[Icom] Strike-O.T.

Thu May 6 16:24:29 EDT 2004

I had seemingly derived protection from strikes
by virtue of the fact that I had a vertically
polarized 15 element 2m beam at the top of
my mast.  Basically it seemed to function as
15 lightning rods that bled off charge before
the potential difference between ground and
the atmosphere reached disastrous possibilities.

Neighbors spoke of having seen "fire" fly from
the antennas into the air.  That, to me, is at
least some confirmation that I was receiving
protection.  I disconnected antenna, rotor,
and remote antenna switch control cables
when storms were forecast or whenever we
went away from home over a weekend, etc.

"The Wireman" sells spike clusters to mount at
the top of your mast that is "supposed" to work
in the same manner.  The sharper the elevated
points, the lower the voltage that can be bled
off to ground.

The only damage I   EVER   had was when a
transformer 1/4 mile away took a hit (I saw it).
Surge on power line took out bias rectifier diode
in Drake AC-4 power supply.  Next time I turned
the T-4XC on, plate current went full bore and
took out the new finals that had only 10 hours.

I was at that location for 27 years without a
direct strike in a very active electrical storm area
(Oklahoma City).  It all stood until hit by an F4
tornado five years ago.

73  ---  Mac, K2GKK/5
(Oklahoma City, OK)

----Original Message Follows----
From: <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Icom] Strike-O.T.
Date: Thu, 6 May 2004 09:22:11 -0500

Back to protecting my 756 Pro II and 4KL ( hopefully Dick we are on topic ),
why doesn't a well grounded 50' tower ( two 8' copper coated rods 7.5' in
the ground attached to the tower ) act as a "lightening rod" protecting
other lower structures?

Most tall commercial structures seem to have lightening rod protection  (
the 19 story building I'm currently in for example ) and I've never heard of
a strike wiping out any of the building's electronics.

Andy K5VM