[Boatanchors] Question

[Glen Zook]

Putting a resistor from the center conductor to ground (between 4.7 K and 47K) of coax and when using open wire from each side to ground (between 10K and 100K) will "bleed off" the static charge that builds up due to wind action.  A 2 watt "non inductive" (i.e. don't use a wirewound resistor) will work fine even with full legal power and will not affect the feed line impedance in any measurable amount.

I have a composite photo showing a couple of ways of doing this that I can E-Mail to those who request it.  I still haven't put it up on my website!  Since the reflectors do not allow any attachments I cannot include it in this message.

Of course the resistor cannot take a "direct" lightning strike.  But, bleeding off the charge will definitely help keep a "feeler" from being formed (as well as protecting the "front end" of the receiver) and no "feeler" means no lightning strike.

Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


--- On Tue, 8/5/08, K0DAN <k0dan at comcast.net> wrote:

From: K0DAN <k0dan at comcast.net>

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!