In a related matter, I recently ran across a bountiful supply of new design, high amperage, reasonably priced knife switches on eBay. If you make the switched conductor the radio and the two stationary terminals "Antenna" and "Ground", it's trivial to disconnect your antenna/ Set the input of your radio to ground for storms. Search for "Knife Disconnect Switch".
Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ / J68HZ/ 8P6HK/ ZF2HZ Owner - Operator Big Signal Ranch Staunton, Illinois email: [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Richard Fjeld Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 1:19 PM To: elecraft posting Subject: Re: [Elecraft] static buildup on antennas I know there are differences of opinion on this, but I have come to believe if I can keep a static charge from building up on my antennas, and other devices, it will greatly lessen the chance of a dis-charge occurring. I even ground the metal vent pipe that goes up through the roof of my house, as well as the downspouts from my rain gutters. I have alligator clips on the ends of my ladder-line so that I can easily connect them to a ground lead when finished operating. I would get bit doing this at times, so I put a 1 MegOhm resistor from each twin lead tap on the tuner to ground. No trouble since. Perhaps I should reduce the R value though. Some guys use spark plugs to bleed off, but I feel that allows too much voltage at the point of dis-charge. Now this, and I will be brief. I saw where lightning hit a decorative electric light about five feet high on the front lawn of a house. You would think that would have been an adequate path to ground. Instead, it followed the buried wire that ran from it, under the blacktop driveway, throwing the asphalt up on the roof of the house. It went into the house and did all kinds of havoc. I suppose the metal light post was just stuck into the ground a couple feet or so. It isn't just our antennas that need grounding. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Cc: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 1:43 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] static buildup on antennas > Gary, > My antenna tuner has a 4:1 current balun built in. The DC resistance > across the ladder line is near zero ohms. I would think that would bleed > off any charge. > 73, > Art WB8ENE > > ______________________________________________________________ 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 ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2437/5263 - Release Date: 09/11/12 ______________________________________________________________ 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
