----- Original Message -----
From: "George Bethea" <geo@datasync.com>
To: <w7ti@jps.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 7:32 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] COAX connector heating
> Amen!!! I have experienced this heating of switches on RTTY on 10 meters
> also. B&W , MFJ, and Alpha Delta have all had this heating effect. A
barrel
> connector in their place stopped the heat. I built a switch around a
> military surplus switch that allows me access to outside lines, dummy load
> or the ground bus. This ceramic cased large switch has no heating when
used
> on high band RTTY. The latest MFJ switches I purchased will fire their GAS
> Arc Tubes to ground at about 800 watts PEP. I had to open them and clip
the
> little gas arc tube out of the circuit. Package says 1500 watts pep...
When
> not operating, ALL of my HF gear is disconnected at my feed-thru panel.
> Nodes stay connected at all times (except when I am home and it is
storming
> hi) and all systems are protected as best I can with Polyphaser banks at
the
> base of all towers, and at a common ground bus at my utility inputs as
well
> as my feed-thru box. Everything is grounded to a common point system.
> Nothing is ever 100% but after 3 lightning strikes and much damage I have
> not had a problem since "doing it right" and I have seen at least 1 direct
> hit with the DX nodes not even hiccupping. I always shutdown and isolate
the
> system at the feed-thru panel when possible!!! This is indeed the best way
> to protect yourself! 73 Have a great weekend George K5JZ/K5MDX
> k5jz@mdxa.org
>
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