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[TowerTalk] Lightning Observation

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Lightning Observation
From: W9IXX@arrl.net (Philip Florig)
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 08:28:37 -0500
At 22:41 7/22/2001 -0400, you wrote:

>Hi Ford,
>
> > Is it possible that the three lines were temporarily DC biased by the
> > lightning?  How do you explain the > 1 second to discharge the lines?
>
>A large part of the problem is because once an arc is started, a
>very much lower voltage sustains the arc. Sometimes a breaker
>actually has to open and reset to stop the system from arcing.
>
>It's the same problem we have with power relays, and why antenna
>relays need to be overkill and not have materials that ionize or
>carbon track easily in the arc path.
>73, Tom W8JI
>W8JI@contesting.com

Hi,

This is exactly right Tom. We use contactors and relays here for the DC 
rectifier
systems,and they have blowout coils or magnets to extinguish the arc. In 
some of the
arc discharge systems you have to reduce the voltage to almost zero and 
sometimes
even reverse (in cases of capacitor action above the zero point) before the arc
will extinguish.

This is a great group reflectees and glad to be subscribed.  Keep up the great
discussions.

73     Phil


-----------------------------------------------
Philip Florig           e-mail:pflorig@ieee.org
PO Box 44                   (or):W9IXX@arrl.net
Worth, IL.  60482           amateur radio:W9IXX
USA                      also:J3X-T30,31,32,33P
                            team member:AH1A-J3A
-----------------------------------------------
Metro DX Club                    club call:W9TY
Oak Forest, IL.                   qsl via W9IXX
-----------------------------------------------


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