I have the same phenomenon with stacked C4XL and C3. As a storm approaches
from the distance, I hear clicks in the receiver, increasing in amplitude
and decreasing in "inter-spike interval" as the storm gets closer. When it
gets close, I ground everything, and if I then go outside, I hear the same
noise mechanically from the tower. As a storm gets very near and lightning
flashes become visible, I hear high pitched whines from the tower sounding
almost like a ricochet. Once a very spectacular cloud to cloud display
occurred and the "singing" of the tower was in synchrony with the display.
I should have known something was up when we were erecting the tower and
the lady who had lived on the other side of the hill for 50 years was
solidly in favor of my large tower installation. As she put it: "mebbe we
won't get zapped as much now that your thing is there".
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Thorne [SMTP:rthorne@arn.net]
Sent: Monday, June 22, 1998 4:23 PM
To: leewells@lexmark.com
Cc: W9RPM@centuryinter.net; towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Clicking? & F-12 antennas
According to Tom (don't quote me on this) in a previous note a while back,
its ok
to remove the pvc insulators from the elements (except for the driven
element(s) of
course) and attach them directly to the boom.
Next time my antenna's are down I will probably remove the insulators.
Theres lots
of wind here and static is a problem. Not sure how effective it will be
since the
driven element will still be insulated.
leewells@lexmark.com wrote:
> I've noticed the exact same thing with my EF-515 & EF-420/240 antennas.
> It usually happens as a storm front is approaching. It even causes a
little
> static in my TV & stereo. I haven't turned on the rig to see how bad the
> noise is then.
>
> I went out one night when a storm was approaching and I could actually
see
> arcs at the element to boom clamps. Looks like the charge is arcing
across
> the PVC insulators of the F-12 antennas.
>
> Is the arcing going to hurt anything??? Is there anyway to stop it?? It
seems
> like the antennas would be nearly un-useable with the kind of noise this
> would generate.
>
> 73
> --Lee - KT4ZX
>
> <snip>
> > ..........At various times,especially when there is lightning in
> > the area I can here a distinct clicking sound coming from the
> > tower.The sound is a intermitent-click,click and it speeds up and then
> > will quit if there is lightning in the imediate area.It then will
> > start up after a few minutes pass.Is this static electricity that is
> > building up on my tower and then discharging?Thank you. John W9RPM
> >
>
> --
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--
73,
Richard Thorne
Amarillo, TX
Amateur Radio Station: N5ZC (previous calls, KA2DSY, N2BHP, WB5M)
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
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