[Elecraft] static buildup on antennas

[Richard Fjeld]

I know there are differences of opinion on this, but I have come to believe 
if I can keep a static charge from building up on my antennas, and other 
devices, it will greatly lessen the chance of a dis-charge occurring.  I 
even ground the metal vent pipe that goes up through the roof of my house, 
as well as the downspouts from my rain gutters.

I have alligator clips on the ends of my ladder-line so that I can easily 
connect them to a ground lead when finished operating. I would get bit doing 
this at times, so I put a 1 MegOhm resistor from each twin lead tap on the 
tuner to ground. No trouble since.  Perhaps I should reduce the R value 
though.
Some guys use spark plugs to bleed off, but I feel that allows too much 
voltage at the point of dis-charge.

Now this, and I will be brief. I saw where lightning hit a decorative 
electric light about five feet high on the front lawn of a house. You would 
think that would have been an adequate path to ground. Instead, it followed 
the buried wire that ran from it, under the blacktop driveway, throwing the 
asphalt up on the roof of the house. It went into the house and did all 
kinds of havoc. I suppose the metal light post was just stuck into the 
ground a couple feet or so. It isn't just our antennas that need grounding.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <valvetbone at netzero.com>
To: <garybartlett at accesswave.ca>
Cc: <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 1:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] static buildup on antennas


> Gary,
> My antenna tuner has a 4:1 current balun built in.  The DC resistance 
> across the ladder line is near zero ohms.  I would think that would bleed 
> off any charge.
> 73,
> Art  WB8ENE
>
>