Elecraft OT - Lightning Protection

[Len, K3LJ]

I know this is an off topic subject and would like information on what people are using for lightning protection on their feed lines and rotor cables. I would like you to reply off line to my email address - [e-mail].

Thanks in advance to those who reply.

73, Len  K3LJ

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Len,

I am not certain why you want only off reflector replies.  I would think
this would be a suitable subject for general interest, and related to
the protection of Elecraft equipment.

Lightning Protection done correctly can be very involved.  It consists
of a grounding scheme of many large copper wires and ground stakes
covering a large area to dissipate a lightning surge over a large area
of the earth.  Perimeter ground wires around any building and radial
ground wires (not to be confused with a radial field for a vertical)
having several ground rods at intervals connected to the ground wire and
a ground rod any place where he ground wire makes a change in direction
are important considerations.

As for the shack entry point, running *all* connections coming into the
shack (power, telco, ethernet, and antennas) through a single "grounding
window" is important for lightning protection considerations.

The minor consideration included in a lightning protection system is the
surge protectors on feedlines and all other lines (power, telco,
ethernet, rotator and control lines) coming into the shack.  I use
Polyphaser surge protectors on the coax feedlines at the point of entry
to the building and also at the shack grounding window.  Other lines are
protected by MOVs at both points, and the power to the shack runs
through TrippLite suppressors.

Yes, I have the perimeter wires around the buildings on the property and
I have 3 radial wires running from each mast or tower - buried 1 to 2
feet under the ground and connected to driven ground rods at intervals.  
I have implemented reasonable lightning protection - I had the
opportunity to install it when the house was being built and the antenna
field was being developed.  Still, I do not trust it for full protection
-  My antennas are grounded when not in use and any equipment in the
shack is connected to a dummy load.

For additional information about lightning protection, see the
PolyPhaser website.  Ron Block wrote a good 2 part article on the
subject in QST 5 or 6 years ago.  Much of the information about the
design of my protection system came from those articles.

73,
Don W3FPR

Len, K3LJ wrote:
> I know this is an off topic subject and would like information on what people
> are using for lightning protection on their feed lines and rotor cables. I
> would like you to reply off line to my email address - [hidden email].
>
> Thanks in advance to those who reply.
>
> 73, Len  K3LJ
>  
>  
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[Bill W4ZV]

The most economical and most effective lightning protection is to simply disconnect *ALL* cables (preferably outside the shack) and disconnect *ALL* equipment power cords from the wall when lightning is in the vicinity.  I also have a whole house surge suppressor on my power service and use quick disconnect trailer hitch connectors for my control cables.

I have a 180' tower that is the highest structure for miles around and have never had any internal damage from lightning in 14 years at this QTH.  

I've also learned to become my own lightning forecaster using websites like the following:

http://www.uspln.com/index2.html  (my favorite...touch the bottom of the map)
http://thunderstorm.vaisala.com/explorer.html
http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/golf/uslightningstrikes_large.html

73,  Bill

[Len, K3LJ]

-----Original Message-----
From: "Bill W4ZV (via Nabble)"
Sent: May 29, 2009 6:58 AM
To: "Len, K3LJ"
Subject: Re: Elecraft OT - Lightning Protection

The most economical and most effective lightning protection is to simply disconnect *ALL* cables (preferably outside the shack) and disconnect *ALL* equipment power cords from the wall when lightning is in the vicinity.  I also have a whole house surge suppressor on my power service and use quick disconnect trailer hitch connectors for my control cables.

I have a 180' tower that is the highest structure for miles around and have never had any internal damage from lightning in 14 years at this QTH.  

I've also learned to become my own lightning forecaster using websites like the following:

http://www.uspln.com/index2.html  (my favorite...touch the bottom of the map)
http://thunderstorm.vaisala.com/explorer.html
http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/golf/uslightningstrikes_large.html

73,  Bill

---

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... [show rest of quote]

[Len, K3LJ]

Bill, Thanks you for your reply to my question. I agree with you the the disconnection outside the shack is a good idea. There have been a wide variety of answers to this question and after researching this question myself I was curious as to which most hams were doing. I have received many replies to this question and I would like to thank everyone who responded. I asked that the replies be to my email address only because of some of the sharp criticizism that some of the off topic subjects drew. Also as I don't repond to many topics I failed to remember being able to reply by email button. I'm bad.

Thanks to everyone again who responded. Have a good weekend.

Best 73,  Len K3LJ





-----Original Message----- From: "Bill W4ZV (via Nabble)" Sent: May 29, 2009 6:58 AM To: "Len, K3LJ" Subject: Re: Elecraft OT - Lightning Protection The most economical and most effective lightning protection is to simply disconnect *ALL* cables (preferably outside the shack) and disconnect *ALL* equipment power cords from the wall when lightning is in the vicinity.  I also have a whole house surge suppressor on my power service and use quick disconnect trailer hitch connectors for my control cables. I have a 180' tower that is the highest structure for miles around and have never had any internal damage from lightning in 14 years at this QTH.   I've also learned to become my own lightning forecaster using websites like the following: http://www.uspln.com/index2.html   (my favorite...touch the bottom of the map) http://thunderstorm.vaisala.com/explorer.html http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/golf/uslightningstrikes_large.html 73,  Bill


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