Dave wrote:
I saw somewhere that you could use an NE-2 bulb between the antenna "hot"
lead and ground as a static discharge device for a receiver, but can't find
an NE-2 and don't know anything about neon bulbs. Anybody know if a
standard neon bulb rated at 125 VAC could be used in this manner? Or how I
could test it? I'm thinking about charging up a 50V electrolytic capacitor
and hitting the bulb with that, to see if it discharges the cap. I have a
.22uF 630V mylar cap between the antenna and the input to the tuner because
the 35V disc I had there got blown, so I know that static can be a problem
with my setup even though it is grounded at two points.
Would welcome any ideas anyone has on how to make this work...

Thanks,

Dave


Most CB radios use a pair of back to back diodes across the receiver
input. I also recall the input of the ECG amplifiers also have the same
network to protect the Input circuitry from being blasted by the Pulse
from Defibrillator Paddles (1~5 KV.). These Back to back Diodes Clamp
the Voltage to the Forward Voltage Drop of the Diodes in question at
around 0.6 Volts. This circuit works much better and for cheaper than
the NE2 at ~60 Volts. If Static Electricity (lightning) is a problem at
a specific Frequency, a Grounded 1/4 wavelength shorted Stub could be
wired into the Feedline to present a DC ground to the entire antenna system.

Yukio YANO
VE5YS