ELECRAFT'S REPAIR SERVICE "FIVE STARS"
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Hello all, Late last year, I had my K2 (QRP with all options) serviced by one of the popular list members. I really wasnt satisfied with the results and recently sent the rig to Elecraft for a "good" going over. Elecrafts results were remarkable. 19 items were corrected/repaired/checked or modified. Some items were corrected that I never realized were a problem. One example. The KNB2 never really worked since I built it in 2003. Elecraft replaced two diodes, repairing the KNB2. They also got all four filters in perfect "tone" alignment. Gary provided a detailed list of all that was done and the time it took. Bottom line is, send it to the people who know the rig best, the designers. To be fair, the list member I sent it to offered to refund my money. Ken, W2GIW, Oaklyn, NJ K2 S/N 3,614 K1 S/N 1,329 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Well I have ordered a second k2. my first k2 got hit with lightning so
now I get to repair the first but the insurance is paying for another cause I don't know if the first is repairable. But I do get to have the fun of building a second k2. see ya 73's N1IB David Schornak K2 03027 K2 0???? www.n1ib.com www.n1ib.com/blog/ www.n1ib.com/leather/ arf don't forget me Mis Ginger _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Every cloud has it's silver lining - have fun building that second K2!
73, James Kern KB2FCV -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 10:01 AM To: 'K. J.'; [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 Well I have ordered a second k2. my first k2 got hit with lightning so now I get to repair the first but the insurance is paying for another cause I don't know if the first is repairable. But I do get to have the fun of building a second k2. see ya 73's N1IB David Schornak K2 03027 K2 0???? www.n1ib.com www.n1ib.com/blog/ www.n1ib.com/leather/ arf don't forget me Mis Ginger _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by David-470
> Well I have ordered a second k2. my first k2 got hit with lightning
> so now I get to repair the first but the insurance is paying for > another cause I don't know if the first is repairable. I'm curious if insurance covered any cost of building or did they just cover the cost of the kit? Was it your homeowners insurance or special coverage on your radios? Craig NZ0R K1 #1966 K2/100 #4941 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by James Kern
That's what started it all - the silver
lining is one heck of a good conductor... :-) Mike AB3AP On Mon 29-Aug-05 at 1005 EDT, James Kern wrote: > Every cloud has it's silver lining - have fun building that second K2! > > 73, > > James Kern KB2FCV > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] > [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David > Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 10:01 AM > To: 'K. J.'; [hidden email] > Subject: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 > > > Well I have ordered a second k2. my first k2 got hit with lightning so now I > get to repair the first but the insurance is paying for another cause I > don't know if the first is repairable. But I do get to have the fun of > building a second k2. > > see ya > > 73's > N1IB > David Schornak > K2 03027 > K2 0???? > > www.n1ib.com > www.n1ib.com/blog/ > www.n1ib.com/leather/ > > arf > don't forget me > Mis Ginger Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Craig Rairdin
I was told by my agent that they would have covered the my labor if I
had asked for it but I did not because it was just to much fun to build and they are letting me the damaged equipment and I think I can rebuild the first k2 and get it working a hundred percent. It is all covered by my home owners insurance -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Craig Rairdin Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 10:15 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: RE: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 > Well I have ordered a second k2. my first k2 got hit with lightning > so now I get to repair the first but the insurance is paying for > another cause I don't know if the first is repairable. I'm curious if insurance covered any cost of building or did they just cover the cost of the kit? Was it your homeowners insurance or special coverage on your radios? Craig NZ0R K1 #1966 K2/100 #4941 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by James Kern
You are probably correct but why was lightening allowed to enter this chap's
first K2. Was that the only good reason he could think of to tell his yl that he needed to build another one? Just wondering. Remember inquiring minds need to know..... LOL! Paul Paul Gates K1 #0231 KX1 #1186 XG1 [hidden email] ----Original Message Follows---- From: James Kern <[hidden email]> Reply-To: [hidden email] To: 'David' <[hidden email]>, "'K. J.'" <[hidden email]>,[hidden email] Subject: RE: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 10:05:32 -0400 Every cloud has it's silver lining - have fun building that second K2! 73, James Kern KB2FCV -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 10:01 AM To: 'K. J.'; [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 Well I have ordered a second k2. my first k2 got hit with lightning so now I get to repair the first but the insurance is paying for another cause I don't know if the first is repairable. But I do get to have the fun of building a second k2. see ya 73's N1IB David Schornak K2 03027 K2 0???? www.n1ib.com www.n1ib.com/blog/ www.n1ib.com/leather/ arf don't forget me Mis Ginger _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Okay radios where turned off
Antennas where disconnected and the house next door took the direct hit and blew a big chunk out of the back of the house. It appears that the blast came in through my astron rs35 which was toasted by the strike. And I don't have a yl to tell. -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Paul Gates Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 11:03 AM To: [hidden email] Cc: [hidden email] Subject: RE: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 You are probably correct but why was lightening allowed to enter this chap's first K2. Was that the only good reason he could think of to tell his yl that he needed to build another one? Just wondering. Remember inquiring minds need to know..... LOL! Paul Paul Gates K1 #0231 KX1 #1186 XG1 [hidden email] ----Original Message Follows---- From: James Kern <[hidden email]> Reply-To: [hidden email] To: 'David' <[hidden email]>, "'K. J.'" <[hidden email]>,[hidden email] Subject: RE: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 10:05:32 -0400 Every cloud has it's silver lining - have fun building that second K2! 73, James Kern KB2FCV -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 10:01 AM To: 'K. J.'; [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 Well I have ordered a second k2. my first k2 got hit with lightning so now I get to repair the first but the insurance is paying for another cause I don't know if the first is repairable. But I do get to have the fun of building a second k2. see ya 73's N1IB David Schornak K2 03027 K2 0???? www.n1ib.com www.n1ib.com/blog/ www.n1ib.com/leather/ arf don't forget me Mis Ginger _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Mercy, Mercy.... That is terrible.... And also sorry about no YL! <g>
Paul Gates K1 #0231 KX1 #1186 XG1 [hidden email] ----Original Message Follows---- From: "David" <[hidden email]> To: "'Paul Gates'" <[hidden email]>,<[hidden email]> CC: <[hidden email]> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 11:17:53 -0400 Okay radios where turned off Antennas where disconnected and the house next door took the direct hit and blew a big chunk out of the back of the house. It appears that the blast came in through my astron rs35 which was toasted by the strike. And I don't have a yl to tell. -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Paul Gates Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 11:03 AM To: [hidden email] Cc: [hidden email] Subject: RE: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 You are probably correct but why was lightening allowed to enter this chap's first K2. Was that the only good reason he could think of to tell his yl that he needed to build another one? Just wondering. Remember inquiring minds need to know..... LOL! Paul Paul Gates K1 #0231 KX1 #1186 XG1 [hidden email] ----Original Message Follows---- From: James Kern <[hidden email]> Reply-To: [hidden email] To: 'David' <[hidden email]>, "'K. J.'" <[hidden email]>,[hidden email] Subject: RE: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 10:05:32 -0400 Every cloud has it's silver lining - have fun building that second K2! 73, James Kern KB2FCV -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 10:01 AM To: 'K. J.'; [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 Well I have ordered a second k2. my first k2 got hit with lightning so now I get to repair the first but the insurance is paying for another cause I don't know if the first is repairable. But I do get to have the fun of building a second k2. see ya 73's N1IB David Schornak K2 03027 K2 0???? www.n1ib.com www.n1ib.com/blog/ www.n1ib.com/leather/ arf don't forget me Mis Ginger _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by David-470
On Aug 29, 2005, at 11:17 AM, David wrote: > Antennas where disconnected and the house next door took the direct > hit > and blew a big chunk out of the back of the house. Don't just disconnect your antennas - GROUND them. Possibly would have saved your rig. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: [hidden email] Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Bill Coleman wrote:
>> Antennas where disconnected and the house next door took the direct hit >> and blew a big chunk out of the back of the house. > > Don't just disconnect your antennas - GROUND them. > > Possibly would have saved your rig. Serious? What's more likely to be hit by lightning? A big, high-up, earthed conductor, or a big, high-up conductor who's potential is allowed to drift around a bit? In fact, when scientists want to study lightning, don't they do it by attaching earthed wires to fireworks and shooting them into thunderclouds? You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) -- "Nosey" Nick Waterman, Senior Sysadmin. #include <stddisclaimer> [hidden email] Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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On Aug 30, 2005, at 4:18 AM, Nick Waterman wrote:
> Bill Coleman wrote: >>> Antennas where disconnected and the house next door took the direct >>> hit >>> and blew a big chunk out of the back of the house. >> Don't just disconnect your antennas - GROUND them. >> Possibly would have saved your rig. > > Serious? > > What's more likely to be hit by lightning? A big, high-up, earthed > conductor, or a big, high-up conductor who's potential is allowed to > drift around a bit? > > In fact, when scientists want to study lightning, don't they do it by > attaching earthed wires to fireworks and shooting them into > thunderclouds? > > You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like > you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) I think it's already a target, being a conductor in the sky and all, and nothing short of taking it down will change that (the lightning would much rather go through metal for some distance rather than air). The question is, is it a target that is open at the bottom, very near your rig, with lightning shooting out of it across your desk, looking for a place to go? Or is it a target that is grounded at the bottom, giving the lightning someplace to go that isn't your rig? That's how I think of it, but having said all that, I'm in a nice low area that never ever gets struck, so I don't worry about it. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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A couple of weeks ago I was walking across the parking lot to our apt. and
one clap of lightening hit right over my head... I was using an umbrella. Then a few seconds later there was a clap of lightening right over the top of my Gap Challenger antenna but nothing seemed to be harmed... Me or the antenna. Paul Gates K1 #0231 KX1 #1186 XG1 [hidden email] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Bruneau" <[hidden email]> To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]> Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 6:48 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 > On Aug 30, 2005, at 4:18 AM, Nick Waterman wrote: > > > Bill Coleman wrote: > >>> Antennas where disconnected and the house next door took the direct > >>> hit > >>> and blew a big chunk out of the back of the house. > >> Don't just disconnect your antennas - GROUND them. > >> Possibly would have saved your rig. > > > > Serious? > > > > What's more likely to be hit by lightning? A big, high-up, earthed > > conductor, or a big, high-up conductor who's potential is allowed to > > drift around a bit? > > > > In fact, when scientists want to study lightning, don't they do it by > > attaching earthed wires to fireworks and shooting them into > > thunderclouds? > > > > You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like > > you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) > > I think it's already a target, being a conductor in the sky and all, > and nothing short of taking it down will change that (the lightning > would much rather go through metal for some distance rather than air). > > The question is, is it a target that is open at the bottom, very near > your rig, with lightning shooting out of it across your desk, looking > for a place to go? > > Or is it a target that is grounded at the bottom, giving the lightning > someplace to go that isn't your rig? > > That's how I think of it, but having said all that, I'm in a nice low > area that never ever gets struck, so I don't worry about it. > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Paul Bruneau
Paul Bruneau wrote:
>> You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like >> you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) > > I think it's already a target, being a conductor in the sky and all, and [...] > That's how I think of it, but having said all that, I'm in a nice low > area that never ever gets struck, so I don't worry about it. I remember operating VHF, hearing a thunderstorm in the distance and thinking it was time I shut down, and just before ending my QSO, realising I was chatting to a chap who's QTH was in Guildford - the direction of the oncoming thunderstorm. "Aren't you shutting down? That thunderstorm must be almost on top of you?", "Oh it's all around me, but I've got Guildford Cathedral almost outside my window and a few hundred feet above me, so I figure it's gonna get hit and I'm not!". Nutter! :-) -- "Nosey" Nick Waterman, Senior Sysadmin. #include <stddisclaimer> [hidden email] If you wait, it will go away. (Hellrung's Rule) _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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There is a "cone of protection", they say, around a high point with an angle of 45 degrees. I wouldn't tempt it myself. However, I'm near the base of a 1900' peak and I've watched lightning hit the peak, but have never seen lightning anywhere near the area surrounding the peak. I believe in the theory, but still... Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com >From: Nick Waterman <[hidden email]> >To: Paul Bruneau <[hidden email]> >CC: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]> >Subject: Re: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 >Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 21:41:15 +0100 > >Paul Bruneau wrote: >>>You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like you'd >>>be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) >> >>I think it's already a target, being a conductor in the sky and all, and >[...] >>That's how I think of it, but having said all that, I'm in a nice low area >>that never ever gets struck, so I don't worry about it. > >I remember operating VHF, hearing a thunderstorm in the distance and >thinking it was time I shut down, and just before ending my QSO, realising >I was chatting to a chap who's QTH was in Guildford - the direction of the >oncoming thunderstorm. "Aren't you shutting down? That thunderstorm must be >almost on top of you?", "Oh it's all around me, but I've got Guildford >Cathedral almost outside my window and a few hundred feet above me, so I >figure it's gonna get hit and I'm not!". Nutter! :-) > >-- >"Nosey" Nick Waterman, Senior Sysadmin. >#include <stddisclaimer> [hidden email] >If you wait, it will go away. (Hellrung's Rule) >_______________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: [hidden email] >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): >http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Nick Waterman
On Aug 30, 2005, at 4:18 AM, Nick Waterman wrote: > Serious? > > What's more likely to be hit by lightning? A big, high-up, earthed > conductor, or a big, high-up conductor who's potential is allowed > to drift around a bit? The only time I've suffered any lightning damage is when my antennas were disconnected for Field Day. It wasn't a direct hit, but an induced strike that took out about 45 feet of open wire line by vaporizing both conductors. > In fact, when scientists want to study lightning, don't they do it > by attaching earthed wires to fireworks and shooting them into > thunderclouds? Yes, they do. > You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like > you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) I don't pretend to understand everything about lightning, since it is an odd subject. However, grounding lowers the effective height of the antennas by making it have the same potential as the ground. A disconnected antenna can float and build up considerable charge, which will make it a target. Some contesters in the mid-west have told tales of big storms approaching, only to have the lightning stop as it passes over their multiple, grounded tower installations and then resume after it drifts past. The grounding tends to bleed off any charge that would preceed a strike. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: [hidden email] Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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On Tuesday 30 August 2005 23:13, Bill Coleman wrote:
> The only time I've suffered any lightning damage is when my antennas > were disconnected for Field Day. It wasn't a direct hit, but an > induced strike that took out about 45 feet of open wire line by > vaporizing both conductors. Bill, In August 2003 I had a near lightning strike: about 120 feet from the house. The doorbell rang, the garage door opener was fried, a relay in my grounded manual ASTU was blackened, all the CRT displays in the house needed degaussing, the cable modem and the router were fried. It's the EMP that puts whole multiple of amps through any moderately long wire nearby by magnetic induction if there is a conductive path. Ian, G4ICV, AB2GR, PP-ASEL -- _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by EricJ-2
Eric J wrote:
> There is a "cone of protection", they say, around a high point with an > angle of 45 degrees. I wouldn't tempt it myself. However, I'm near the > base of a 1900' peak and I've watched lightning hit the peak, but have > never seen lightning anywhere near the area surrounding the peak. I > believe in the theory, but still... There's still this thing called INDUCTANCE, and I've not done the maths, but 25 kiloAmps (there's a unit you don't often use!) in one "wire", maybe 100m away from the wire connected to your rig... The web has figures around 500 GW. Would you let someone transmit that kinda power into a 3 mile antenna within a mile of your expensive kit? No thanks! -- "Nosey" Nick Waterman, Senior Sysadmin. #include <stddisclaimer> [hidden email] False hope is better than no hope at all. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Eric/Nick:
Both of you are right about not trusting the "cone of protection." It is widely used in the power industry for the design of shield wires on HV/EHV transmission lines and in substations. Where that concept came from was a set of tabletop experiments conducted by Westinghouse several generations ago. However, it is well known within the power industry that the "shielding angles" are only valid for geometries very close to those in the Westinghouse test setup. Then it gets worse. The shielding angle only gives you a prediction of probability of a hit. It is more probable outside the cone of protection than inside. However, one actual hit no matter how improbable will ruin your whole day. BTW, you cannot really design to survive a direct hit. If your antenna is actually struck by lightning, the antenna itself will most likely be destroyed, along with the coax and the rig. Also the building will suffer structural damage. Inductance comes in two flavors and both of them will bite you. The pulse of current in a lightning stroke is a broadband signal with a peak in the neighborhood of 500 kHz. The problem is that the reactance to a 500 KHz signal arising from the self-inductance in a long ground lead may be high enough that the surge might seek a lower impedance path to ground, like maybe through your rig. That is why you need to have a short direct connection from your transmission line to the ground rod located well away from the rig. The other problem is the one that Nick refers to, mutual inductive coupling. A wavelength at 500 kHz is 600 meters (and a sixth of a wavelength is obviously 100 meters) This is important because, for electromagnetic effects, the induction field is significant out to 1/6 of a wavelength, and trails off rapidly further out. In other words, if lightning strikes anywhere within 100 meters of your station, a replica of the wave will be coupled into every conductor in your station. In the worst case scenario (a super stroke) the peak current can be several hundred kA. The coupling is inefficient; thus, maybe only a few to a few hundred amps gets coupled into your station. This is what happens when your rig gets burned up, but the foundation of your house did not crack. Near misses can be protected against (somewhat) by short direct ground connections. 73 Steve Kercel AA4AK At 09:24 PM 9/1/2005 +0100, Nick Waterman wrote: >Eric J wrote: >>There is a "cone of protection", they say, around a high point with an >>angle of 45 degrees. I wouldn't tempt it myself. However, I'm near the >>base of a 1900' peak and I've watched lightning hit the peak, but have >>never seen lightning anywhere near the area surrounding the peak. I >>believe in the theory, but still... > >There's still this thing called INDUCTANCE, and I've not done the >maths, but 25 kiloAmps (there's a unit you don't often use!) in one >"wire", maybe 100m away from the wire connected to your rig... > >The web has figures around 500 GW. Would you let someone transmit that >kinda power into a 3 mile antenna within a mile of your expensive kit? No >thanks! > >-- >"Nosey" Nick Waterman, Senior Sysadmin. >#include <stddisclaimer> [hidden email] >False hope is better than no hope at all. >_______________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: [hidden email] >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): >http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Stephen W. Kercel wrote:
> BTW, you cannot really design to survive a direct hit. > If your antenna is actually struck by lightning, the antenna itself will > most likely be destroyed, along with the coax and the rig. Also the > building will suffer structural damage. I don't think that's quite true. BC stations survive direct hits every day. I would agree, however, that it would cost more than most hams are willing to spend. You would need an antenna some distance from the building, with an appropriate lightning ground system (multiple radials, each with several ground rods on it) at the base of the tower. Then you would need lightning suppressors at the top and bottom of the tower for all coax and control lines. At the entrance to the building, you would need a single entrance panel, through which all power, antenna, telephone, etc. lines feeding the building would pass and on which were mounted the appropriate suppressors for all the above. At this point there would be another ground system, bonded of course to the antenna ground system. If you had a separate building for a shack, this probably wouldn't be too hard; but for a building that also serves as a home it might be difficult! -- 73, Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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