This is VERY good advice. The most important thing we can do to minimize
lightning damage is to seriously implement proper grounding and bonding
in our stations and throughout our homes. N0AX's ARRL Book on the topic
is a great reference; I collaborated with him on it. Also study the
slides for talks I've done at west coast hamfests. Don't let the word
"audio" in the link fool you. This is about EVERY element of grounding
and bonding specifically for ham radio.
http://k9yc.com/GroundingAndAudio.pdf
Another VERY important thing is to NEVER use shunt mode (MOV) type surge
protectors anywhere except at the Service Entrance (where power enters
the building). MOVs are more likely to CAUSE destructive failure than to
prevent it.
Surge-X, Brick Wall, and a third company whose name I've forgotten make
series-mode surge protectors. They're more expensive, but a LOT cheaper
than our radios. There's a brief discussion of series-mode vs shunt mode
beginning on page 28 of this link
http://k9yc.com/SurgeXPowerGround.pdf
A far more extensive discussion begins with slide #69 in this link. It's
by Andy Benton, a very good engineer who designed the Surge-X products.
This is the first part of a 4-hour talk that Andy and I did at
conventions for companies designing and installing professional audio
and video systems in public buildings and for corporate operations.
http://k9yc.com/InfoComm-PowerSystems2012.pdf
My good friend Bill is right on about very high currents and voltages
being induced on wiring inside our homes. In addition to antennas,
lightning comes in on power lines, telephone lines, and CATV lines.
Finally, I want to emphasize what I said at the start about doing this
VERY seriously. Lightning has a way of finding things we didn't do.
73, Jim K9YC
On 1/17/2021 9:19 PM, hb9...@hispeed.ch wrote:
I think we need to divide protection into different topologies/ barriers/
zones. This is according to threat phenomena ( e.g. xxx kilo Amps to milli
Amps and smaller ).
Threat levels need to be reduced step by step and systematically.
Surge Limiters / Filtering / Shielding / System Layout with minimizing
coupling effects are part of this.
Protection against any threat level ( EMI energy / current / voltage /EM
field derivatives) can/should realistically and economically not be
implemented just finally at the radio itself.
Lightning is first of all a more external system problem (Tower / Station
Single Entry Panel Point / Cable- Layout, loop, spark over voltage /
conductor melting/welding...).
While lower threat levels, like adverse subsystem (shack) coupling of
transients / continuous waves etc. -EMI/ESD Immunity- are certainly part of
the good EMC radio/design .
Professional EMC Standards (EU-HAM Radio, EN ETSI 301783...
https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_en/301700_301799/301783/02.01.01_60/en_301
783v020101p.pdf
and specific System Experiencehttp://k9yc.com/publish.htm -also from big
contest stations- tell you what to do in HAM Radio electronics.
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