[Elecraft] Lightning Season, disconnect COMPUTER etc.

[Richard Thorne]

I took a hit a year ago in September.

To make a long story short my ham desk now has 3 connections:

- A single Coax

- 120v

- 220v

All antenna switching and rotor control is via Green Heron Everywhere 
wireless interfaces.  My rotor boxes and switches can still take a hit 
but the equipment on the operating desk won't, as long as I disconnect 
the 3 items listed above.  I do use power poles on my control cables so 
I can quickly disconnect the 3 rotor boxes from the outside world as 
well, I just need to remember to unplug them from power.

Rich - N5ZC

On 8/14/2020 1:31 PM, Dave Sublette wrote:
> I don't know if this really helps or not, but I connect my computer to the
> internet through a WiFi.  I have DSL which feeds a WiFi Router.  That DSL
> modem and the router are the only things connected to the phone line.
>
> When lightning threatens I disconnect all power, ground, coax, rotator
> control cables, etc.  Anything that goes to the outside world (including
> the station ground to the ground rod outside of my window is removed.
>
> I live on a ridge, the highest point in the county.  The ground slopes down
> and away for 20 to 30 miles in all directions.  I have two 150 foot towers
> and a 70 footer.  The first ten years I was at this location I was hit 4
> times by lightning.  Then I instituted my disconnect policy.  I have had no
> strikes in the last 20 years. The lightning strikes, but there has been no
> damage to equipment.
>
> The chassis to chassis bonding remains in place.
>
> Your results may differ.
>
> 73,
>
> Dave, K4TO
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 14, 2020 at 1:47 PM Keith Trinity WE6R <keith at elecraft.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi all;
>> I am starting to see our yearly peak of Lightning damaged radios come in
>> for repair, August through October.
>>
>> It is MOST likely to come in through the COMM PORT connected to your
>> COMPUTER (via DSL or Cable Modem).
>> Those lines are LONG and run for miles, so a direct hit is not necessary
>> to do damage.
>>
>> Customer quotes; "I disconnected everything, EXCEPT..." then they list
>> ONE item.
>> Spare K3 board supplies are low or gone.
>> Besides the most likely Comm Port, then obvious Antenna, I have seen
>> lightning come in other things connected to the K3, like;
>> DC power cord, ground, Paddle/Key, Key-Out to Amp etc.
>> '73
>> Keith WE6R, Elecraft K3 Tech
>>
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