[Elecraft] Unhook *ALL* connections before Lightning storm

[Bill Blomgren (kk4qdz) via Elecraft]

The question is "how long are they?"  - Ethernet cables are typically 6-20 feet long.  A jumper between the rig and amplifier, much shorter.

Length determines how well it acts as an antenna.  The cables I worked with were perhaps 20-50 feet long, and made good antennas.  Some of the ethernet cables in my apartment are 50 feet long to feed from one extreme to the other. (I do video editing and need at least gigabit end to end...)

Telephone cables will be LONG.  Unplug anything connected to dsl or phone lines in general.

Luckily, the apartment I'm in has underground utilities.. However, that nice shot of a tower on the ground getting a direct strike was interesting.

It shows that having a few high trees around that are much higher than the antenna are NOT a reason to not disconnect. 


Lightning looks for an interesting way to ground.  Don't encourage it by leaving lots of paths in the shack available.  

 
KK4QDZ - Now with Extra Class Priv's, and a tiny KX3 to enjoy them!


________________________________
 From: Brian Alsop <alsopb at nc.rr.com>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 7:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Unhook *ALL* connections before Lightning storm
 

This sounds like good advice.  However, every connector socket on my K3 
is populated, ditto the computer, ditto the KPA500, ditto the KAT500.

Pulling all wires when there is a potential storm threat is totally 
impractical.  Even if I did, I'm sure some of the connectors would 
simply not last.

I suspect others have similar situations.

73 de Brian/K3KO