"BTM" wrote in message
...

Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE Wrote:
"jim" wrote in message
...-
Jan Panteltje wrote:
-
I had the new GPA behind the house up last week....
To make sure I had the best SWR and best signal, I use thick coax,
and
left out the coupling piece I had that I used to disconnect in case
lighting was expected.
The weather report was good, with a drop of rain, and the sky was--
clear....--
I went to sleep.
At 3.25 last night I woke up because of an incredible flash and
BANG.
Thought "have to buy new gear now, pity..." hehe).
LOL
But nothing was smoking, counted seconds between flashes (more now),
it was overhead alright.
But my neighbor (50 meters away) has a higher mast.
Anyway, it started raining, usually there is enough conductive path
then
for it not no strike, I went outside in pyamas, waited for a flash,
(clouds take time to charge up again) and cut the coax, folded it
back,
so there was some meters separation.
Went to bed again, noticed I was wet...
Just now I put some connecters and a coupling piece, so that is
fixed.
So, anyways the sky is clear and the sun shines, and the SWR is
slightly
better now...
But now I am thinking 'lightning detector', I know these exist, was
it--
not--
a simple ferrite rod with a detector (for low frequencies)?
Does anyone here use these?
Good diagrams?
I should google anyways....

Anyways I made some other changes too, I am now running the set from
a--
12 Ah--
12V gel battery,
It is charged continously with an AC/DC adapter, no large power
supplies--
needed.--
and I can use things when electricity fails, say in case of
flooding.

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all the work to set up a station and no lightning protection scheme?
there are many ways to protect the equipment including gas discharge
kit. any surge protection on the ac input?-


Nothing that would be worth buying to protect a CB rig will stop a
direct
strike. A direct strike will vaporize a gas discharge kit on its way
to
your radio. But then if you want to spend a few thousand dollars you
can
get direct-strike protection.

Kevin, WB5RUE




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I know nothing really will stop a direct strike but the more 90 degree
turns you can make with you coax before entry the better! lightning
doesnt like 90 degree angles, also i bring my coax all the way to the
ground with a gas discharge unit at its lowest point then 90 back up to
entry,most likely a drop in the bucket but ive never been wiped out. I
also have 15 or so ground rods spread every 4 ft connected with
stranded bare #6 then i covered it with dirt most of this is for field
ground but field ground should be bonded to antenna ground always and
is in my case, also bond them to your service ground,i also run my
equipment off of battery backup units with avr and really nice surge
clamping characteristics UPC and Cyberpower make nice units that stops
that third order harmonic feedback wipe out thru your power in case of
a strike

well this is just my poormans attempt to protect my equipment

Cheers BTM

Yeah, and Santa Claus ate the cookies too. Lightning will take whatever
path is there no matter how complex. It will go right through your gas
discharge and Cyberpower UPS.
Remember this spark has just traveled several miles to get to you. A few
inches of gas or plastic isn't even going to slow it down.

Kevin, WB5RUE



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