[Kenwood] Lightning protection wire antennas WA8OPR

[Mike via Kenwood]

I can tell you from first hand experience, that probably won't do it.  I had a direct hit on my tower that came in through the feed line then jumped about 3 to 4" from the (ungrounded) switch to my DISCONNECTED main feed to the radios.  Took out most everything on the desk then jumped to a file cabinet where it exited by the floor through the carpet into the ground (cement slab).   You could trace the path.  Very strong ozone odor and an electrical fire-like smell. Something you never forget. Saw the whole thing. Tower lit up light a giant light bulb (pretty cool actually). Now I make sure I ground everything.

73, Mike, K3RL

Sent from my iPad

> On May 14, 2014, at 12:11 PM, <k7bvo at cox.net> wrote:
> 
> Right.....    (done in my best Bill Cosby voice imitation)  roflmao
> 
> Bill
> K7BVO
> 
> 
> ---- Pete Lascell <plascell at verizon.net> wrote: 
>> 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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