lightning protection

[Bob McGraw - K4TAX]

I always look at lightning protection methods as "mitigation" systems.  
That is "to minimize damage" to the structure or equipment.   As to
totally preventing damage........that is old ham lore.

73

Bob, K4TAX


Message: 27
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2021 13:47:35 +0000 (UTC)
From: Don Roberts<[hidden email]>
To:"[hidden email]"  <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] lightning protection
Message-ID:<[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

In addition to everything else suggested, I disconnect all coax cables outside my home and let them lay on the ground. I? use a trailer type connector to unplug my antenna rotator. I further use a heavy duty DPDT switch for my full wave 80 meter loop, not to ground but to open. (lightning doesn't see my antennas any more than the coffee cup in my hand)?

Keep in mind that I live on the ridge in south central Florida running down the center of the state from Lake Wales to the north and sloping to the south into the Everglades. (From Tampa to here is the lightning capital of the western hemisphere) We are second in the world to a location in south eastern Africa for lightning strikes.
In the 25 years I have lived here we have had several hams get hit by lightning that followed code to a "T" including a perimeter wire completely surrounding their home and tied to the main electrical ground, towers, polyphasers and or lightning arrestors bounded to at least 10 foot rods going into our sandy soil.??
In the most recent hit, a good friend and local ham in Lake Placid had his home burn completely to the ground, with his wife just narrowly escaping the inferno. He had everything grounded correctly including a 4 gauge perimeter wire completely surrounding his home. John's 120 foot tower was not hit and his coax cables and pl259/s were not scorched.?
In his case the lightning hit the Duke power company line coming into his home and exploded into his house with a massive hole, and according to the state inspector it was textbook 101, blowing through all electrical outlets in his home at the same time. His wife had less then 30 seconds to get out. By the way, John KK4LI, installs towers, and antennas for a living. He also conducts classes on lightning protection at the Tampa hamfest.??
Of further interest, our number one item for getting hit in our area seems to be Dish and Direct satellite dishes.

Don,? W4CBS


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