[Elecraft] KAT100 woes... Time to 'fess up...

[Bill Coleman]

On Oct 19, 2005, at 10:59 AM, Tom Hammond wrote:

> When I heard the first thunder clap, I legged it out to the shack  
> In the garage) and started disconnecting coaxes like a mad man...
>
> I had just(!) managed to get the last coax connector DISconnected  
> and moved away from the rig(s) when an all too close bolt of  
> lightning struck. Fortunately I wasn't touching anything (by about  
> 1/2 second!) when it hit and I heard/saw a nice arc between the  
> shell of one coax connector and the nearby ground.

This is the problem, Tom. You don't need to disconnect those coaxes  
as much as GROUND them.

I have all my antennas passing through a grounding switch, and I keep  
it switched to the grounded position when the station is not in use.

The only time I've had lightning damage was when I had my antennas  
disconnected. That was during FD 1993 on Sunday, when all my gear was  
in the car and I was taking a nap on the sofa. I still have a piece  
of test equipment that needs repair from that strike.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901