>Which begs the question: Is it safe to disconnect your transmission
line
>and lay it out on the floor? ]
Yes. Better if you ground it, though.
>If the transmission line connects to an
>ungrounded antenna (a dipole, for instance), then it can build up
very high
>voltages even if not directly hit by lightning.
>
More reason for grounding the coax/feedline end.
>But if the antenna is hit, do we think that lightning which has
jumped
>hundreds of feet is going to respect the six feet between the
operator and
>that coax on the floor?
>
No. It's faceitious to believe that.
BUT....
it's better than doing nothing and leaving the equipment connected.
Most lightning strikes are simply "nearby" strikes. Those nearby
strikes can carry a lot of energy to your antenna system, energy that
can damage equipment. It's the nearby strikes that disconnecting will
likely protect against most often.
The direct strike is probably a lesser likelihood and certainly can
cause more damage than a nearby strike.
At least, by disconnecting (and grounding), you have hopefully reduced
the chances of being affected by a nearby strike or even a direct
strike.
>Seems that might risk turning an otherwise useful ham into a krispy
kritter.
>I'd rather lose a rig than a life.
>
If you wait until you hear the storm's thunder, you are certainly
putting yourself at risk. That's why I say that whenever you are not
operating, disconnect everything. Then, you don't have to worry about
racing the storm to your feedlines/ac power, etc.
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm
Submissions: tentec@contesting.com
Administrative requests: tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-tentec@contesting.com
Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
|