On 11/6/2017 10:54, Buck wrote:
Best practice is to disconnect everything when not in use.
I agree. While good bonding and protection devices can help, a large enough or close enough strike can still damage equipment.
I set up my station with a panel at which all antennas and control cables from outside can be disconnected with two connectors. That panel is in the basement shack, and well grounded and bonded to the station ground. It would be better to have that disconnect outside, away from the house, but I'd never operate in the winter if I had to go outside every time I wanted to connect the antennas. I would put it outside if I lived in Florida.
In addition, all station power comes in on two conveniently placed outlets, one for 120 and one for 240. I also disconnect both of those when I'm not operating and/or there are thunderstorms around. (Only the clock is left connected, and it's expendable.) I also disconnect the ethernet cable to the computer. With everything disconnected, the equipment is grounded, but otherwise isolated. There is no direct path by which current could flow through any of the equipment. While some current could certainly be induced in the interconnecting cables, they are fairly short.
While I'm fairly sure this protects the equipment well, I know there are no guarantees. (That's what insurance is for.) My primary concern is minimizing the chance that a lightning strike will start a fire which, at best, would be a major inconvenience. As far as safety, I stay well away from the radio when there's lightning about.
73, Scott K9MA -- Scott K9MA [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]
