A couple of weeks ago I was walking across the parking lot to our apt. and one clap of lightening hit right over my head... I was using an umbrella. Then a few seconds later there was a clap of lightening right over the top of my Gap Challenger antenna but nothing seemed to be harmed... Me or the antenna. Paul Gates K1 #0231 KX1 #1186 XG1 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Bruneau" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 6:48 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 > On Aug 30, 2005, at 4:18 AM, Nick Waterman wrote: > > > Bill Coleman wrote: > >>> Antennas where disconnected and the house next door took the direct > >>> hit > >>> and blew a big chunk out of the back of the house. > >> Don't just disconnect your antennas - GROUND them. > >> Possibly would have saved your rig. > > > > Serious? > > > > What's more likely to be hit by lightning? A big, high-up, earthed > > conductor, or a big, high-up conductor who's potential is allowed to > > drift around a bit? > > > > In fact, when scientists want to study lightning, don't they do it by > > attaching earthed wires to fireworks and shooting them into > > thunderclouds? > > > > You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like > > you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) > > I think it's already a target, being a conductor in the sky and all, > and nothing short of taking it down will change that (the lightning > would much rather go through metal for some distance rather than air). > > The question is, is it a target that is open at the bottom, very near > your rig, with lightning shooting out of it across your desk, looking > for a place to go? > > Or is it a target that is grounded at the bottom, giving the lightning > someplace to go that isn't your rig? > > That's how I think of it, but having said all that, I'm in a nice low > area that never ever gets struck, so I don't worry about it. > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [email protected] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
