[GreenKeys] RE: Lightning protection

[kr4wm]

Hi Gil,

When you go to the Polyphaser website, they have excellent 
reading on the methods by which to ground antenna systems. 
Some of the stuff is sheer overkill for a home/end user, 
like some special welding process to join the ground wire 
to the ground rod. They do, however, recommend tying in to 
your home electrical grounding system as PART OF your overall 
ground system to prevent ground loops (unless that has changed 
recently). The science of lightning strike prevention seems 
about as unstable as the scientists who one day say salt is 
bad for you, then the next week say it's good for you! Just 
do the best you can, but making sure everything is disconnected 
from the antenna system PRIOR to the arrival of a storm is 
always going to be your BEST insurance! If you hear lightning 
pops in your receiver's speaker, (not background static, but 
over time you will gain experience and be able to tell what 
lightning pops sound like) it's almost too late to pull the 
wires. Watch your local weather reports, and if they say 
"thunderstorms" it's best to disconnect everything before 
you head off to work for the day! At one time, I took the 
added precaution of installing a "ground bus" with shorted 
coax connectors on it, and anytime I wasn't using my radios, 
I would have all my incoming coaxes screwed onto that bus. 
(It had a large ground wire leading to a ground rod outside.)

Kindest regards, -Web Williams in Myrtle Beach, SC

><snip>
>Gil  for electrical noise considerations do not use the electrical system
>grounds. Drive a ground rod and use your number 6 wire to it. use brass
>bolts & electrolitic grease, or coax seal.  Good silcone clauks contain
>acedic acid ( which accounts for their vinagar oder), I'd avoid them.