Lightning Season, disconnect COMPUTER etc.

[KeithWE6R]

Hi all;
I am starting to see our yearly peak of Lightning damaged radios come in
for repair, August through October.

It is MOST likely to come in through the COMM PORT connected to your
COMPUTER (via DSL or Cable Modem).
Those lines are LONG and run for miles, so a direct hit is not necessary
to do damage.

Customer quotes; "I disconnected everything, EXCEPT..." then they list
ONE item.
Spare K3 board supplies are low or gone.
Besides the most likely Comm Port, then obvious Antenna, I have seen
lightning come in other things connected to the K3, like;
DC power cord, ground, Paddle/Key, Key-Out to Amp etc.
'73
Keith WE6R, Elecraft K3 Tech

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Dave Sublette-2]

I don't know if this really helps or not, but I connect my computer to the
internet through a WiFi.  I have DSL which feeds a WiFi Router.  That DSL
modem and the router are the only things connected to the phone line.

When lightning threatens I disconnect all power, ground, coax, rotator
control cables, etc.  Anything that goes to the outside world (including
the station ground to the ground rod outside of my window is removed.

I live on a ridge, the highest point in the county.  The ground slopes down
and away for 20 to 30 miles in all directions.  I have two 150 foot towers
and a 70 footer.  The first ten years I was at this location I was hit 4
times by lightning.  Then I instituted my disconnect policy.  I have had no
strikes in the last 20 years. The lightning strikes, but there has been no
damage to equipment.

The chassis to chassis bonding remains in place.

Your results may differ.

73,

Dave, K4TO




On Fri, Aug 14, 2020 at 1:47 PM Keith Trinity WE6R <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Hi all;
> I am starting to see our yearly peak of Lightning damaged radios come in
> for repair, August through October.
>
> It is MOST likely to come in through the COMM PORT connected to your
> COMPUTER (via DSL or Cable Modem).
> Those lines are LONG and run for miles, so a direct hit is not necessary
> to do damage.
>
> Customer quotes; "I disconnected everything, EXCEPT..." then they list
> ONE item.
> Spare K3 board supplies are low or gone.
> Besides the most likely Comm Port, then obvious Antenna, I have seen
> lightning come in other things connected to the K3, like;
> DC power cord, ground, Paddle/Key, Key-Out to Amp etc.
> '73
> Keith WE6R, Elecraft K3 Tech
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Richard Thorne-4]

I took a hit a year ago in September.

To make a long story short my ham desk now has 3 connections:

- A single Coax

- 120v

- 220v

All antenna switching and rotor control is via Green Heron Everywhere
wireless interfaces.  My rotor boxes and switches can still take a hit
but the equipment on the operating desk won't, as long as I disconnect
the 3 items listed above.  I do use power poles on my control cables so
I can quickly disconnect the 3 rotor boxes from the outside world as
well, I just need to remember to unplug them from power.

Rich - N5ZC

On 8/14/2020 1:31 PM, Dave Sublette wrote:

> I don't know if this really helps or not, but I connect my computer to the
> internet through a WiFi.  I have DSL which feeds a WiFi Router.  That DSL
> modem and the router are the only things connected to the phone line.
>
> When lightning threatens I disconnect all power, ground, coax, rotator
> control cables, etc.  Anything that goes to the outside world (including
> the station ground to the ground rod outside of my window is removed.
>
> I live on a ridge, the highest point in the county.  The ground slopes down
> and away for 20 to 30 miles in all directions.  I have two 150 foot towers
> and a 70 footer.  The first ten years I was at this location I was hit 4
> times by lightning.  Then I instituted my disconnect policy.  I have had no
> strikes in the last 20 years. The lightning strikes, but there has been no
> damage to equipment.
>
> The chassis to chassis bonding remains in place.
>
> Your results may differ.
>
> 73,
>
> Dave, K4TO
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 14, 2020 at 1:47 PM Keith Trinity WE6R <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi all;
>> I am starting to see our yearly peak of Lightning damaged radios come in
>> for repair, August through October.
>>
>> It is MOST likely to come in through the COMM PORT connected to your
>> COMPUTER (via DSL or Cable Modem).
>> Those lines are LONG and run for miles, so a direct hit is not necessary
>> to do damage.
>>
>> Customer quotes; "I disconnected everything, EXCEPT..." then they list
>> ONE item.
>> Spare K3 board supplies are low or gone.
>> Besides the most likely Comm Port, then obvious Antenna, I have seen
>> lightning come in other things connected to the K3, like;
>> DC power cord, ground, Paddle/Key, Key-Out to Amp etc.
>> '73
>> Keith WE6R, Elecraft K3 Tech
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Don23805]

I signed up for the ARRL-sponsored equipment insurance, which covers
lightning.
I also have PARADAN grounding boxes to bleed off "charge".  In 3 trees
around the house, I have "lightning rods" (air terminals, now) at the
70' level, with the antenna 50' off the ground.

K2BIO

On 8/14/2020 2:52 PM, Richard Thorne wrote:
> I took a hit a year ago in September.
>
> To make a long story short my ham desk now has 3 connections:
>
> - A single Coax
>
>
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Disconnecting is not a reliable way to protect your home and station from a
lightning strike. A strike can induce high voltage into your home wiring
without the antenna being connected and cause a lot of damage. There are
many papers on lightning protection, proper single point grounding is a good
start.

John KK9A



______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[John Simmons]

Grounding and Bonding, ARRL book by Ward Silver


--
73,
-John NI0K
https://www.qrz.com/db/NI0K

[hidden email] wrote on 8/14/2020 10:02 PM:

> Disconnecting is not a reliable way to protect your home and station from a
> lightning strike. A strike can induce high voltage into your home wiring
> without the antenna being connected and cause a lot of damage. There are
> many papers on lightning protection, proper single point grounding is a good
> start.
>
> John KK9A
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Jim Brown-10]

On 8/15/2020 5:48 AM, John Simmons wrote:
> Grounding and Bonding, ARRL book by Ward Silver

Yes. I collaborated with Ward on it. Also, this talk, first at
Pacificon, next at Visalia DX, and to saveral ham clubs, all of which
preceded Ward's book.

73, Jim K9YC
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[David Christ]

Ward Silver also gave a presentation on this at the QSOtoday virtual hamfest.  Still available for watching.

David K0LUM

> On Aug 15, 2020, at 10:51 AM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> On 8/15/2020 5:48 AM, John Simmons wrote:
>> Grounding and Bonding, ARRL book by Ward Silver
>
> Yes. I collaborated with Ward on it. Also, this talk, first at Pacificon, next at Visalia DX, and to saveral ham clubs, all of which preceded Ward's book.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Jim Brown-10]

On 8/15/2020 8:51 AM, Jim Brown wrote:
> Also, this talk, first at Pacificon, next at Visalia DX, and to saveral
> ham clubs, all of which preceded Ward's book.

forgot the link.
http://k9yc.com/GroundingAndAudio.pdf

73, Jim K9YC
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ]

One note: Keith mis-spoke when he stated "Spare K3 board supplies are low
or gone".  We certainly are not stopping support and repairs for the K3 and
K3S. (Of course there are some lightning damaged radios that are not
economical to repair.) Though some repairs may take longer as replacement
parts are ordered.

What is happening is that we are pivoting from board swaps to component
level repairs on many K3 and K3S boards.  Also, we will still be building
boards for these radios that can be sold for upgrades and repair swap outs
on a case by case, lot basis, based on demand. (There is a sign up list
for upgrade / spare board requests on our web page for the upgrade boards.)

Eric
*elecraft.com <http://elecraft.com>*


On Fri, Aug 14, 2020 at 10:47 AM Keith Trinity WE6R <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Hi all;
> I am starting to see our yearly peak of Lightning damaged radios come in
> for repair, August through October.
>
> It is MOST likely to come in through the COMM PORT connected to your
> COMPUTER (via DSL or Cable Modem).
> Those lines are LONG and run for miles, so a direct hit is not necessary
> to do damage.
>
> Customer quotes; "I disconnected everything, EXCEPT..." then they list
> ONE item.
> Spare K3 board supplies are low or gone.
> Besides the most likely Comm Port, then obvious Antenna, I have seen
> lightning come in other things connected to the K3, like;
> DC power cord, ground, Paddle/Key, Key-Out to Amp etc.
> '73
> Keith WE6R, Elecraft K3 Tech
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]