gone. I can't believe that Drew disconnects >everything from his K3, PC and router; I can't imagine the amount of time >that must take having to connect and then re-connect every time it is going >to storm (I have around 14 or so connected to the K3 - it would take me at >least 15 minutes to figure out where each one goes!). > >Dick K8ZTT > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
