[Elecraft] Grounding

[Ron D' Eau Claire]

Dave G3YMC wrote:

> ...Having strung an antenna up and leaving its feeder across
> the floor... we suddenly saw large sparks
> between the feeder and
> the metal surrounds of the floor tiles!  There was no sign of
> thunder anywhere in
> sight.

I have seen that happen on ships while stringing a new wire MF antenna.
Normally, they are carefully grounded at all times, either through the ATU
or direct to ground by the antenna switch on the radio console when they are
not in use. Wind and even rain can build up tremendous static charges on a
well insulated antenna.

I got into the practice of making sure that the wire itself was always
grounded at one end while we were stringing a new antenna after seeing a
buddy get knocked off of his feet when he reached up to grab the end of an
antenna wire that was sitting on a non-metallic surface one windy day. It
was more surprise than shock, but enough to make me more cautious. And it's
never comfortable or safe to be "knocked off of your feet" on a steel ship
with steel decks and steel bulkheads <G>.

And, of course, it does not take a direct hit from lightning to put
fantastic voltages and currents in the wire. A hit in the neighborhood even
some distance away can induce a surge in an antenna wire that instantly make
toast any rig... or the operator.

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289