There is a 3 part series on the ARRL web site about lightening protection.
http://www.arrl.org/lightning-protection
Tom W0IVJ
On 7/1/2012 8:28 AM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
> I'm not sure exactly where I should post this, but suspect that this
> group probably has more relevant expertise than most, so please bear
> with me.
>
> In the last year, I have had two expensive episodes. In both cases, my
> transceiver's RS-232 transceiver was fried during a lightning storm, and
> several knowledgeable people suggested a difference in chassis potential
> between computer and transceiver as the reason. Their prescription for
> avoiding a repetition was simple - connect the chassis of all of the
> units to a single-point ground.
>
> My solution - which I'm asking people to critique - was to fabricate an
> L-shaped, roughly 3x5 foot ground bus made from 3/4" copper tubing,
> which I mounted on the back of my L-shaped operating desk. All joints
> are silver-soldered. I then connected each of the affected units to the
> bus with very short and heavy stranded wire, and connected the end of
> the bus to my grounded shack entry panel (in a double-hung window).
>
> The DC resistance of the ground bus is very low, but the length
> approximates a quarter wave on 10 meters, and with the units connected
> near the ends of the bus, I wonder if I'm feeling a false sense of
> security about the likely behavior of the bus during a nearby lightning
> event. Would I be better off (or no better) running heavy conductors
> from each unit to the entry panel, even if they would have to be
> similarly long? Or should I just give up and plan on disconnecting the
> RS-232 connection whenever weather approaches?
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
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