[Elecraft] Snow static, etc. [WAS Re: QRN and the K3: AWESOME!]

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Also, be careful if your antenna is disconnected but not grounded. You can
get a painful jolt touching the feeder if it has collected
rain/hail/sleet/snow static. It's not uncommon to see sparks jump from the
center pin to the shield across a PL259 or similar connector under those
conditions. 

Suddenly connecting such a highly-charged antenna may well over-stress the
protection circuits in the rig as well. 

Antennas should be grounded when not in use.

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
drewko wrote:
> I've been wondering about potential receiver damage from rain and snow
> static. I think if my QRN level from snow static went to +60 I would
> probably shut the rig off and disconnect it. Is such damage a real
> threat? If so, is there a certain safe QRN limit that should be
> observed, say s9+60 for 30 minutes, or whatever? 
> 
> 73,
> Drew
> AF2Z
>  

There's a bleeder resistor at the K3 front end, so this shouldn't be a
problem.

73
Jon LA4RT