[Elecraft] Unhook *ALL* connections before Lightning storm

MontyS montys at mindspring.com
Tue Jul 15 14:33:49 EDT 2014


Ed,

I disagree.  While the bonding and grounding recommended as standard sound 
good, there are times when even that is inadequate.

I had a lightning discharge over my home in NJ - no direct hit, just huge 
induced currents in all cables, wires, etc., in the house.  The hair rose on 
my arm before the discharge.

I lost serial interfaces on a laser printer (no outside connection), Daisy 
wheel printer (same), computer motherboard (same save for AC power, but the 
power supply was unaffected.)

I am a firm believer in disconnecting all cables and wires, including ground 
wires.  I have never had lightning damage when I do so.

We now live in Florida, lightning capital of North America.  The only 
lightning damage I've had is to a cable modem, and a K3 disconnected from 
aerials and power but not my computer.

Monty K2DLJ

So it would be my guess that the important wire connections to
disconnect are the ones that go outside the station:  all ac electric
connections, all antennas, all telco/internet connections.  Interface
wiring between pieces of equipment in one room should not be an issue
as long as the "outside" world is disconnected. That should lessen
the number of cables to disconnect.



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