Don: You answered my question when you said:
"In fact, I would think that an antenna that has higher resistance to lightning surge is better - the strength of the surge will be reduced by the time it reaches the shack. " I have never seen this issue addressed. So bottom line: Using stranded wire for antennas improves ligtning protection. Steve N4LQ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Wilhelm" <[email protected]> To: "Steve Ellington" <[email protected]> Cc: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 12:13 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 -Second floor- no RF ground ?? > Steve, > > That is a bit of a strange question - because I never though of my > antenna wires as being a conductor for lightning. While the antenna > wires will pick up lightning surges, I don't think that is what is being > considered. What they are talking about is how to dissipate whatever > lightning surge that makes it into the shack to ground. For that - yes, > you would use solid conductor (of heavy guage) wire, or better yet flat > copper strap with its large surface area for the station safety > ground. Conduct the energy out of the shack and into the earth ground > where it can dissipate. The greater earth surface that you can > distribute that energy, the better - be that several connected ground > rods separated by twice their length or a system of buried conductors > like a perimeter wire around the building where the shack is housed. > > In fact, I would think that an antenna that has higher resistance to > lightning surge is better - the strength of the surge will be reduced by > the time it reaches the shack. The path from the shack to your > lightning protection ground is a different matter, and should be low > impedance at all frequencies if that is possible - it is not, so we do > the best we can with conductors having greater surface area and plenty > of conducting capability for high currents as well. > > So stranded wire is OK for antennas, but not for the run from the > station to the safety ground. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > Steve Ellington wrote: >> Speaking of lightning grounds. MFJ says use soild wire or flat copper for >> ground wire and never use stranded or braided wire. They claim the latter >> has high impedance to lightning. >> Ok, fine....so if my antenna is stranded wire, does it have high >> impedance >> to lighting? Would it be less safe to make ones antenna from solid >> conductors? Yes...a weird question but it's been bugging me. >> Steve >> N4LQ >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2708 - Release Date: 02/24/10 14:34:00 ______________________________________________________________ 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
