[Elecraft] To ground or not to ground

[Don Wilhelm]

Clint,

Not OT at all.  Many remote antenna switches do it "the easy way", and 
use SPST relays to switch in the selected antenna - there is no way with 
that type relay to ground the antennas that are not currently selected.

So yes, some type of static discharge device would be beneficial across 
each antenna connector to bleed off static.  Usually a 100 uHy choke (of 
sufficient current capacity for your power level) or a 2 or 3 watt 
carbon resistor in the range of 3000 to 30,000 ohms will provide the DC 
path to bleed off any static charge.

Imagine your antenna with a static charge - then you select that antenna 
- suddenly your transceiver is subjected to whatever charge was on the 
antenna.  Sometimes OK, but other times, not so good.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/18/2012 5:51 PM, Clint wrote:
> OK, this is OT, sort of. It will be connected to my K3 so..
>
> I just bought a remote mast mounted antenna switch (Ameritron RSC-8V). It comes with the center conductor electrically floating when the port is OFF. It seems to me I would be better off (safer) if the center conductor was grounded (or had a gas discharge tube or choke or resistor or??? when OFF.
>
> What do ya think?
>
> One thing is for darn sure, I am going to paint the cruddy polystyrene box and steel brackets (with "Rust Bullet"  FYI), clean off the flux and coat the PC board before it sees the costal weather! Caulking will be in order also. Salty rain and spray are nasty even 5 miles in.
>
>