[Boatanchors] AC Line Protection for Boatanchors

[Bob, W5UQ]

I lived in Tampa for seven years... he is ABSOLUTELY right.

So, moving to Texas... 
I have installed a light switch in series with the hot wire to my 
equipment and turn it off. (Easier than switching circuit breakers)
Next, I use surge protectors, and the ICE ones are best.  Going with the 
power company is good too.  (I had that at the TV stations, plus some 
very sophisticated surge protectors to boot)
Next I made a good ground system.  This is important too.

When I first made my "new digs for rigs room", I made the circuit 
breaker box accessible and flipped breakers off until I got light 
switches installed.  More than one switch may be needed for several 
outlets, etc.    However, lightning can jump across these switches too. 

Bob W5UQ



Warren Elly wrote:
> Hello Bill...
>
> Living in the lightning capital of the Southeast, if not entire  USA...
> we unplug, no questions asked...
> after four strikes in 30 years...
> also suggest the zap cap, surge protector that goes in front of your electric meter...
> far better than any surge protected power strips.
> We carry the solid state stuff completely away from the ham shack and into another room during lightning season...
>
> Unplugged, never had any issues with boatanchors...
>
> good luck
>
> 73, Warren W1GUD
> Tampa, FL
>
>
> On Jul 24, 2010, at 8:14 PM, Bill Stewart wrote:
>
>   
>>
>> We recently had a pretty 'hot' thunder storm come thru the area with a lot of lightning. During the storm, we heard a loud pop in the area of the brkr box and the ham shack. No brkrs were tripped or anything damaged...at least haven't found anything in the house yet...but I do notice a slight tinge of blue color along the bottom of the shack tv...emp?? 
>>
>>
>>
>> Today I went out to Studio B (out in the back yard) and noticed a brkr tripped. I flipped it back on and heard a loud 'thunk' around the HQ-150. I checked all the xmtrs and the rcvr thu a lamp and the dreaded low-input- voltage glow occurred with the HQ-150. The fuse looks to be in tact, so I'm hoping the ac switch has shorted and not the xformer. I also noticed the Heath line voltage meter was dead....later found a blown-up resistor and diode. 
>>
>>
>>
>> What this is leading up to is this: do you guys use these surge protected power strips on your boatanchors? I know the best way is to unplug, but that's not too convenient. It would seem they would work pretty well. Since they are designed mostly for solid state loads, I would think the reaction time would be pretty quick. Any comments pro or con, brands, specs and any experiences with their use on boatanchors would be appreciated. 
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks, 
>>
>> 73 de Bill K4JYS 
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