[Kenwood] Lightning protection wire antennas WA8OPR

[Pete Lascell]

If a lightning bolt can travel thousands of feet down to ground thru open 
air, do you think 2.5 inches will slow it down?


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Terry Clinard" <tclinard at hotmail.com>
To: <kenwood at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 11:25 AM
Subject: [Kenwood] Lightning protection wire antennas WA8OPR


> Can someone answer this question:
>
>
>
> I have two 170 foot end feed wires in service for the bands.  Both are up 
> at the top of tree line about 55 foot up.
>
>
>
> Decided to purchase two old style heavy duty knife switches with porcelain 
> bases.  The gap between the heavy duty copper contacts is a bout 2.5 
> inches.
>
>
>
> The live end of the antenna wire is attached to the center knife rocker 
> and one of the side psots is connected to the transceiver.  Obviously when 
> the knife switch is opened it disconnects the antenna.  My question is 
> should the opposite knife post be attached to an earth ground? This then 
> puts the wire in the air directly to ground.  Now with the antenna going 
> to true ground raises the negative potential of the wire in the air.  I am 
> thinking that one does not want to do this, because now you have created a 
> high (55 foot) negative conductive path for lightning to target.  Should 
> the antenna be grounded or simply turned off with the 2.5" knife switch 
> air gap?
>
>
>
> Thanks Terry WA8OPR
>
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