I have purchased and deployed Huber+Suhner lightning protectors <https://www.hubersuhner.com/en/products/radio-frequency/lightning-emp-protectors/gas-discharge-tube-gdt-protectors> in the past but have thankfully never suffered an actual strike, so I can't say how well they work under duress.
I've heard it said that basically nothing can protect you from a direct hit, but again, I haven't had the opportunity to test that theory that you so recently suffered. On Mon, Jun 18, 2018 at 2:29 PM, Dan Kemppainen <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi, > > I have (or had, I guess) a GPS antenna on a tower that took a lightning > hit yesterday. > > You can tell it's going to be a bad day when you walk into your shop, and > smell burnt electronics. Still have to troubleshoot exactly what got hit, > but the GPSDO was flashing no GPS signal, the 5V supply for the antenna to > the GPS splitter was dead, the data logging computer had rebooted and the > data logging computer monitor was dead. Other network hardware was dead > also. > > This is a bit surprising since the tower itself is grounded with 4 ground > rods and bonded to a 150 foot deep well casing near by. The antenna is on > the end of 250 ft run of RG6. The GPS antenna cable shield has a grounding > block bonded to two ground rods driven down below the basement foundation > where it enters the house. I'm guessing the surge ran the coax into the > splitter, then through everything connected to it, despite the grounding > block. > > So, I'm wondering if there are better surge protectors for lightning > protection? Maybe something that actually protect the center conductor > also? Hopefully something that will pass GPS signal reasonably and let DC > power through. If so, can you recommend some starting points? Other > suggestions also welcome. > > > Also, If you are considering upgrading your own lightning protection, > hopefully this will be some inspiration to get started. As I said earlier, > it's a bad day when you smell burnt electronics in the shop. > > Thanks, > Dan > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe, go to https://lists.febo.com/cgi-bin > /mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://lists.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
