[Elecraft] MY SECOND K2

[Paul Gates]

A couple of weeks ago I was walking across the parking lot to our apt. and 
one clap of lightening hit right over my head... I was using an umbrella. 
Then a few seconds later there was a clap of lightening right over the top 
of my Gap Challenger antenna but nothing seemed to be harmed... Me or the 
antenna.
Paul Gates
K1  #0231
KX1 #1186
XG1
kd3jf at hotmail.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Bruneau" <paul at ethicalpaul.com>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 6:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2


> On Aug 30, 2005, at 4:18 AM, Nick Waterman wrote:
>
> > Bill Coleman wrote:
> >>> Antennas where disconnected and the house next door took the direct
> >>> hit
> >>> and blew a big chunk out of the back of the house.
> >> Don't just disconnect your antennas - GROUND them.
> >> Possibly would have saved your rig.
> >
> > Serious?
> >
> > What's more likely to be hit by lightning? A big, high-up, earthed
> > conductor, or a big, high-up conductor who's potential is allowed to
> > drift around a bit?
> >
> > In fact, when scientists want to study lightning, don't they do it by
> > attaching earthed wires to fireworks and shooting them into
> > thunderclouds?
> >
> > You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like
> > you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target   :-)
>
> I think it's already a target, being a conductor in the sky and all,
> and nothing short of taking it down will change that (the lightning
> would much rather go through metal for some distance rather than air).
>
> The question is, is it a target that is open at the bottom, very near
> your rig, with lightning shooting out of it across your desk, looking
> for a place to go?
>
> Or is it a target that is grounded at the bottom, giving the lightning
> someplace to go that isn't your rig?
>
> That's how I think of it, but having said all that, I'm in a nice low
> area that never ever gets struck, so I don't worry about it.
>
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