[Elecraft] K4 Remote: My QTH vs. a friend's, many miles to the north
Dave (NK7Z)
dave at nk7z.net
Sun May 5 00:54:13 EDT 2024
Hi again,
Your grounding sounds good. I suspect the USB connection used by
Elecraft was standard, and not something that was lightening proof, so
yes, any manufacturer can do more, the question is why increase the cost
of the amp to everyone, when there is little chance the protection will
ever be used?
If there were a preponderance of KPA1500 amps loosing USB drivers, then
I might agree with you, but so far, your amp is the only one I have
heard about that took a lightening hit, and the only one I have heard
about that has lost a USB driver...
If all you lost was the USB driver, then you are a lucky man, go buy a
lotto ticket today!! I would expect a lot more to be damaged by a
lightening strike...
In any case, it is too bad the amp failed, but by that same token, it is
really good that is all that happened!
As you mentioned a bit ago, the more hi-tech an items is the more
sensitive it becomes...
73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
On 5/4/24 21:21, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
> Hi Dave
>
> I have a panel like yours, each antenna to a discharger, on a copper
> sheet. Nothing has happened with the coaxial and antenna switch
>
> I have several rods that make the ground and a copper bar behind the
> desk and all the equipment is connected to the ground
>
> The lighting came through the antenna of my internet link, then it went
> to the router, then to the computer where I have the kpa1500 connected
> with a USB cable
>
> My question about whether Elecraft could do more is whether there could
> be something better than the USB it currently has, which seems to me to
> be a simple USB connector, like that of any printer for example.
>
> So there is my question, if for such an expensive piece of equipment,
> there could be something of better quality, if not, I apologize, we will
> have to live with these things.
>
> See you in the bands!!!
>
> Have a good weekend!
>
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
>
> El dom, 5 may 2024 a las 1:08, Dave (NK7Z) (<dave at nk7z.net
> <mailto:dave at nk7z.net>>) escribió:
>
> Jorge,
>
> I can only go by what you said:
>
> "Last week I experienced a lightning strike"
>
> That sounds a lot like a direct discharge into the shack, so I am
> responding to your comment, if that is not correct, please help me
> understand what actually happened...
>
> Lightening is strange, it can take out one piece of equipment, and not
> touch another... It all depends on how your shack is grounded, and how
> it is bonded. When grounding commercial equipment, even the path the
> wire takes is important... Curves, straight line runs, etc...
>
> What sort of ground system are you using, and what sort of lightening
> protection did you have in place at the time of the lightening event?
>
> Take a look at:
>
> https://www.nk7z.net/building-a-coax-entry-panel/
> <https://www.nk7z.net/building-a-coax-entry-panel/>
>
> That is my entry panel. I am slowly building a ground ring around the
> house... Why? Because only I can build a system to help reduce the
> chances of lightening taking out something in my environment. It is
> after all my home, and my environment, so I can not, and do not, hold
> Elecraft responsible for things they can not control. Elecraft, can
> not
> be responsible for my grounding, and bonding practices.
>
> Respectfully, in your original question you implied that Elecraft
> should
> have done more to make the KPA1500 withstand an as yet, correctly
> defined lightening event. Again, respectfully, if you believe Elecraft
> failed in some way, then you should say what, and how they failed...
> Not imply they should have done more... That is unfair.
>
> With respect to the weekend-- I hope to see you in the 7QP contest! I
> will be on Sunday, but I fear the Sun will not assist much... Take
> care
> my friend...
>
> 73, and thanks,
> Dave (NK7Z)
> https://www.nk7z.net <https://www.nk7z.net>
> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>
> On 5/4/24 17:42, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
> > hi Dave
> >
> > I don't know what to tell you, I imagine that a direct discharge
> into
> > the shack would have burned everything.
> >
> > I had 6 USB cables connected to the laptop, they burned the USB
> of a box
> > of GHE that costs $160 and the USB of the KPA1500 that costs +$7000
> >
> > rotor controls and other PCs did not burn
> >
> > In short, it was the fear I had of buying new and sophisticated
> > equipment living so far from where the company is located.
> >
> > Have a good weekend
> >
> > 73,
> > Jorge
> > CX6VM/CW5W
> >
> > El sáb, 4 may 2024 a las 21:31, Dave (NK7Z) (<dave at nk7z.net
> <mailto:dave at nk7z.net>
> > <mailto:dave at nk7z.net <mailto:dave at nk7z.net>>>) escribió:
> >
> > Hi Jorge,
> >
> > That device would not stand a strike... As per the US
> Weather service,
> > (https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-power
> <https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-power>
> > <https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-power
> <https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-power>>), a typical lightening
> > bolt runs around 300,000,000 volts, at 30,000 amps. That
> device is
> > speced for 4000 volts...
> >
> > For Elecraft to protect the amp against a lightening strike
> as you
> > described you had, they would need to add a LOT more hardware
> than that
> > to the price of an already expensive amp, and most people
> would never
> > see need the protection. Hence why they don't even try and
> protect
> > against a direct lightening strike.
> >
> > The onus for lightening protection always rests with the
> device owner.
> >
> > 73, and thanks,
> > Dave (NK7Z)
> > https://www.nk7z.net <https://www.nk7z.net> <https://www.nk7z.net
> <https://www.nk7z.net>>
> > ARRL Volunteer Examiner
> > ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
> > ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
> >
> > On 5/4/24 16:36, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
> > > Dave
> > >
> > > I am not an engineer and I don't know anything about
> electronics
> > either,
> > > but I am very receptive to the solutions that many radio
> friends
> > give me.
> > >
> > > which made me think if the kpa1500 or k4 usb was built with
> > something
> > > like this,
> > >
> >
> https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A <https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A> <https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A <https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A>> <https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A <https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A> <https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A <https://www.blackbox.com/en-ca/store/product/detail/USB-to-USB-Isolator-4-kV-1-Port/SP387A>>> it might be beneficial or not, just thinking out loud
> > >
> > > 73,
> > > Jorge
> > > CX6VM/CW5W
> > >
> > > El sáb, 4 may 2024 a las 19:06, Dave (NK7Z)
> (<dave at nk7z.net <mailto:dave at nk7z.net>
> > <mailto:dave at nk7z.net <mailto:dave at nk7z.net>>
> > > <mailto:dave at nk7z.net <mailto:dave at nk7z.net>
> <mailto:dave at nk7z.net <mailto:dave at nk7z.net>>>>) escribió:
> > >
> > > Jorge,
> > >
> > > I would imagine if you approach Elecraft with that
> mindset, their
> > > thoughts will be you should take care of your own
> lightening
> > protection.
> > >
> > > 73, and thanks,
> > > Dave (NK7Z)
> > > https://www.nk7z.net <https://www.nk7z.net>
> <https://www.nk7z.net <https://www.nk7z.net>> <https://www.nk7z.net
> <https://www.nk7z.net>
> > <https://www.nk7z.net <https://www.nk7z.net>>>
> > > ARRL Volunteer Examiner
> > > ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
> > > ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
> > >
> > > On 5/4/24 09:10, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
> > > > Last week I experienced a lightning strike and the I/O
> > module of
> > > my KPA1500
> > > > was damaged, what has Elecraft thought to ensure
> that the
> > > equipment is not
> > > > damaged?
> > >
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> > > --
> > > 73,
> > > Jorge
> > > CX6VM/CW5W
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> > --
> > 73,
> > Jorge
> > CX6VM/CW5W
>
>
>
> --
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
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