My neighbor in high school worked on lightning arrestors for GE. I’m still sad that I never asked to visit his lab.
Walter Underwood K6WRU CM87wj http://observer.wunderwood.org/ On Jul 15, 2014, at 7:08 PM, Bob <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Bill, > > No issue with that. In my mind though there is a big difference > between "surge" and "strike". These may have protected some guys stations > here, and mine, but a direct hit on my house and for sure all bets are off. > > I learned of these from an electrician that swore buy them from his > experiences on oil rigs off the coast of Louisiana. They get hit with real > "strikes" all the time But they do have a pretty good ground and that must > help a lot too. > > The real world verses the ideal world. Should I spend $3K on a ground > system to possibly protect a $7.5K ham radio station? I have second thoughts > on that aspect too. I do think that one of these is a better investment > than a couple of $20 outlet strips that some rely on. > > All I have lost here was a telephone modem card years ago. > > My best hope is that those on this list who have not seen these or > other brands may look at them and think that they are not a bad idea. > > 73, > Bob > K2TK > > On 7/15/2014 8:54 PM, Bill Blomgren (kk4qdz) via Elecraft wrote: >> Those look exactly like what we had 3 of in the circuit breaker cabinet in >> the house and condo in St Pete. A really "direct" hit will blow them up, >> but hopefully after they have sunk most of the energy. One big snap, and >> they are done. >> >> Then again, there are more joules in a lightning strike there than they can >> handle. Lets face it.. the Lightning "lab" that was set up north of Daytona >> had 6-10 foot long glass sculptures under the tower they put up there... >> Anything that can turn that much sand molten is more energy than a MOV can >> manage to make go away easily... Rather stunning forms in various colors in >> the 'brown' areas of the spectrum... You can see how the lightning bolt >> spread after getting into the sand. >> KK4QDZ - Now with Extra Class Priv's, and a tiny KX3 to enjoy them! >> >> >> ________________________________ >> From: Bob <[email protected]> >> To: [email protected]; [email protected] >> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 6:14 PM >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Unhook *ALL* connections before Lightning storm >> >> There is some protection to AC surges, look here: >> >> http://www.deltasurgeprotectors.com/products.cfm?sortit=1&Category=Lightning%20Arrestors >> >> I have one on my service entrance. Does it work? I can't prove that, but >> anecdotal evidence seems to indicate it does. Some years ago a direct hit >> on a >> house in the next block caused a fire. I know of a TV and a control board >> in a >> dish washer that were fried, one next store and another across the street. >> There may have been more that I'm unaware of. I'd like to think it worked >> here >> though. >> >> It boils down to risk assessment too. That is a personal decision. I've got >> 50 >> years of motorcycling and know others that would never get on one because >> they >> are so dangerous. >> >> 73, >> Bob >> K2TK ex KN2TKR (1956) & K2TKR >> >> >> >> >> >> On 7/15/2014 5:19 PM, Buck - k4ia via Elecraft wrote: >>> I have had several instances of nearby impulse damage and surge voltage on >>> the >>> AC line. It could have been very expensive but for insurance. >>> >>> I would put in a plug for either the ARRL or Ham Radio Insurance Associates >>> equipment insurance. HRIA will cover up to $5000 in losses for $136/yr >>> including Mechanical Breakdown. The two policies are very different so >>> review >>> them to decide which is best for you. >>> >>> If you love your K Line as much as I do, you'll get it insured. >>> >>> Buck >>> k4ia >>> >>> On 7/15/2014 6:58 AM, Bill Blomgren (kk4qdz) via Elecraft wrote: >>>> And another warning: Nearby (like next door) lightning will be picked >>>> up by >>>> ANY long wires which end up acting as antennas. >>>> >>>> I did computer repair in Florida. I had a time share/multitasking system >>>> in >>>> a law office that had thousands of dollars in damage after the building >>>> next >>>> door got hit. >>>> >>>> The terminals were plugged into serial lines back to the central system. >>>> So >>>> were the printers. (Think: 6 processor unix type system with a network >>>> inside >>>> the box) >>>> >>>> The tops of ICs were all over the guts of every printer, terminal and the >>>> computer let out the magic smoke. ALL of the terminals and printers had >>>> been >>>> "unplugged" - but not from the RS232 connections. >>>> >>>> The ONLY way to isolate the rig is totally unplug the thing: antennas, >>>> power >>>> supplies and so on... same with your computers. >>>> >>>> Down in Florida, there are code required surge MOV's in every circuit >>>> breaker >>>> panel. All they do is eliminate something close by. They get vaporized >>>> by a >>>> direct hit. >>>> >>>> >>>> KK4QDZ - Now with Extra Class Priv's, and a tiny KX3 to enjoy them! >>>> >>>> >>>> ________________________________ >>>> From: Keith Trinity WE6R <[email protected]> >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2014 8:19 PM >>>> Subject: [Elecraft] Unhook *ALL* connections before Lightning storm >>>> >>>> Hi all, I work on K3's all day and would like to advise/remind folks >>>> that lightning comes in through ANY path it pleases, not just the antenna. >>>> Time and time again folks say they unhooked their antenna but the >>>> lightning took out the DSL modem, computer and K3 via the RS232 port! >>>> Anything connected is a potential path... >>>> Be safe! '73 >>>> Keith WE6R >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 >> Message delivered to [email protected] >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 >> Message delivered to [email protected] >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
