[Elecraft] Wire size for the ground on the KX2

[Stephen Hanes]

Fred,

I guess that I was making the assumption [not good!] that the input would be protected by a gas-tube discharge device, such as those made by Alpha-Delta --- I try to always use one of these at the input of any radio. Of course, what is still needed is to discharge the excess charge, and that is what I addressed in my first note.

73,
Steve, K4VWS

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Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2017 13:59:08 -0700

From: Fred Jensen <k6dgw at foothill.net<mailto:k6dgw at foothill.net>>

To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net<mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net>

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Wire size for the ground on the KX2

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But be wary however.  That, in itself, may not and often does not offer any protection at all. Each little charge from rain or snow static may be minuscule, but they charge the input capacitance of the device in the radio and eventually it breaks downbetween the input and the chassis.

Just grounding the chassis or ground plane on a PCB does nothing to change that, it's the charge across the input that matters.



I believe, but do not know for sure, that Elecraft designs all have a static bleed across the antenna connection.  Possibly someone who knows can enlighten all the rest of us. If you want to be sure and don't want to take your radio apart, wire a 100K-200K 1/8 W resistor across a

PL-259 [or BNC].  Put a T-adapter onto the radio, resistor on one leg, antenna on the other.



A number of years ago, our Cal QSO crew in Alpine county fried two PROIII's from snow static for lack of a bleed. Total ham experience on the crew was in the 300 year range ... You'd think someone would havethought of it. [:-)



73,



Fred ("Skip") K6DGW

Sparks NV USA

Washoe County DM09dn