I worked in Broadcasting for over 55 years. It’s common for broadcast towers/antennas to take direct hits. The lightening protection systems deflect the energy to ground. AM stations use ball gaps at base of each tower. In the mid 70s I worked at WKBN and lived in a farm house in the middle of 6 400 ft towers. We would sit on the front porch and watch tower #2 take hits in almost every storm. I remember only one time when there was damage, connector blew off end of 3” line.
> On Nov 7, 2017, at 00:19, Richard Fjeld <
[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I'm trying to avoid taking anyone's side on this discussion. I wanted to say that I worked for a company that had towers throughout the state which were several hundred feet tall. Over the years, I only saw one that took a hit. The company was so certain their grounding specs had not been followed, that they made the contractor dig up the entire grounding layout. It revealed the specs had not been followed.
>
> Certain radio and TV services need to operate 24/7 and can't shut down when lightening threatens. Their grounding methods apparently prevent the towers from being hit .
>
> Rich, n0ce
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
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> Sent: Monday, November 6, 2017 6:12 PM
> To:
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> Subject: [Elecraft] Lightening damage
>
> I’m sure there are others with more expertise on this subject then me, however several texts including the new ARRL grounding book say it may be dangerous to disconnect antenna coax in the house. It should only be done outside.
> My daughters vertical was hit by lightening and the lightening leaped 5 feet from a cable on the floor to a power outlet.
> Ray
> W8LYJ
>