[Boatanchors] Question

[K0DAN]

I believe the lawnmower plugs arc at lower voltages than some of the fancy 
new automotive designs.

BTW, if you're running QRO, you need to make sure that your plugs don't arc 
on voice peaks or during CW keying! For me this was a trial and error thing. 
Also, I put a rubber cap on the bottom of the plug so rain/ice don't short 
the gap.

As someone else mentioned, these sparkplug "surge suppressors" aren't as 
good (quick discharge) as Polyphasers and other gas discharge suppressors, 
but are better than nothing so far as large wire antennas go. They may help 
bleed off a large static charge which accumulates on the wire, which could 
protect your precious gear. This is less of a factor with boatanchors than 
with solid state, but HV to the receiver input is a no-no under any 
circumstances!

GL es 73

Dan
K0DAN

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Pewitt" <n9zsv at magtel.com>
To: "K0DAN" <k0dan at comcast.net>; <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 11:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Question


> Dan, what's the advantage of using -lawn mower- spark plugs rather than 
> automotive spark plugs?  I intend to do more or less what you have 
> described for my balanced lines.   Thanks and 73  Gary  N9ZSV
>
>
>
>
> At 05:43 PM 8/4/2008, K0DAN wrote:
>>Hole thru the wall (or if the hamshack is in the basement have foundation 
>>core-drilled). Cover hole with a NEMA box (or similar); the NEMA box is 
>>suitable for external ground point, addition of terminal strips for rotor 
>>control, add Polyphasers, etc. Terminate the coax inside the NEMA box, 
>>then add jumpers as needed to run into shack. This way you can switch 
>>antennas/rigs, change connector types/genders, etc.
>>
>>Balanced line can also exit the building thru this box by using a pair of 
>>coax cables as a short run of balanced line. Once outside the building, 
>>mount a pair of standoffs on the NEMA box, and connect the two coax lines 
>>to the standoffs. I you want to get really fancy, use a pair of lawn mower 
>>sparkplugs as the standoffs, they will also act as spark gap lightning 
>>suppressors if you ground the box.
>>
>>Not as fast & easy as Mike's approach, but keeps the XYL happy (cosmetics) 
>>and is quite flexible for when you make changes to the shack, rigs, 
>>anetnna farm.
>>
>>73
>>Dan
>>K0DAN
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike WE0H" <we0h at yahoo.com>
>>To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
>>Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 3:41 PM
>>Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Question
>>
>>
>>>I drill holes through the wall and run all feedlines that way. Fast & 
>>>easy :-)
>>>A bit of caulking seals up a hole if I decide I don't want that run 
>>>anymore.
>>>
>>>Mike
>>>WE0H
>>>
>>>
>>>Don said:
>>>>hey heres my idea
>>>>  cut a piece of plexaglass large enuff to put in window, now wait a 
>>>> minute more to come . Cut the holes large enufff to let the coax
>>>>and hardline tru now cover the plastic with a slab of innertube from a 
>>>>car cut to proper
>>>>size , just poke a pencil size hole in each opening over the plastic
>>>>  now slide, with a little lube, the coax thru the holes  to the proper
>>>>length you want . after all hooked up pull back on coax alittle from 
>>>>outside  and rubber
>>>>will pucker out side and make
>>>>  a good seal.
>>>>  there you are no connectors to have line loss and a good weather seal 
>>>> ,
>>>>did I mention
>>>>close the window over the plastic and put foam at top between the two
>>>>panes .
>>>>
>>>>Don K8OMO at it since 1959
>>>_______________________________________________
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>
> Gary Pewitt  N9ZSV   garypewitt at centurytel.net  479 675 4376
> 1500 French Prairie Rd. Booneville, Arkansas  72927
> Sturgeon's Law "Ninety percent of everything is crap."
> Pewitt's Law: But it's that other 10% that makes life worth living."
>
>
>